The News Review:
- Euro rugby chiefs shake up cup format
- McFadden Steers Ireland ‘A’ To Cup Glory
- Heineken Cup in town
- Brian ‘Driscoll puts Leinster’s Heineken Cup triumph ahead of …
- Under the spotlight: Jackson’s chance to shine against France
Euro rugby chiefs shake up cup format
Walesnline
European Rugby Cup Limited have announced major changes to the knockout stages to their second tier competition below the Heineken Cup. From next season the top three runners-up in their Heineken Cup pools who fail to qualify for the quarter-finals will qualify for the same stage of the European Challenge Cup. The six pool winners and the two best runners-up currently qualify for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup. Now the next best three teams in the Heineken Cup will play the five European Challenge Cup pool winners. The changes which run along similar lines to soccer’s Uefa Cup (now the Europa League) will give the second tier tournament some much- needed profile and added bite.
McFadden Steers Ireland ‘A’ To Cup Glory
irish Rugby News
The Leinster centre who likes to sail in his free time was at the helm of everything Ireland ‘A’ did – and they did plenty in taking the silver trophy in emphatic fashion at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. McFadden followed up his two tries in the previous game against Georgia with three conversions and a penalty to add to tries from Devin Toner Isaac Boss Sean Cronin Felix Jones Johne Murphy and John Muldoon. Jonathan Sexton another member of Leinster’s Heineken Cup-winning squad wielded plenty of influence in open play and kicked 10 points. Speaking afterwards McFadden said: “We’re delighted to have beatean England in this last match. We thought it would be a bit closer but we gelled a lot better than them and put in a very good performance. “There’s loads of talent in the team so let’s hope there’s a lot more to come from this group of players. “It’s been great to have Declan Kidney and the senior coaches here looking after us and it has certainly given us extra motivation to succeed in this tournament.
Heineken Cup in town
Drogheda Independent
Next stop for the Night wl was the Rugby Club on the Ballymakenny Road where Leinster’s currently most prized possession was making an appearance. The Heineken Cup was welcomed by all in the Rugby Club bar who were all delighted to see the cup and were queuing up and being photographed holding the prestigious trophy. Tom Tuohy was the man behind the cups appearance on Thursday night. Tom told the Night wl that he is the Honourary Secretary for the Association of referees (Leinster Branch) and has been bringing the cup around the province to give all rugby fans a chance to view and hold Leinster’s latest win. The first people the Night wl met on Thursday night who had the privilege of holding the cup were brothers Padraic and Diarmuid Mongey from Matson Lodge. After posing for a photo with the cup the boys told the Night wl that they were over the moon to see the cup but to hold it was even more amazing and extraordinary.
Brian ‘Driscoll puts Leinster’s Heineken Cup triumph ahead of …
Telegraph.co.uk
More than a Grand Slam more than any achievement either in the emerald green of Ireland or even the red of the Lions ‘Driscoll cherished the Heineken Cup victory earned alongside his mates in the blue of Leinster. Vapour trails of glory stretched behind him. “I can’t see any reason why we can’t think of a winning Lions series” said ‘Driscoll albeit acknowledging how incredibly difficult that would be. “Confidence is a massive component in a player’s mindset.
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Under the spotlight: Jackson’s chance to shine against France
Scotland on Sunday
A year ago Jackson was little more than a wide-eyed apprentice being handed a chance to take his first steps into the professional ranks. Fast? forward a 12 months and the former Robert Gordon’s College pupil has starred in the Heineken Cup for GlADVERTISEMENTasgow in the intimidating environment of Bath’s Recreation Ground played for Scotland A in a rout against Georgia been called into Scotland’s Six Nations training squad celebrated coming of age with his 21st birthday and finished the season as Glasgow’s No1 choice at stand-off. How he is on tour with a favourite role model in the shape of Gregor Townsend holding off the challenge from a more experienced young fly-half in David Blair. The Edinburgh stand-off a product of the Sale Sharks academy delivered a composed performance and immaculate goal-kicking display for the A team in the otherwise turgid struggle to beat Uruguay on Tuesday night. Jackson had played a slightly more subdued part in Scotland’s otherwise dominant 49-7 victory over Russia last Friday and missed four kicks at goal but there was enough in his performance to underline that he remains a player with the skills to take Scotland forward and to earn the starting berth for tonight’s IRB Nations Cup decider with France A in Bucharest. With a powerful and quick French side this has the potential to be the most difficult match of his fledgling career so far.