The News Review:
- Injury ends Moody’s Six Nations hopes
- Pat Howard signs with the Wallabies
- Shaw thing for England?
Injury ends Moody’s Six Nations hopes
Telegraph.co.uk – Aug 2, 2007
O’Kelly was included in the A team as part of his rehabilitation from the ongoing knee problem and it was hoped he would be available for the Six Nations encounter with England. However this latest setback has left him with just one Celtic League match to prove his fitness ahead of England’s visit to Croke Park on Feb 24. Sale full-backDaniel Larrechea has been suspended for six weeks for “alleged acts contrary to good sportsmanship” during Sale’s Heineken Cup game against the Ospreys last month. Complaints that Larrechea had “led with his head” and spat at an opponent were dismissed by an European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel sitting in Dublin but the citing was upheld with regard to “contact with the eye area. The ban runs up to and including March 6 and has been backdated to Jan 21 when Larrechea was suspended by his club. Biarritz lock David Couzinet meanwhile also received a six-week suspension after being cited for stamping during a Heineken Cup pool match against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens almost three weeks ago. Former Wales prop Brian Williams died suddenly yesterday of a suspected heart attack.
Pat Howard signs with the Wallabies
Planet Rugby – Aug 2, 2007
He will begin his tenure on August 7. Howard returned home to Australia earlier in June after leading Leicester Tigers to two major titles. The Australian was named the director of rugby of the year after Leicester became the first team to reach the Premiership EDF Energy and Heineken Cup finals in the same season. The Tigers won the first two – beating the Gloucester and the Ospreys – but were denied an historic treble by Wasps in the Heineken Cup final. Howard had stated that he was planning to have a break from rugby in order to pursue his business career but it appears that he has had a change in heart. O’Neill said: “Pat will bring great rugby intellect and innovation to this critical aspect of the business namely the direction of elite coaching and professional player talent identification and development. ” Pat Wilson formerly General Manager of the Rugby Unit has accepted the role of Head of Special Projects covering such areas as logistical arrangements around the Rugby World Cup and the review of the player contracting system.
Shaw thing for England?
BBC News – Aug 2, 2007
Shaw has not played for England since a replacement outing against Samoa in 2005 and not started a Test since the 2004 tour of New Zealand – where he was harshly sent off – and Australia. “I was bitterly disappointed not to be involved in the autumn internationals or Six Nations this year” he added. “But my form for Wasps especially at the end of the season and in the Heineken Cup has been at such a level that I deserved another chance. “I feel like I have had the consistency of performance and level of performance that would warrant selection at international level but obviously that hasn’t been the case. I’ve never had a thorough explanation as to why. “It’s a difficult one for me. I’ve always guessed it may be to do with my defensive line-out work but I always felt I had something to offer that other second-rowers didn’t whether that’s to be a disruptive influence in the maul area or whatever.