The News Review:
- Bath hold out against Glasgow in Heineken Cup but holes must be …
- Heineken Cup result: Clermont Auvergne 25 – 19 Munster
- Carter cannot wait for Perpignan bow
- Gloucester coach John Ryan happy at Heineken job well done
- Scarlets v Ulster (Fri)
Bath hold out against Glasgow in Heineken Cup but holes must be …
Telegraph.co.uk United Kingdom
Those thronging the shops just over the Pulteney Bridge were badly short-changed – the real goodies and treats on offer were right here at the Rec. Glasgow garnered five tries away from home and could have snaffled more. But for a front-line goal-kicker they would have won this game and kick-started their own Heineken Cup campaign. Instead only Bath are now in a position to give chase to mighty Toulouse and a pulsating showdown at the Rec at the end of next month is very much on. Before that however Bath must sharpen up their defence or suffer the consequences with a return trip this week to Glasgow in prospect and then a tricky visit to Gwent Dragons. Bath are a joy to watch in attack but this enterprising Glasgow side featuring a batch of unheralded names on the way up exposed gaping holes in their defence. Glasgow play clever rugby in the image of their coach Sean Lineen the ‘Kilted Kiwi’ who was always 20 years ahead of his time as a player and is doing a fine job on slender resources.
Heineken Cup result: Clermont Auvergne 25 – 19 Munster
Belfast Telegraph United Kingdom
The defending champions led 16-12 at half time in this afternoon’s Heineken Cup Pool 1 clash. The visitors looked like going back to the top of the group When Marcus Horan nabbed a try in the corner for Ronan O’Gara to convert. The outhalf also kicked three first half penalties but the MIchellin men turned it around in the second half heaping on the pressure and racking up 13 points unanswered before O’Gara’s last place-kick secured the losing bonus. The home side’s points all came from Clermont’s Aussie out-half Brock James with a converted try and six penalties. Captain Paul O’Connell says Munster have only themselves to blame for the loss.
Carter cannot wait for Perpignan bow
RTE.ie Ireland
A spectator in the stands at Welford Road at the weekend Carter is set to make his much-anticipated debut for Perpignan on Sunday in the return fixture against the Tigers. Carter in his first major interview with the French media told television station France 2 yesterday that he hoped to become a better all-round player by the time his short-term stint with USAP comes to an end next summer. He said: ‘Obviously there are the goals of winning the Top 14 and getting to the latter stages of the Heineken Cup. ‘Those are the team goals but personally I want to improve my rugby and playing in a competition I am not used to is really going to challenge me. ‘Hopefully I will become a better player with this experience. ‘I saw the game (against Leicester) and got a bit of the taste of the style of rugby we play and I’m looking forward to being a part of it next weekend. ‘Playing in the Heineken Cup was a big part of my decision.
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Gloucester coach John Ryan happy at Heineken job well done
WalesOnline United Kingdom
The Kingsholm club breathed life into their Heineken Cup campaign with a convincing if not totally dominant 40-17 victory in Italy. “You can’t dwell on things we may never come across again this season” Ryan said. “I am satisfied with the outcome because we had to get a bonus point and when you go into a game with that frame of mind you do things slightly differently from how you would normally. “It’s hard because you are effectively chasing a game from the off but we did what we had to do got the job done and can now move forward to next week. “The pitch was tight small and heavy which meant it was difficult to get numbers on anyone but we did well to adapt to what was in front of us and did some good things without ever really getting into our stride.
Scarlets v Ulster (Fri)
BBC News UK
There is also a worry over lock Ryan Caldwell who limped off before the end of Ulster’s 26-16 win at Ravenhill. Wallace was a last-minute withdrawal last week following a scan to ascertain the extent of a head injury sustained in the victory over Connacht. The Ireland international was knocked unconscious and is now expected to sit out the trip to Parc y Scarlets. Meanwhile Caldwell will undergo extensive physiotherapy to his knee problem in order to be fit to face a team they have yet to beat on their home patch.