The News Review:
- O’Connor steps up to fill boots of Humphreys in Leeds clash
- Lynn`s bite worth only six weeks
- No blues for Brown
O’Connor steps up to fill boots of Humphreys in Leeds clash
Belfast Telegraph – Aug 29, 2007
Other frontliners unavailable are Justin Harrison (knee) David Humphreys (ankle) Kieron Dawson and new signing Simon Danielli. Harrison Dawson and Danielli should be available to play some part in Ulster’s second friendly against Heineken Cup opponents Gloucester at Ravenhill on September 8. With such a depleted squad McCall has taken the opportunity to blood a number of fresh faces most notably at out-half where young Belfast Harlequins player Niall O’Connor will make his first start at 10 having impressed in pre-season training. The Ireland Under-21 star has all the attributes for a big future in the game including a huge kicking game and it will be interesting to see how he copes with the step up. Another unfamiliar name in the backline is Malone wing and Ulster Academy player Mark McCrea who has impressed the Ulster coaching set-up with his physicality and edge. Another one for the future is Darren Cave who will partner Paul Steinmetz in the midfield while a fit-again Mark Bartholomeusz will be raring to go at full-back.
Lynn`s bite worth only six weeks
Planet Rugby – Aug 29, 2007
These two players were banned by New Zealand and Australian disciplinary committees respectively. But there are other biting bans which puts Lynn’s sentence into perspective. Castres back row forward Ismaela Lassissi was banned for 12 months after sinking his teeth into Munster prop Peter Clohessy in a Heineken Cup game in January 2002. Bath prop Kevin Yates received the same length of suspension for biting an opponent in a Premiership game against London Irish. In that light Lynn’s ban is a big let-off for the second row forward – considering that in the cases of Le Roux and Van Heerden their bans effectively ended their careers. Lynn was cited by Citing Commissioner Martin Harris for biting North Harbour player Greg Rawlinson on the finger in the 76th minute of the match and appeared before a New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) Judicial Committee hearing in Wellington on Wednesday. The Judicial Committee comprised Bruce Squire QC (Chairman) Brian Coomber and Graham Williams.
No blues for Brown
Richmond and Twickenham Times – Aug 29, 2007
“It is harder in the second season. You get analysed more. Quins face Heineken Cup group opponents Bristol on Saturday in the third match of their pre-season campaign. But Brown does not think fans will be able to read much into the result before turning his thoughts to the big Guinness Premiership kick-off on September 15 against neighbours London Irish atTwickenham. “I am not sure how much of a benchmark the Bristol game will be because we will still be working on different combinations ahead of the season” he added. “It is important that we get a good start. “Everyone wants to win silverware but we have got to concentrate on the first few games and hopefully that will put us in a good position to be in contention at the end of the season.