The News Review:
- England find rare solace in Heineken Cup
- Meyer: We’re ready for Carter
- Lack of composure sees Edinburgh’s Heineken Cup hopes vanish
- Munster left with little room to manoeuvre
- Bath hold out against Glasgow in Heineken Cup but holes must be …
England find rare solace in Heineken Cup
guardian.co.uk UK
Castres and Montauban are out of contention while Perpignan and Biarritz have lost two of their opening three matches and even though Clermont Auvergne pulled off a victory against the champions Munster they have a mountain to climb to qualify after being thumped at home by Sale in October. The inquest into England’s defeats by Australia South Africa and New Zealand is still being conducted but the success of Harlequins in Europe this season offers a pointer for the men in white. A year ago Quins were struggling in the Premiership and were all but out of contention in the Heineken Cup after failing to win any of their first three matches which included a heavy defeat to Stade Français in Paris. Quins returned to the French capital last Saturday and became the first team to win a group match against Stade there. Having failed to win any of their previous 12 matches in the tournament at the start of this campaign Quins now have a 100% record in their group and are handily placed in the Premiership. Their England wing Ugo Monye believes the way Harlequins have developed in the last 12 months is a cogent reason for England’s new management team to be given time. “We changed our style of play at the start of last season going for a more expansive approach and it did not pay immediate dividends” said Monye.
Meyer: We’re ready for Carter
SkySports
The Top 14 side will hand New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter his debut just days after he linked up with the club at the start of a seven-month contract. And Meyer is aware the legendary stand-off could bridge the gap between the sides after the Tigers gained a bonus-point victory over their Heineken Cup Pool 3 counterparts at the weekend. However the South African is refusing to focus his attention on the arrival of Carter admitting there are areas of his team that requires improvement if they to retain their unbeaten record in this year’s competition. World class opponents”Obviously it’s difficult going to France and there will be a lot of hype around Carter because he’s a world-class player but in every single game in this tough tournament you face world-class players” he said. “For me it’s not about one player. It’s about playing against a team and focusing on what we’re going to do well.
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Lack of composure sees Edinburgh’s Heineken Cup hopes vanish
The Edinburgh Journal UK
Twenty points from Danny Cipriani and a late Tom Rees try secured the win for the visitors despite Edinburgh holding a one-point lead going into the final 15 minutes. With both teams tied on four points in pool 2 of the Heineken Cup a win for either side would make their progression to the knock-out stages more-or-less a formality. With so much at stake Edinburgh named 12 Scottish internationals in their starting line-up while Wasps welcomed back 9 players back from the England autumn test series. After his disappointing run of form for England Cipriani had a point to prove and Edinburgh gifted the England star four first half penalties as a result of constant infringements at the breakdown. The home side enjoyed the majority of first half possession yet failed to convert this into points as Wasps’ blitz defense dealt comfortably with Edinburgh’s forays into their half. Chris Paterson scored the home side’s only points of the first half when Wasps were penalised for not rolling away.
Munster left with little room to manoeuvre
Irish Times Ireland
It seems to be ever thus with the champions who haven’t had the luxury of being drawn with an Italian side and the 10-point start that ensues for five seasons. Sunday’s defeat in Clermont probably now leaves them no room for manoeuvre and if they are to retain the Heineken Cup and thereby reach that pinnacle for a third time in four years they will probably have to win six matches in a row. Clermont will now travel to Thomond Park in altogether stronger shape than they did last season and in do-or-die mode. Thus one of the side effects of beating them were Munster to do so is that it would probably dilute Clermont’s interest in their remaining Euro games when set against their Holy Grail of an elusive first “bouclier” not least when they travel to Edgeley Park in round six. Watching Clermont hit their straps in the third quarter at the Stade Marcel Michelin made one realise again what a phenomenal achievement it was by the Sharks to make off with a five-point haul from the same venue in round one – one of only three defeats the French side have suffered in their last 44 home matches. Munster missed a trick at home to Montauban in round one whereas Sale may well repeat their bonus point over Montauban when travelling to France next weekend and already on 10 points can therefore be expected to accumulate 20 outside of what happens in Thomond Park in round five.
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.