The News Review:
- Evans in hell after injury blow
- Tigers step up hunt for new coach
- Consistencey is the key
Evans in hell after injury blow
RTE.ie – Dec 29, 2006
spreys are awaiting results of a scan but are bracing themselves for news that he will be sidelined until the summer at least. ‘Ian looks likely to be out until June’ said the region’s physiotherapist Brian Downey. ‘It isn’t great news for him or for the spreys because we are going well in the Heineken Cup and Ian is an important part of our team. ‘But there should still be an opportunity for him to prove his fitness for the World Cup. ‘It looks like the same problem that saw our hooker Richard Hibbard undergo surgery earlier in the season. It will be a six-month lay-off for Richard and probably the same for Ian. ‘The extent of the injury means Evans is set to be ruled out of the spreys’ Heineken Cup campaign and could be sidelined for the Six Nations and Wales’s end-of-season tour of Australia.
Tigers step up hunt for new coach
BBC News – Dec 29, 2006
That was one of the things about Bob Dwyer when he took the club forward. Former Australia international Howard succeeded John Wells as head coach at Welford Road in 2005 and he is expected to take over the running of his family’s pharmacy business in Australia. Before becoming a coach Howard played three seasons at fly-half and centre for the Tigers helping them beat Stade Francais in the 2001 Heineken Cup final. Leicester are second in the Guinness Premiership and on course to reach this season’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals. They have also reached the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals and will play Sale Sharks in Cardiff next March.
Consistencey is the key
ic Newcastle.co.uk – Dec 29, 2006
Sorenson showed his class against Sale on Boxing Day and while three-into-two doesn’t go the Falcons need as much quality as they can get their hands on. Twenty points from 10 league games is a far better haul than at one stage could have been hoped as the halfway point approaches. Further improvement is needed if the lofty heights of Heineken Cup rugby are to be secured for next season. But if the new-found winning ways are fortified that is in no way outside the realms of possibility. For that to happen though there are three requirements: more strength in depth further youngster development and a relatively injury-free run-in. A lot of the above revolves around luck but the same goes for any sport. Fletcher has already admitted the search for quality continues especially up front.