The News Review:
- Carter anticipates bon voyage
- Young Scots on the up but time has come to finally close the deal
- Cheika looks to Holwell as injuries mount for Leinster
- Stirling County 31 – 13 Edin Accies
- Ellisalde has operation on finger
- WALLABIES WIN INSPIRES JONES
Carter anticipates bon voyage
Stuff.co.nz New Zealand
"I was kicking the ball well all week but in the warm-up I lost a bit of rhythm so that was tough. It was just one of those nights" he said. He gets alongside his new French teammates at Leicester on Friday where Perpignan play the first leg of their Heineken Cup doubleheader against the English powerhouse.
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Young Scots on the up but time has come to finally close the deal
guardian.co.uk UK
We need one of those massive results that can announce the start of a new era. But I do feel one is coming from us any day now and I say that with both my Scotland and my Edinburgh hats on. Heineken Cup rugby returns next weekend and we have two vital games coming up against Wasps champions of England umpteen times including last time round and twice winners of the Heineken Cup. I know a lot has been said about them bumping along the bottom of the Premiership lately – well it’s not the first time that has happened at the start of a season. They’re masters at timing their campaigns and this Heineken Cup is coming to a crunch for them as much as it is for us. So we’re expecting the arrival of a champion side at Murrayfield on Friday night. But more about the mood.
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.
Stirling County 31 – 13 Edin Accies
Scotland on Sunday UK
It was Houston’s first outing since recovering from injury and he could go straight into the Gunners line-up for Friday’s Heineken Cup clash with Wasps at Murrayfield. Stirling went into battle with confidence in the wake of their stunning success against Watsonians at Myreside last Sunday. It was Houston’s early try that provided another injection of self belief. Aca Ratua went over for their other first-half score ? but the real damage was done after the restart. Their other Edinburgh pro Roly Reid bagged number three and the bonus point was secured by Chris Faill.
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.
WALLABIES WIN INSPIRES JONES
Sportinglife.co.za UK
Jones refused to talk about possible selection for the Lions tour of South Africa next summer preferring instead to talk about his immediate Ospreys commitments. “I’m an Osprey first and foremost and a Welsh international secondly. I’ve got two Heineken Cup games coming up three domestic derbies and then two more Heineken Cup games. It’s going to be a busy Christmas and hopefully we can take an element of the success we have had with Wales back to the regions. One player who will not be figuring for the regions over the Christmas period is Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts who suffered a skull fracture in the first half. Despite the injury – suffered in a collision with Australia captain Stirling Mortlock – the 22-year-old played on for nearly 15 minutes and played a part in the first of Wales’ two tries. Roberts will be out for around six weeks but could be fit again for the opening Six Nations game against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 14.