Munster hope to seal the Jean De Villiers deal

MUNSTER rugby chiefs are expecting to learn whether South African centre Jean De Villiers will join the province within the next fortnight.
The double Heineken Cup champions are hoping to acquire the services of the highly-rated Stormers and Springbok centre for the coming season. De Villiers, who didn’t feature in the South African side in Saturday’s third Test against the Lions, is seen as a natural replacement for the departed Rua Tipoki.
Reports emanating from South Africa indicate that the 28-year-old de Villiers plans to discuss his future with both the Western Province and South African management teams later this week before indicating his next move.
Jean De Villiers agent Stan Matthews indicated that while the international centre had been approached by Munster over a move to the Magners League holders he had yet to make a decision.
Matthews also revealed that De Villiers had received an offer from a French club.
Meanwhile Lions skipper Paul O’Connell said he was proud of the way his side responded to the disappointment of losing the second Test with the last kick of the game in Pretoria to win the third and final Test on Saturday.
The Lions’ 28-9, three tries to nil victory, ended a run of eight Tests without a victory and stopped the current tourists becoming the first side to suffer a series whitewash in South Africa.
It was the Irish lock’s first win in a Test at the sixth attempt with the Lions and he rightly came in for some special praise from legendary coach McGeechan.
Paul O’Connell said: “We wallowed a bit for two or three days after the game in Pretoria. We started talking a lot about the shirt. We talked about guys getting their first Lions cap and guys possibly getting their last.
“The guys are very conscious of the Lions ethos and wanted to do it proud.
“It was a very tough week mentally for everyone.
“By the end of the week we rallied. We just really dug deep. Some guys produced some serious form and produced some great scores.
“But I started thinking straight away after the final whistle that after we get over enjoying this we might be filled with regret.
“Sport can be cruel.
“I hope people don’t misconstrue our lap of honour.
“We’re under no illusions that we lost the Test series.
“But a lot of people paid a lot of money to come out here, we wanted to thank them.
“I must say congratulations to the Springboks. They won the series we both wanted.
“But what these players have achieved in just six weeks should not be underestimated. They have played the world champions in their own back yard and given as good as they have got for three Tests.
“This victory will last for four years.”
Lions’ head coach Ian McGeechan paid a warm tribute to captain O’Connell for his contribution during the course of the tour.
“Paul did a fantastic job. He’s been a great captain and has led the side magnificently,” said McGeechan.
“He’s been very good with the players and tied in with the senior players in setting the right standards. He has been an outstanding captain.”

Colm Kinsella

O’Connell backs pride of Lions for final South African test

CAPTAIN Paul O’Connell is backing his pride of Lions to produce another passionate display in their final Test clash with South Africa at Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg on Saturday.


