The News Review:
- Tom Croft to join Lions but Delon Armitage to miss out
- ‘Dirty’ win delights Vesty
- Edinburgh can finish ahead of Heineken finalists
Tom Croft to join Lions but Delon Armitage to miss out
Telegraph.co.uk
The news for Delon Armitage another England player who has enjoyed a fine season is not so favourable. Armitage was considered a leading contender to replace the injured Cardiff centre Tom Shanklin but sources say that McGeechan is not intending to seek a replacement. McGeechan originally intended taking a squad of 36 players to confront the Springboks but increased that number to 37 on the assumption that he might lose 15 players to next weekend’s Heineken Cup final damaging preparations for the early part of the tour. However Cardiff and Munster failed to make the final – both have large Lions contingents – and McGeechan feels that he has enough cover in Shanklin’s outside centre position not to need a replacement.
Related from Foxpunks: Review: Karole Armitage still crafty minds her craft too
‘Dirty’ win delights Vesty
SkySports
The Tigers claimed the first half of a possible double when they edged out London Irish at Twickenham to claim the domestic title. There’s little time for the club to celebrate though as they have the small matter of a European showdown against Leinster to prepare for. Vesty feels the fact that they had to fight so hard to beat the Exiles will work in Leicester’s favour as they bid to win the Heineken Cup for a record-equalling third time. Horrible win”I think a good dirty horrible win holds us in good stead for next week” said Vesty who started at fly-half in the absence of the injured Toby Flood. “Last time we were in this position we won handsomely against Gloucester and then played horribly the following week. “It is the perfect result. An ugly win keeps us on our toes.
Edinburgh can finish ahead of Heineken finalists
Scotland on Sunday
Victory would have secured them second place in the table but there was also the small matter of a run-out for some squad players ahead of next weekend’s European final against Leicester. It also marked the return of British Lions-selected wing Rob Kearney who had been out for five weeks with the mumps. For the Dragons who signed former Wasps prop Ali McKenzie last week it was about finishing off the regular season and getting ready for a Heineken Cup qualifying play-off in Italy on 29 May. The Bulls finished top of the Super 14 table with a nail-biting 27-26 victory over the Sharks in an all-South African derby played in Durban. The Sharks scored their fourth try in injury time but finished short of the win that would have put the home side into the semi-finals. Victory for the Bulls meant they climbed two places to head the table after the conclusion of the round-robin stage of the competition. The result also decided Saturday’s semi-final draw with the Bulls hosting defending champions Canterbury Crusaders in Pretoria and the Waikato Chiefs enjoying home advantage in Hamilton against the Wellington Hurricanes in an all-New Zealand affair.