The News Review:
- Pollock handed armband for U-20 showdown
- Wales advised to jettison Thomas
- Keith Wood: We are better than the rest and victory is in our hands
- My Best rugby must be against Wales says Rory
- Six Nations: Irish holy grail is within grasp but beware outsiders.
- Clockwatch: Wales v Ireland
Pollock handed armband for U-20 showdown
Belfast Telegraph – Feb 2, 2007
A change in the age grade structure means Ireland will be competing at U-20 level instead of the previous U-21 age group. Pollock a former pupil of Royal School Armagh was included in Ulster’s Heineken Cup squad and made his provincial debut as a late replacement for Stephen Ferris in last weekend’s Magners league defeat against the spreys. The medical student is one of three Ulster players selected in the pack. Dungannon’s Thomas Anderson starts at blindside flanker while Belfast Harlequins loose head prop David Millard packs down in the front row. Quins’ Darren Cave is at outside centre while Ballymena scrum half David Drake is on the bench. Ireland international Luke Fitzgerald who was named at full back has pulled out of the match with Felix Jones taking his place.
Wales advised to jettison Thomas
BBC News – Feb 2, 2007
“He lets himself down and I doubt if we will see Gareth Thomas come back” said ex-Wales and Lions wing Williams. “I think it is very unlikely that we will see him play for Wales again. Thomas flicked his middle finger at Ulster fans in a Heineken Cup game and was also found guilty of aggressively attempting to jump into the crowd. “You just can’t do that” said Williams. “From the history of time you are going to get stick from people in the stand. That is part and parcel of it all. “You can’t react like that and it is not the first time.
Keith Wood: We are better than the rest and victory is in our hands
Belfast Telegraph – Feb 2, 2007
I felt sorry for the young guys coming into an English team as a centre or a winger when four or five guys around you don’t have any caps either. That’s so daunting. People say international rugby is just a small step above the Heineken Cup but it’s a bloody huge step. "Holding on to ageing players for the World Cup was justified because they won the World Cup but to get rid of them all immediately afterwards was wrong because below them was a vacuum of players with the requisite experience. In international rugby passion strength and determination will only get you so far. You need experience as well. So I think England are at the start of a road but the road is to the next World Cup not this one.
My Best rugby must be against Wales says Rory
Belfast Telegraph – Feb 2, 2007
"When you get to situations like this and looking back you realise it was all worth it but there is still a lot more hard work ahead" he added. "nce you start sitting back and patting yourself on the back is the time you’ll slip and you mightn’t be able to get it back again. " The Ulster man is supported in the front row by Munster duo Marcus Horan and John Hayes and Best has defended his props after they shoulder a lot of criticism after Leicester’s Heineken Cup win at Thomond Park. "The Leicester scrum is very impressive and they have a lot of internationals in there I really enjoy packing down with the two boys there are great scrummagers and great players" he said. "I think a lot of the criticism they have taken in the past hasn’t been justified. " With the Welsh likely to target the Ireland set piece Best is happy with the side’s preparation and is looking forward to meeting a powerful Welsh pack head on. "Last week we tried to get rid of the rustiness in the scrum and in the lineout" he said.
Six Nations: Irish holy grail is within grasp but beware outsiders.
Free with registration – Europe Intelligence Wire – AccessMyLibrary.com – Feb 2, 2007
Not long ago it was dismissed as an Anglo- French carve-up. Then the standard was rubbish. Now it’s being played at the wrong time of year and is regarded by some club aficionados as a poor man’s Heineken Cup. The world’s most venerable rugby tournament is if nothing else a resilient old bird. Perhaps the secret of its continued existence not to mention success is that none of these design flaws occurs simultaneously. There is always one good side or at least a couple of players who transcend the muddy mediocrity in the fallow fumbling years.
Clockwatch: Wales v Ireland
BBC News – Feb 2, 2007
I’d wager he didn’t pick that up off the peg at Cecil Gee. “Wales have now cleared the pitch but the Irish are still out here warming up. Their fans have been all over the city since early in the week causing mayhem in the local hostelries – I actually doubt whether many of them made it home from when Munster won the Heineken Cup last year. ” Sean Davies BBC Sport in Cardiff”Wales replacement Ceri Sweeney is giving a flawless display of goal-kicking in front of me but there¿s not much pressure in front of an empty stadium – everyone’s diving into the bars of St Mary’s Street for one last pint before the anthems. ” Sean Davies BBC Sport in Cardiff”Just wanted to say hello from South Dakota USA where it’s 8am and the temperature outside is -26C.