This weekend’s third Test provides an opportunity for O’Connell’s men to salvage something from the Castle Lager Series and head home with their heads held high. World champions South Africa secured the Test series win with a dramatic 28-25 victory over the tourists on Saturday.
“I’m proud of how the lads performed over the past two weeks and I think we were very unlucky. That just gives us some positivity to take into the third Test,” said O’Connell, who has now played five Tests for the Lions without tasting victory.
“We can’t escape from the fact we are going into the game 2-0 down in the series, and that’s disappointing because we came here to win. I believe we can replicate the passion and intensity of Loftus Versfeld once again and we are certainly enthusiastic to do that. There isn’t everything riding on the fixture as there was last weekend, but it’s another chance to wear the Lions Test jersey. We all want to win in the Lions jersey and there is a massive respect within the squad for what the Lions means.
“For me and a lot of the guys, passion and emotion still plays a massive part in the game and we’ll be looking to bring everything we can to the last Test. We are eager to prove ourselves because we don’t believe that being 2-0 down is a true reflection of where we are as a team.”
Lock O’Connell believes his Munster team-mate Ronan O’Gara will bounce back strongly from the disappointment of conceding the crucial last gasp penalty which handed South Africa the chance to win last weekend’s second Test in Pretoria.
“Ronan (O’Gara) is disappointed and very low, but he’s a tough guy mentally - that’s his biggest strength.
“What happened in the second Test won’t be lost on him, but the tough guys bounce back and Ronan is one of them. When you keep putting yourself out there for selection in the big games these things happen.
“Our careers aren’t always up, up, up. We should have been away and the game should have been over by that stage and we all have bad days.
“Ronan has had many brilliant days, where he has won games single-handedly, and I’m lucky enough to have won a few medals because of his brilliance. I don’t think I would have any of them if it wasn’t for him. He’s extremely disappointed and, no doubt, he will beat himself up over it, but he will bounce back.”
Meanwhile Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has launched a plea for the British & Irish Lions to be given the time to prepare properly for future tours so they remain competitive against the three Southern Hemisphere rugby giants.
Ian McGeechan believes the current trip to South Africa has resulted in ‘some of the best rugby ever’, despite his side’s series defeat.
McGeechan believes officials from the home unions and domestic competitions must adjust the season for future Lions tours.
McGeechan would like to see the Lions given the same priority as a World Cup.
“If they give the Lions a fair crack, the Test series will always be very meaningful,” McGeechan said.
“I just wish more of these people who don’t want to make time for the Lions would actually come out and experience a tour. I don’t think they understand the impact.”
The Lions’ hopes of a first Test victory in eight outings - an unwanted record dating back to Brisbane 2001 - are affected by injuries.
Gethin Jenkins (fractured cheekbone), Adam Jones (dislocated shoulder) and Brian O’Driscoll (concussion) are all out of the game.

South Africa v British & Irish Lions
Third Test: Saturday, July 4,
Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 2pm (Irish time)
TV: Live Sky Sports 1 from 1.30pm
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

Colm Kinsella

McGeechan calls for time

BRITISH & Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has launched a plea for the tourists to be given the time to prepare properly for future tours so they can remain competitive.
McGeechan believes the current trip to South Africa has resulted in ‘some of the best rugby ever,’ despite his side’s series defeat - the Lions complete their three-match Test series against South Africa Johannesburg on Saturday (2pm).
McGeechan said officials from the home unions and domestic competitions must adjust the season to assist the Lions in future tours.
McGeechan would like to see the Lions given the same priority as a World Cup.
“If they give the Lions a fair crack, the Test series will always be very meaningful,” McGeechan said.
“I just wish more of these people who don’t want to make time for the Lions would actually come out and experience a tour. I don’t think they understand the impact. For the players they represent, they should make it work. If you speak to any player in Britain and Ireland, this is where they want to be and the jersey they want to wear.
“Somehow, going forward, they have got to make that easier to happen and if you do that you will probably make the preparation easier to win a Test series.
“That is to everybody’s advantage, whether it is Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. The two biggest things in the international calendar are the World Cup and Lions tours. If we could respect that, the preparation would help the next coach.”
Meanwhile, injured centre Brian O’Driscoll has described Peter De Villiers as a ‘disgrace’ for defending Schalk Burger in the wake of the eye-gouging incident during last weekend’s second Test.
De Villiers did eventually apologise for Burger’s actions and the flanker was suspended for eight weeks.

