The News Review:
- Guinness Premiership team news
- Sean Lineen wants Glasgow momentum back
- Foden to leave Sale to pursue life at No9 with Northampton
- Ulster defy elements to edge closer to Cup spot
- Saracens in talks with South African investors
- English clubs banking on their SA imports
Guinness Premiership team news
Telegraph.co.uk – Mar 1, 2008
This tradition has been temporarily stopped because Bristol are playing Stade Francais on Friday and Hill wants his squad to start ‘recovery and rehab’ sessions immediately. Gloucester Minor knee problems have ruled out Iain Balshaw and Gareth Delve from an appearance against their old team Bath tonight. Both are now likely to be available for resumption of Heineken Cup pool games in which Gloucester are the only undefeated team having amassed 19 points from four games. Harlequins Fears that Nick Easter had sustained a serious knee injury have been allayed, though the No 8 is not a certain starter on Sunday against Leicester. He may well get a short rest because he is unlikely to feature in the Heineken Cup match in Cardiff next Friday as Quins cannot qualify for the last eight. Leeds Tom Biggs will be making his 50th Premiership start tomorrow and needs one more try to match the club record of 37 set by Dan Scarbrough. For the former cinema usher and student, the two tries he scored against Sale last Sunday must make him a candidate to gain a place in the England Saxons squad this season.
Sean Lineen wants Glasgow momentum back
Telegraph.co.uk – Mar 1, 2008
In which light, Glasgow coach Sean Lineen is not inclined to bask in the reflected glory of the praise his side has earned for their stylish displays when he also has to grapple with a run of results that has seen them win just one of their last four matches. That solitary victory was their 9-6 Heineken Cup win against Biarritz at Firhill on Dec 9. The previous weekend they had lost to Connacht in Galway, and they have since been beaten by Biarritz, in the return fixture in France, and by Edinburgh. With two critical Heineken games looming over the next fortnight, Lineen has emphasised the importance of tonight’s Magners League clash with the Dragons at Firhill in getting out of the losing habit. “The game is huge for us,” said Lineen as he looked ahead to the visit of the Welsh side. “It’s all about momentum.
Foden to leave Sale to pursue life at No9 with Northampton
Guardian Unlimited – Mar 1, 2008
I have two international scrum-halves in Richard Wigglesworth and Dwayne Peel [who joins from Llanelli Scarlets for next season] and was unable to promise Ben games at scrum-half, which is his chosen position. “The 22-year-old Foden is expected to make a playing return this season, with Sale making a strong push for trophies in the Premiership and European Challenge Cup. Shane Williams, the 31-year-old Wales wing, has signed a new three-year contract with Heineken Cup quarter-finalists the Ospreys. Williams, who needs one try to equal Gareth Thomas’s record of 40 touchdowns for Wales, has committed himself to the region until 2011. The decision follows that of his Wales and Ospreys colleague Lee Byrne, who agreed a new long-term deal this week. Williams has scored 39 tries in 54 Tests for Wales and also toured New Zealand with the 2005 Lions. His Ospreys record shows a return of 35 tries from 78 games.
Ulster defy elements to edge closer to Cup spot
Belfast Telegraph – Mar 1, 2008
But Ulster’s victory was thoroughly deserved, founded on a brilliant first half display into the driving rain, with a try by Isaac Boss chiselling out a 5-3 lead at the break. While Ulster found it more difficult to make full use of the wind on their backs in the second period, and were perhaps guilty of kicking too much ball away which made it too easy for the Scarlets to counter-attack culminating in Priestland’s try, they showed great composure and spirit to finish the job when it mattered. With Connacht losing at home to Leinster, Ulster are now five points clear of the western province with a game in hand, a significant advantage in the battle for a Heineken Cup spot next season. That Ulster found themselves leading only 5-3 at the break was no reflection of the first half for the home side gave almost the perfect display playing into the driving rain, completely dominating the possession and territory stakes. Ulster began in impressive fashion, physical around the fringes both with and without the ball. And they were unlucky not to take an early lead when, after a sharp midfield break by Paddy Wallace, Niall O’Connor saw his penalty attempt into the wind rebound off an upright. The ball fell to an Ulster forward but as it was moved swifly left, Mark Bartholomeusz knocked on and the opportunity was lost.
Saracens in talks with South African investors
Telegraph.co.uk – Mar 1, 2008
It is thought the Premiership club will confirm Eddie Jones, Australia’s 2003 World Cup coach, as successor to director of rugby Alan Gaffney. Jones, who is working with the club in an advisory capacity, was expected to take over from current boss Gaffney later this year. Gaffney, also an Australian, has guided them to third place in the Guinness Premiership this season and to the verge of a Heineken Cup quarter-final place.
English clubs banking on their SA imports
Independent Online – Mar 1, 2008
Leicester, just five points off the pace, entertain bottom club Leeds Carnegie at Welford Road in the Midlands this afternoon and should gain a whopping victory over the struggling, outclassed Yorkshire club. Saturday’s other game looks a much closer context. London Irish, who are a disappointing eighth on the log although they have reached the quarterfinals of this season’s Heineken Cup, take on Neil de Kock’s Saracens, at Reading. De Kock and his fellow ex-Springbok Brent Russell will be key men as Saracens, currently fifth in the table, aim to make up ground in their bid to finish in the top four. Fixtures
Saturday: London Irish v Saracens, Harlequins v Gloucester, Leicester v Leeds Carnegie. Sunday: Bristol v Bath.