The News Review:
- 5000 tickets remain for the Heineken Cup clash Wasps v Leinster
- Blues in top shape to prove European credentials
- Coaching speculation does spreys few favours
- Return of familiar Munster faces a welcome boost
- The Agenda: Your need-to-know guide to Sport
5000 tickets remain for the Heineken Cup clash Wasps v Leinster
European Rugby Cup Ireland
Wasps and Leinster go head to head in a do or die game at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 17 January K 5. This Round 5 clash will prove vital to Wasps’ qualification hopes in this seasons’ Heineken Cup and interest and sales have been strong since the outset. pening the lower bowl only for this New Year clash with a capacity of 30000 just 5000 tickets remain.
Blues in top shape to prove European credentials
Walesnline United Kingdom
Lynn Howells was coach as they strode to the Welsh-Scottish League title but it’s been a barren spell since for an outfit which used to brand itself as the world’s greatest rugby club. The Blues should be ranked with Heineken Cup superpowers Toulouse Munster and Leicester Tigers and dining at the top table of European rugby. But ambition seemed to be dreadfully lacking at Cardiff Arms Park as they threatened to go into permanent meltdown. Head honchos at the Blues finally woke up to the fact they should be competing with the big guns of Europe with the signing of Jonah Lomu in 2005 proving to them they still had the scope to draw big crowds. Since then the Blues have built slowly and going into 2009 have a squad capable of competing with the best teams in Europe. They are top of Pool Six in the Heineken and with Italian minnows Calvisano to come to Cardiff David Young’s men are virtually assured of a passage to the quarter-finals.
Coaching speculation does spreys few favours
Walesnline United Kingdom
and they were beaten 29-19 and 32-17 by Japan yes Japan two months ago. Suddenly the US is prepared to release Johnson and surprise surprise his Kiwi pal Andrew Hore who was Wales fitness coach between 2003-05 and is spreys elite performance director approaches him after failing to lure New Zealand backs guru Wayne Smith to Swansea. And this just days before the resumption of the Heineken Cup. How disconcerting! What next? A Johnson-coached spreys to do a deal with the Scarlets and swap James Hook for Stephen Jones? Don’t rule anything out!SPREYSStar performer: Alun Wyn JonesWatch out for: Richard HibbardMust win fixtures: Munster (h); Perpignan (a); Leicester Tigers (h)High point: Doing the double over the BluesLow point: Losing at the DragonsWhat has to happen in 2009: A Heineken Cup Magners League and EDF Energy Cup trebleKeep up to date with the news.
Return of familiar Munster faces a welcome boost
Irish Times Ireland
That will probably give Paul Warwick who replaced him last week another chance to step up and secure his place as cover in the absence of the Ireland outhalf. Also missing are Rua Tipoki who injured his hamstring last week and James Coughlan who hurt his shoulder. Both are considered long-term injuries and the two are likely to miss the final two games of Munster’s Heineken Cup pool phase. MUNSTER (squad v spreys): D Hurley D Howlett K Earls I Dowling A Horgan K Lewis L Mafi B Murphy T ‘Leary D Williams P Stringer M Prendergast J Manning P Warwick M Horan F Pucciariello J Hayes T Ryan J Flannery D Fogarty P ‘Connell M ‘Driscoll D ‘Callaghan A Quinlan D Ryan N Ronan D Wallace D Leamy. This article appears in the print edition of the Irish TimesADVERTISEMENT.
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The Agenda: Your need-to-know guide to Sport
Times nline UK
MarkSelby who won the tournament in 2008 is the No 1 seed. January 16Rugby union: Heineken Cup fixtures resume after the Christmas breakwith games including Munster v Sale Sharks. The cup involves leading clubsfrom six European nations — England France Ireland Italy Scotland andWales. January 18Basketball: BBL Cup final in Birmingham. Milton Keynes Lions won thetitle in 2008 beating the Newcastle Eagles 69-66. Rugby union: Heineken Cup matches.