Colm Kinsella

Hayes could start against the Springboks on Saturday

IRELAND’S record-breaking prop John Hayes is in contention to start for the British & Irish Lions in Saturday’s third Test showdown against the Springboks at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.
With Welsh tighthead Adam Jones ruled out of the game through injury, either Hayes or England’s Phil Vickery appear most likely to start in the front-row for the tourists.
Versatile Munster star Keith Earls will also come into contention for a place on the bench at least should Brian O’Driscoll, who suffered concussion, or wrist injury victim Jamie Roberts, fail to recover in time.
South African back-row Schalk Burger has been banned for eight weeks by the International Rugby Board for eye-gouging British & Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald at the start of Saturday’s second Test at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Schalk Burger was sin-binned in the first minute of the game, which his side won to seal the series, and was cited afterwards.
Springbok Bakkies Botha will miss the weekend’s last Test after being banned for two weeks for dangerous charging.
Lions prop Adam Jones was left with a dislocated shoulder after the incident.
Botha and Burger attended the hearing in Pretoria yesterday, a day after their side took an unassailable two-nil lead in the series following a thrilling 28-25 victory.
As they digested the disappointment of a shattering loss, the British & Irish Lions squad headed off on safari to Entabeni Game Reserve, north of Johannesburg, for a break before resuming rugby activity tomorrow.
Replacement out-half Morne Steyn came off the bench to kick South Africa to victory after Ronan O’Gara was guilty of giving away the crucial penalty late on.
O’Gara was judged to have clipped Fourie du Preez in the air as he jumped to collect a kick and Steyn landed a stunning penalty goal from all of 53 metres.
“I think the players genuinely deserve to be in the position to play for a series next week and we are not,” British & Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan said.
“That is very disappointing. In the end it is only the rub of the green that hasn’t given us one or two results.
“But I am hugely proud of what we have achieved and we will have the same approach going into the third Test.”
Ian McGeechan pleaded for the British & Irish Lions to be given the time to prepare properly for future tours so they can remain competitive.
The Lions head coach thinks the current trip to South Africa has resulted in “some of the best rugby ever”, despite his side’s series defeat.
But he believes officials from the home unions and domestic competitions must adjust the season for future Lions tours.
Just six weeks after they signed off on last season, the first of the Munster squad members assembled today to begin their preparations for the 2009-10 campaign.
Players not involved with the Lions and Churchill Cup squads assembled earlier today in their respective Cork and Limerick gyms to begin their pre-season training.
All those senior internationals will be joined by Academy, Development squaddies and players involved in the recent Churchill Cup success on Monday, July 13.
Munster Lions’ contingent return to pre-season training three weeks later.
Former Garryowen hooker Damien Varley returns to Munster having spent a season with London Wasps.
Varley and his new teammates’ first away trip together will be in the first week of August when they head to Portugal for a week-long pre-season training camp.
On their return the Munster squad members begin their series of pre-season friendlies, facing the Sale Sharks at Musgrave Park on August 14, London Irish at the same venue seven days later, before travelling to Welford Road to tackle the Leicester Tigers on August 28. The Magners League begins on the first weekend of September.

Colm Kinsella

Lions must beat South Africa in Pretoria

MUNSTER flanker David Wallace followed in the illustrious footsteps of elder brother Paul by playing in a Lions Test against South Africa in Durban last weekend. But the third member of the Wallace family to play for the Lions will be hoping for a different result this Saturday as the tourists face a must-win second Test against the Springboks in the hostile environment of Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (2pm Irish time).
Ian McGeechan’s British & Irish Lions must beat the World Champions if they are to keep the three-match series alive going into the final Test on Saturday week at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.


After their whirlwind start, which saw skipper John Smit score within five minutes, the Boks looked set to swamp David Wallace and company when they stretched out to a 19 point lead at the start of the second half.
But then came the Lions’ fight back and, by the end, Paul O’Connell’s men had outscored their hosts by three tries to two – and bombed several other chances.
“It was an unbelievable experience to be involved in a Test team. I would love to get another chance,” David Wallace said this week.
“We definitely believe we can still do it. We know its going to be very hard to win the next two games, especially at altitude, but there were plenty of positives to take out of the first Test and we have to back our fitness.
“We gave them such a lead at the start and we were always chasing it. That made life difficult for us.
“Their kicking game was very good, but we felt we could do damage when we moved the ball. We’ve got to start Pretoria as we ended in Durban
“The sense in the crowd was that we could go on and win the game. There was a huge belief building, but then it just didn’t materialise.
“But to have come back from where we were and end up within striking distance gives us huge confidence for the next two Tests.”
Lions skipper Paul O’Connell says that, despite the overwhelming sense of disappointment after Saturday’s defeat to the Springboks, there are plenty of encouraging signs to take forward into the remaining two Test matches.
The Munster second row lost his fourth successive international with Britain and Ireland’s elite but he says there are enough positives in the 26-21 reverse to suggest a better outcome against the same opposition this weekend in Pretoria.
“We are playing a good brand of rugby,” lock O’Connell insisted.
“I think we ran out of time. We were playing quite well. When we did what we wanted to do, we were getting over the gain line and we were opening them up a bit. The more we did that, the stronger we grew.
”If a few of our try-scoring chances had stuck, it would have been game over and we would have won it.”
Schalk Burger will win his 50th international cap when he returns to the Springbok side in the only change head coach Peter de Villiers has made for the second Test in Pretoria.
Burger missed last weekend’s 26-21 win in Durban due to a calf injury but the former IRB World Player of the Year is now fit enough to start at Loftus Versfeld. The Stormers flanker replaces tryscorer Heinrich Brussow, who drops to the bench.
The Lions starting line-up for the do-or-die Test will be revealed this Thursday.

