The News Review:
- Ireland boosted by Easterby inclusion: Jones
- State of the Union 2007
- D’Arcy the fulcrum of best backline in country’s history.
Ireland boosted by Easterby inclusion: Jones
Ireland nline – Jan 2, 2007
The 31-year-old has spent the last seven seasons at Stradey Park and Jones has witnessed his remarkable influence first hand particularly this year as the Scarlets booked a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals. Jones said: ?Simon was left out of the starting XV in the autumn despite playing some really good rugby. ?He has turned it on in the Heineken Cup over the last couple of weeks and he probably got the upper hand earlier this month when the Scarlets won in Ulster. ?He gives Ireland something else. Dennis Leamy David Wallace and Best are massive ball carriers whereas Simon is also a very destructive player and he brings a new dimension to their team. He also brings a mental edge to his game. Physically he is very tough and he also leads from the front.
State of the Union 2007
sportnetwork.net – Jan 2, 2007
ur lowest crowd was the first game Gloucester 9400 and our highest is Northampton at 11300. (verall) we are sixth in the attendance league compared to five years ago when we were 11th or 12th. HQ: Would Heineken Cup qualification be a bit of a poisoned chalice this season or would you expect next year’s squad to be strong enough to withstand the rigours of both major club competitions? ME: I think we’d be alright I really do. If you look at the number of people in the squad it’s quite a bit bigger than it was the last two times we were in it. HQ: Would you not agree with the exception of the back row and the three quarters when you take somebody out there is a perceivable drop off? ME: I think there is a difference between ‘do you think the Heineken Cup would damage your Premiership performance’ – that’s the first stage. Then the stage after that is having a chance of winning it and still coming in the top four of the Premiership. I think we could do the first… HQ: Would Heineken Cup qualification be a bit of a poisoned chalice this season or would you expect next year’s squad to be strong enough to withstand the rigours of both major club competitions? ME: I think we’d be alright I really do. If you look at the number of people in the squad it’s quite a bit bigger than it was the last two times we were in it. HQ: Would you not agree with the exception of the back row and the three quarters when you take somebody out there is a perceivable drop off? ME: I think there is a difference between ‘do you think the Heineken Cup would damage your Premiership performance’ – that’s the first stage. Then the stage after that is having a chance of winning it and still coming in the top four of the Premiership. I think we could do the first. I don’t think it would put such a strain on our resources as the last two times we were in it. I’m not saying for a minute that we have got two identical teams yet.
D’Arcy the fulcrum of best backline in country’s history.
Free with registration – Europe Intelligence Wire – AccessMyLibrary.com – Jan 2, 2007
Against Munster an encouraging first-half 40 was followed by a collective ‘no show’ in the second. Crucially on this occasion Denis Hickie’s try in first-half injury time – despite the needless concession of three points to Paddy Wallace in the final play – convinced that with a modicum of second-half go-forward ball Leinster could win comprehensively. The Triple Crown winning backline of 1985 was pretty slick but this unit is a level up againSo with just the one defeat (to Munster) in five highly competitive Heineken Cup and Magners League games it’s been a.