The News Review:
- Ireland A side pushing for World Cup places
- Dispatch Online – Your premier Eastern Cape news site
- Staunton gets Ireland call
- Voyce aims to rebuild Lions career
- Rugby union: Balshaw’s tour over | Sport | The Guardian
- Agen lose Kelleher with relegation
Ireland A side pushing for World Cup places
RTE.ie – May 28, 2007
With fly-half Jeremy Staunton called into the senior squad as cover for the injured Paddy Wallace Leinster’s Johnny Sexton switches from full-back to fly-half. The knock-on effect sees Ross McCarron start in the 15 jersey while Keith Earls moves from the left wing to replace Seamus Mallon at inside centre. Leicester’s Johnny Murphy comes in on the wing and fellow Tiger Frank Murphy starts at scrum-half after playing in the Heineken Cup final last weekend. Bradley has made one change in the pack with blind-side flanker Stephen Keogh making way for Munster’s John O’Sullivan. IRELAND team to play New Zealand Maori at Exeter Tuesday 8pm: R McCarron (Leinster); P McKenzie (Ulster) D Cave (Ulster) K Earls (Munster) J Murphy (Leicester); J Sexton (Leinster) F Murphy (Leicester); R Hogan (Connacht) J Fogarty (Connacht captain) M Ross (Harlequins) R Caldwell (Ulster) A Farley (Connacht) J O’Sullivan (Munster) J O’Connor (Wasps) R Wilson (Ulster). Replacements: S Cronin (Munster) D Fitzpatrick (Ulster) D Gannon (Connacht) S Keogh (Leinster) C Keane (Connacht) S Mallon (Northampton) J Hearty (Connacht).
Dispatch Online – Your premier Eastern Cape news site
Dispatch Online – May 28, 2007
South Africa kicked off their international season with a crushing 58-10 win over the World Cup champions at Vodacom Park on Saturday. The hosts who ran in seven tries led 30-3 at halftime. England minus up to 30 of their leading players who are either injured or were involved in last weekend’s Heineken Cup final were no match for the South Africans. The visitors’ preparations were further hampered by the stomach virus Wing David Strettle was ruled out on Thursday. Centre Andy Farrell and scrumhalf Pete Richards followed. Prop Nick Wood could also not take the field after injuring his shoulder in the captain’s run on Friday. The English lost several other players during the game something which will further disrupt preparations for the second Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
Staunton gets Ireland call
Ireland Online – May 28, 2007
O?Sullivan is expected to make more than 10 changes to a starting XV he will announce on Tuesday. Ulster duo Andrew Trimble (ankle) and Tommy Bowe (shoulder) both picked up knocks during the first Test defeat and there are question marks hanging over their participation. Leo Cullen was ineligible in Santa Fe owing to his participation in Leicester Tigers? Heineken Cup final defeat to London Wasps but the lock is expected to be included in Ireland?s starting line-up in Buenos Aires. And the 29-year-old insists the clash is an important test for what is expected to be a new-look Ireland side.
Voyce aims to rebuild Lions career
ic Newcastle.co.uk – May 28, 2007
The Wasps winger has enjoyed club success winning two Guinness Premierships two Heineken Cups and the Powergen Cup over the last four seasons. But for England the 26-year-old has remained a fringe player. Just when he thought he was making progress came last summer’s first Test against the Wallabies. England’s young team lost 34-3 Voyce endured a nightmare evening on the wing and fell from Andy Robinson’s plans so fast he was dropped for the second Test and did not make the 55-man elite squad at the start of this season. Voyce struggled to rationalise his fall and a change in England coaches from Robinson to Brian Ashton did not signal a change.
Rugby union: Balshaw’s tour over | Sport | The Guardian
Guardian Unlimited – May 28, 2007
Ashton is scheduled to confirm his starting line-up tomorrow. The Wasps wing Tom Voyce meanwhile returns to representative rugby for the first time in a year at Twickenham today. Voyce starts for England Saxons in their Churchill Cup game against Scotland A with club-mates Danny Cipriani Paul Sackey and James Haskell who played in the Heineken Cup win eight days ago.
Agen lose Kelleher with relegation
Planet Rugby – May 28, 2007
“I’m in negotiations at the moment and I’m basically surveying my options. I’ll come to a decision in due course and do what’s best for Byron Kelleher” he said. “I told (Agen) from the start I wanted to be involved with the Heineken Cup and the French championship. I want to playcompetitive rugby. “The 49-Test veteran said his preference was to find another French club. “If I’m going anywhere offshore it will be France” he said. “The lifestyle the way they play rugby and the challenge it holds appeals to me.