South Africa: Francois Steyn; JP Pietersen, Adi Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit; Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield; Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Deon Carstens, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Heinrich Brussow, Jaque Fourie, Morne Steyn.

Colm Kinsella

Across The Gain Line . . . with Colm Kinsella

AT a time when the professional game has never been in better health in this country, it may seem strange to highlight the fact that there are real concerns among those involved in domestic rugby over the fall-off in playing numbers.
In his address at the recent AGM of the Munster Branch, outgoing branch President Nicholas Comyn expressed his concerns over the fall-off in the numbers playing the game within the province.


Nicholas Comyn revealed that there had been a loss of players from the high 5,000 to around 3,000.
While part of the decline may be due to re-registrations, Nicholas Comyn explained that the major loss of players is at the 18–23 age group.
He continued: “I appreciate the strides being made by colleges this year to bring more players into the net by establishing themselves as a club and hopefully those players would be available to teams if their interest in rugby can be continued.
“The other area is of course the universities and whilst I understand the wish of universities to retain as many players as possible there is a middle ground where players who are not playing to their level should be encouraged to join clubs rather than drifting away from rugby. I hope this will be looked at in the future.
“The performance of the juniors was disappointing in the inter-provincials and maybe it is worth looking at the date on which the inter-provincials are played.
“There are not enough players coming forward to the Munster academy – there may be issues about academy players being available to clubs and I accept that not everybody is happy with the perceived policy but players of high achievement should be encouraged to join the academy or at least play at a good standard.”
The issue of falling numbers participating in rugby domestically is one new Branch President Declan Madden has already promised to address during his term.
Nicholas Comyn believes organising more sevens rugby as well as providing more opportunities with social and/or tag rugby as well as women’s rugby are some of the areas clubs should look at in hoping to reverse the fall-off in numbers playing the game.
“There are difficult times going ahead particularly for senior clubs in terms of the cost of travel, coaching, expenses, equipment etc,” Nicholas Comyn added.
“Last year I drew up a blueprint for an AIL Munster clubs committee, just as the junior clubs have a junior committee, and I believe this should happen rather than relying on the All Ireland Senior Club Rugby Association and if the new Bye-Laws come through then both junior clubs and the senior clubs will be represented properly on the domestic game board. There are other areas of rugby that clubs should consider such as sevens, formulating a women’s team, more social rugby and/or tag rugby. The whole area of domestic games in the future of rugby in Munster must be brought forward and to that end I salute and thank all the volunteers whom I have met throughout my year and before, who have been so heavily involved in clubs, committees, coaching, management, grounds. You are deeply appreciated by Munster rugby and the Munster Branch and we need to keep you involved.”

Taking inspiration from Tom Clifford
When Munster’s Paul O’Connell leads the Lions out in Saturday’s crucial second Test match against the Springboks in Pretoria, he might well take inspiration from the massive contribution his fellow Young Munster clubman Tom Clifford made on the 1950 tour to New Zealand and Australia. By 1949 Tom Clifford was an Irish regular, winning the Triple Crown and championship that year, and he got the Lions call for the following summer’s Lions tour, the first Limerick man ever to wear the red jersey.
Karl Mullen, who played with Clifford at international and Lions level, said : “Tom Clifford was the greatest. He had this quality that I find hard to define, a kind of inner toughness. He would never take any nonsense.”
Clifford played in 19 Lions matches on the 1950 tour, including five of six tests. On his return to Limerick, they had a marching band to welcome him home at Colbert Station. An estimated 8,000 people turned our to cheer.

