The News Review:
- Kidney goes all-in for Scarlets clash
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- Connacht’s Heineken hopes evaporate
Kidney goes all-in for Scarlets clash
Irish Times – May 2, 2008
Kiidney has opted for wholesale change from the side that wasdefeated 19-9 by Ulster midweek, reverting to the team that hasbegun the last two Heineken Cup fixtures against Saracens andGloucester. There is little at stake in the Magners League for Munster buttheir opponents could be overtaken this weekend by Neath-SwanseaOspreys who still have both eyes on that second Welsh spot in nextseason’s Heineken Cup. Ospreys have a game in hand and face Edinburgh at home tonight,so the intensity is unlikely to drop for Munster at StradeyPark. Munster : Denis Hurley; Doug Howlett, Lifiemi Mafi,Rua Tipoki, Ian Dowling; Ronan O’Gara, Tomas O’Leary; Marcus Horan,Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell;Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy Replacements : Frank Sheahan, FedericoPucciariello, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Peter Stringer, PaulWarwick, Anthony Horgan, © 2008 The Irish TimesADVERTISEMENT.
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Belfast Telegraph – May 2, 2008
His trailblazing first season with the province was franked with the enduring image of the 34-times capped Wallaby lock kissing the Celtic League trophy. His influential role in driving Mark McCall’s side to Ulster’s first piece of significant silverware since the 1999 European Cup triumph and his abrasive and committed style elevated the former ACT Brumbies and New South Wales Waratahs star to cult status among the Ravenhill faithful. Yet behind the scenes, Harrison’s personal life was in turmoil following the separation from his wife Janneke, who had returned to Sydney that summer. As Ulster’s form fell away dramatically in the second half of the season, so too did Harrison’s… And he feels the jibes about him just being here to top up his pension are unfair. “In Australia, once you get to 30, if the ARU don’t think you can do a job for the national team then your provincial contract is cut,” he added. “I wanted to keep playing at the top level and Ulster looked perfect as a team going places and hungry for input. “But why does he still care so much about a place where his rugby ambitions were not fulfilled save for that Celtic League win?”For the simple reason that I have been through such a terrible time personally when I was here,” he added. “I will always have family and friends to fall back on, but in the end I fell back on Ulster Rugby and the people. “It wasn’t as if I didn’t have other opportunities. I could have gone home to Australia and played back there and maybe tried to reconcile my marriage.
Connacht’s Heineken hopes evaporate
Irish Times – May 2, 2008
Touchdowns from Tom James, Ben White, Xavier Rush, GarethWilliams and Gareth Thomas saw the Blues keep the Magners Leaguetitle race alive but Leinster remain odds-on to lift the trophy athome to the Newport Gwent Dragons tomorrow night. Blues boss David Young stated earlier in the week that hisside’s main aim was to finish as the best-placed Welsh region inthe league and they cemented their position with a display full ofcrisp finishing. They took their time to get going with Connacht first off themark with a fourth-minute penalty from Troy Nathan. The province’sNew Zealand fly-half then repeated the trick from closer in for a6-0 home lead. Cardiff lost flanker Martyn Williams to an early injury but theygot up a head of steam towards the end of the first quarter withJason Spice and his pack combining well.