The News Review:
- Cheika looks to Holwell as injuries mount for Leinster
- Focused Carter eyes French horizon
- Ellisalde has operation on finger
- All eyes on a record Paris crowd
- No light at the end of the tunnel for Ireland
Cheika looks to Holwell as injuries mount for Leinster
Irish Times Ireland
” Indeed the feeling among players and supporters would be reciprocal given the lasting impression he left from his previous sojourn in the 2004-05 season when the polished and professional outhalf amassed a staggering 282 points in just 22 appearances. He’ll have noted some changes and Leinster’s RDS switch and ensuing popularity is such that over 16000 tickets have already been sold and this despite them being in the midst of their worst run in the Magners League since March 2004 after three successive defeats to Munster Connacht and Glasgow. Admittedly Leinster being Leinster sandwiched in amongst these three setbacks have been successive bonus point wins in the Heineken Cup over Edinburgh and Wasps. Necessity being the mother of invention however once again this will be a revealing test of Leinster’s strength in depth. Followng on from Tony McGahan’s lead after what was a particularly arduous November Test series Cheika has felt obliged to rest Luke Fitzgerald Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip while Shane Jennings (knee) Contepomi (hand infection) and CJ van der Linde (virus) have joined Nacewa (broken forearm) Leo Cullen (shoulder) Gordon D’Arcy (broken arm) Ronnie McCormack (neck) and Stephen Knoop in their casualty ward. The net result is a start for Fergus McFadden in midfield and recalls for others who have shone in their three recent A games Stephen and Simon Keogh Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy while Academy product Jamie Hagan (who propped along with Healy on the Irish Under-20 Grand Slam winning team) is on the bench. While only managing one win by a point in five previous treks to Rodney Parade Leinster have run up 220 points in five handsome home league wins over the Dragons to date but the Welsh region are a much improved side under the astute Paul Turner this season.
Focused Carter eyes French horizon
Scrum.com UK
Beating England would top off a great season. ” Not that the season is over for Carter. After a week of promotional obligations with adidas in Milan and elsewhere he heads to his new home and a Heineken Cup debut against Leicester at Stade Aime Giral on December 14.
Ellisalde has operation on finger
RTE.ie Ireland
The France international who can also play at fly-half will be unavailable for several weeks and will therefore miss the two meetings with Welsh side Newport-Gwent Dragons in group five of the European Cup. After two games Toulouse lead group five on eight points three ahead of Bath in second and Newport in third. Glasgow Warriors sit fourth and last on one point.
All eyes on a record Paris crowd
European Rugby Cup Ireland
And Max Guazzini the Stade Français Paris president is confident that when the 14th season of the tournament resumes on the weekend of 5-7 December the high-profile Pool 4 Saturday showdown will draw a bumper crowd to Stade de France. European club rugby’s elite tournament is on the way back with the middle block of Pool matches – and the one at the home of the French national team is among numerous back-to-back collisions that could have major bearings on who eventually qualifies for the prestigious quarter-finals in April. The Paris contest will see clubs who have both won their opening two matches collide before they go head-to-head again at the Twickenham Stoop a week later. The French national stadium will be the 84th venue to stage Heineken Cup action when leading Irish referee Alan Lewis whistles the kick-off between the 2007 French champions and the London club riding high in the Guinness Premiership.
No light at the end of the tunnel for Ireland
Herald.ie Ireland
It’s still early days for Kidney but a big challenge lies ahead for him. What he has done for Munster and other sides will be put to the test and I’m sure that he relishes the task. One thing is certain — the jump from the Heineken Cup to inter-national level is much bigger than people realise hence what he has done before for Munster may not work in the same way for Ireland. Knowing the type of person he is he is surely aware of this. The question is can he adapt quickly and effectively to give his players the facelift they need?It is the time of year when all that has been hard-earned can disappear within a matter of weeks. With injuries mounting various players returning from international duty the next few weeks for Michael Cheika’s men are vital to maintain momentum at the top of their group in the Heineken Cup and reignite their Magners League challenge. Even at this relatively early stage though it is hard to see them retaining a title for which they worked so hard last term.
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