The News Review:
- Injuries force Frank Hadden to shuffle tour party for Argentina again
- Ian McGeechan named as British and Irish Lions coach
- Brian Smith set to become England backs coach
- Wales name uncapped Fury for S.Africa tour
Injuries force Frank Hadden to shuffle tour party for Argentina again
Times Online – May 14, 2008
The position of the players in France is still to be resolved, but it islooking increasingly unlikely that any of them will be released to join thetour. The league stage of the French championship runs to the middle of nextmonth and all of the Scots who might be in with a shout of a call-up to thenational squad are representing clubs involved in battles of one sort oranother. Perpignan and Stade Français, where Nathan Hines, Chris Cusiter and SimonTaylor are based, are both likely to be gunning for the play-offs;Montauban, home to Scott Murray, are in the final Heineken Cup qualifyingspot and Bourgion, where Mark Rennie has emerged as an outside contender,are one of their main rivals.
Ian McGeechan named as British and Irish Lions coach
Times Online – May 14, 2008
McGeechan was unbeaten as coach of the midweek team on the ill-fated tour toNew Zealand in 2005, which ended in a series whitewash. He won 32 caps forScotland – nine as captain – playing at fly half and centre and made eightTest appearances for the Lions. The former schoolteacher joined Wasps in 2005 and landed the Powergen AngloWelsh Cup title during his first season in charge. A year later he guidedWasps to Heineken Cup glory with a compelling victory over Leicester atTwickenham.
Brian Smith set to become England backs coach
Times Online – May 14, 2008
“He is a bloody good guy, who would fitin perfectly with what Johnno is doing with England. ”Smith wants the job and has the respect and gravitas that Johnson, the teammanager, is looking for in such a senior role. His skills as a coachcombined with his management experience, not least with London Irish, whom,in tandem with Toby Booth, he guided to the semi-finals of the Heineken Cupthis season, have made him Johnson’s first choice ahead of Jim Mallinder,the Northampton director of rugby. Besides finalising the composition of hisfirst England squads, which were announced yesterday, Johnson has beenworking on the appointment of the backs coach who would be the final piecein his management jigsaw. Smith would not want to leave London Irish, who have six players on duty withEngland or the Saxons next month, on bad terms. A club press releasecommenting on the players’ international recognition was issued yesterday inthe name of Booth, rather than Smith, which indicates that they are resignedto a parting of the ways. Smith was linked with Ireland as the successor toEddie O’Sullivan as head coach and admitted at the time that he would liketo be involved with an international team.
Wales name uncapped Fury for S.Africa tour
International Herald Tribune – May 14, 2008
As well as Peel and Phillips, Gavin Henson, Martyn Williams, Lee Byrne and Robin Sowden-Taylor will all miss the tour through injury while Alix Popham is unavailable following his move to French club Brive. Yet there was still no room for Colin Charvis, who set the world record for the number of Test tries by a forward against the Springboks last November, sparking speculation that he will retire this summer. The 35-year-old was prevented by his region the Dragons from joining Wales for their training camp last week in Ireland, with Heineken Cup qualification still up for grabs and now that looks to have cost him the chance to add to his 94 caps. Gatland said: “We didn't consider Colin. He wasn't involved in the Six Nations and we felt this was a chance to look at the future and develop some younger players. “We've had a number of injuries but that means this tour is an opportunity for a number of young players. But we still feel we are able to field a strong starting 15 against the world champions.