The News Review:
- ‘Connell factfile
- Fans smile as Cardiff Blues shine
- De Villiers facing race against time to be fit for Lions series
- Ireland’s 14 Lions
- Historic clean sweep getting tantalisingly close
‘Connell factfile
SkySports
2001 – Makes his Munster debut playing at lock in a pre-season friendly against Bath. May 25 – Starts in Munster’s 15-9 defeat by Leicester in the Heineken Cup final at the Millennium Stadium. Ireland go on to win the Triple Crown finishing second behind France.
Fans smile as Cardiff Blues shine
Walesnline
“To win by 40 points in a cup final is pretty amazing” said the 27-year- old. “We took Gloucester apart and it was the best show by a Blues team ever. ther than a couple of Heineken Cup games in the ’90s I can’t remember a better performance. “ur fans were outnumbered but it was a good carnival atmosphere on a nice sunny day. We had a few friendly drinks with the Gloucester boys after the game – even though we’ve destroyed their season. ”The Blues’ victory was their third over the Cherry and Whites this campaign after emphatic home and away wins in the Heineken Cup. Mr Bussell a season ticket holder for 15 years is revelling in the region’s best season ever.
De Villiers facing race against time to be fit for Lions series
Irish Independent
The Stormers captain lasted just six minutes of their Super 14 defeat to the Wellington Hurricanes before being forced off with a groin injury and a scan yesterday revealed that De Villiers will be out of action for up to six weeks with the first Test against the Lions scheduled for Durban on June 20. De Villiers been capped 46 times for the Springboks and was SA Rugby’s 2008 player of the year as well as the players’ player of the year. He has also been strongly linked with a move to Heineken Cup champions Munster next season as a replacement for New Zealand centre Rua Tipoki. Signing one of the world’s best centres would be a significant coup for Tony McGahan but not necessarily a good move for Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning coach Declan Kidney. Tipoki’s unavailability since the turn of the year has seen McGahan opt for a midfield partnership of former New Zealand Sevens star Lifeimi Mafi and up-and-coming Ireland international Keith Earls which has proved hugely successful. Earls has been excelling in the Munster midfield to the point where he has made a late surge for inclusion in Ian McGeechan’s Lions tour squad to be named today. De Villiers would be an automatic selection in midfield with Munster which could mean a positional switch for Earls and would also keep Barry Murphy (superb in the win over Connacht last weekend) down the pecking order the Irish international already having had to take up position behind overseas imports Mafi and Tipoki.
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Ireland’s 14 Lions
Irish Times
Lions apps : 0 Ireland debut as replacement against Romania in November 2005 but scored try on first start in 2006 Six Nations Championship against Italy. Integral part of Munster’s Heineken Cup success and overcame injury suspension and Rory Best to be Ireland’s first choice hooker. Accurate lineout thrower great work-rate round the pitch. Paul ’Connell Age : 29. Position : Secondrow.
Historic clean sweep getting tantalisingly close
Irish Times
Not the least welcome aspect of Munster and Leinster earning a second all-Irish Heineken Cup semi-final in four years is that it ensures an Irish team in the final for the fifth time in 10 years. Given Munster and Leinster lead the way in the Magners League that means Irish rugby is most probably one match away from an historic clean sweep of Grand Slam Six Nations Heineken Cup Magners League and Triple Crown in the same season. Irish rugby possesses all this as things stand but to win the lot in the same season would make it the grandest of years. No Celtic country has completed such a clean sweep in the same campaign. What’s more of the seven Grand Slams since the Heineken Cup started in 1995-96 only once have teams from one country completed a similar sweep.