The News Review:
- British Lions make 12 changes for Ellis Park
- nly excitement of Heineken Cup final was the closeness of the …
- Luke Charteris called up to Wales squad
- I wouldn’t have fitted in with Queensland Reds: Rocky Elsom
- HEINEKEN CUP
British Lions make 12 changes for Ellis Park
The Times
“For me it’s not about trying to put the wrongs of that right. It’s just about the opportunity of playing in a Lions jersey again. ”’Driscoll has enjoyed a superb year leading Ireland to a grand slam and being part of the Leinster side that won the Heineken Cup the European equivalent of the Super 14. “I’ve been on the pitch a lot more and for the most part been fairly injury-free” Driscoll said. “I played in all five Six Nations games for the first time in years which gives you continuity of performance. “Winning does become a habit and if you can infect the guys with that habit that is fantastic. There are numerous Heineken Cup grand slam and World Cup winners in this squad.
nly excitement of Heineken Cup final was the closeness of the …
Telegraph.co.uk
It’s the fact that both sides are in with a chance to pinch victory as the game builds to a climax. That’s not necessarily a criticism. Sport is at its most enthralling when the element of competition is at its most intense. Both of the Heineken Cup semi-finals fell into that category as did the Grand Slam shoot-out between Wales and Ireland in the Six Nations as do most of the contests in the Premiership.
Luke Charteris called up to Wales squad
Walesnline
He came off during Wales’ 32- 23 victory over Canada on Saturday and a scan has revealed the injury which will see him in recovery for four to six weeks. Dragons second row Charteris was named in caretaker head coach Robin McBryde’s original training squad for the tour but stayed in Wales to help his region’s Heineken Cup play-off ambitions. “We are all disappointed for Bradley who played well against Canada and he is a young man with a big future at this level” said McBryde. “Hopefully he has learned from the experiences he has had already and he will remain with us in Chicago to help out behind the scenes and continue that learning proccess. “He is up and about and well in himself and we wish him a speedy recovery as he looks to get back on the pitch in time for the beginning of the season with the Blues. “Luke has arrived in Chicago he is a more than able replacement and we are expecting him to slot seamlessly back into the system.
I wouldn’t have fitted in with Queensland Reds: Rocky Elsom
Fox Sports
From the outset the Reds had been favourites to recruit Elsom on his return from his eight-month stint with Heineken Cup champions Leinster so much so that the 40-Test blindside flanker had insisted he would talk to no other province as long as the Queensland deal proceeded smoothly. But almost from that point negotiations became strained and while Elsom refused to divulge precisely where his planned move to Ballymore went off the rails he admitted he had not seen eye-to-eye with Queensland officials. "We had a difference of opinion over the direction of the club and ultimately had I gone there that would have been divisive" said Elsom who has returned to Australia as a member of the Barbarians side to play the Wallabies at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night. "I wouldn’t have been able to go to the club without trying to make it the way I wanted it and in the end I just knew it wouldn’t be a good fit. " Clearly the in-form blindside flanker had reservations about the quality of the team Queensland was assembling for 2010 although he insisted he had made his decision to break off talks before learning Hugh McMeniman had quit the Reds to take up a lucrative contract in Japan.
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HEINEKEN CUP
SkySports
com caught up with Kenny Logan to get his views on the Heineken Cup final. Leicester take on Leinster in the Heineken Cup final on Saturday just sevens days after lifting the Guinness Premiership trophy and Logan who won the double with London Wasps in 2004 believes the quick turn around will give them the advantage. “I think it is good for them and will hold them in good stead” Logan told skysports. “I know from my Wasps days when we had big back-to-back games many people said it would harm our chances. I disagree and believed it was a massive advantage for us.