Earls shines but Lions fail to see off Emerging Springboks

LIONS’ forwards coach Warren Gatland revealed that Munster star Keith Earls was one of two players who had impressed him most in the tourists disappointing 13-13 draw with the Emerging Springboks at a windswept and rain-lashed Newlands last night.
Twenty-one-year-old Earls scored his second try of the tour when he neatly wrong-footed the opposition defence and created the space for the full-back to scamper over.
It was Earls’ 13th touchdown of the competitive rugby season.
Afterwards Gatland singled out Earls and prop Tim Payne for special mention, just a few hours before the Lions management sit down to decide on who will be included in the 22 ahead of Saturday’s make-or-break second Test with the Springboks in Pretoria.
“There were also some really nice touches from Keith Earls during the game, although there was probably one poor kick,” Warren Gatland said.
“It’s a bit early to say after the game, but I thought Tim Payne had a strong game after coming in for his first game.
“I would need to have another look at the video, but those two were probably the stand-outs. We’ve got difficult selections to make in terms of personnel and a couple of players put their hands up tonight.
“But we have to make sure we’ve not too reactive after the first Test because there were a heck of a lot of positives in terms of territory, possession and the fact we out-scored South Africa by three tries to two.”
The Lions led 10-3 at the interval against the young Springboks, who hit back in the last minute when Willem de Waal converted Danwel Demas’ try.
Stand-in Lions skipper Ronan O’Gara could not hide his disappointment following the last-gasp draw
“They weren’t much of a threat, but we did not put them away.
“Sometimes in conditions like that, you can be better without the ball,” O’Gara said afterwards.
“We would much have preferred a dry day and ball, especially as both mid-week teams were trying to express themselves. There was a good crowd, two competitive teams, but the conditions were very difficult.
“The period in the middle of the game is probably where we should have put them away.
“But at this level, 80 minutes of rugby is what matters. They came back and caught us in the end so we have to give them some credit.”
Ronan O’Gara’s Munster colleague Donncha O’Callaghan did his chances of again being included in the match 22 for Saturday’s second test in Pretoria no harm with an impressive display.
Munster prop John Hayes, who was called into the touring party last week, played for 67 minutes of the game before being replaced.

British & Irish Lions: Keith Earls (Ireland); Shane Williams (Wales), Riki Flutey (England), Gordon D’Arcy (Ireland), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland); Ronan O’Gara (Ireland) (capt), Harry Ellis (England); Tim Payne (England), Ross Ford (Scotland), John Hayes (Ireland); Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland), Nathan Hines (Scotland); Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales), Andy Powell (Wales). Replacements: James Hook (Wales) for O’Gara (45 mins), Simon Shaw (England) for Hines (57 mins), Ugo Monye (England) for Fitzgerald (65 mins), Phil Vickery (England) for Hayes (67 mins), David Wallace (Ireland) for Powell (68 mins), Lee Mears (England) for Ford (75 mins).

COLM KINSELLA

Hayes starts against the Emerging Springboks

CAPPAMORE’S John Hayes, who only joined the British & Irish Lions squad late last week, has been parachuted straight into the tourist’s side to face the Emerging Springboks today at Newlands in Cape Town (kick-off 6.10pm).
Ronan O’Gara will captain the side which also includes Munster colleagues Donncha O’Callaghan and Keith Earls with flanker David Wallace named on the bench.
The clash with the Emerging Springboks represents the Lions’ final mid-week fixture of their 10-match tour and comes just four days before the second Test against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday - head coach Ian McGeechan is due to name his Test team on Thursday.
Dr. James Robson, who leads the tourists’ medical team, was thrilled with Munster’s John Hayes explaining on Sunday that “the good news is that John Hayes is fit. He arrived yesterday and looks in good fettle.”
Ronan O’Gara has become the fifth different player to captain the Lions following Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Phil Vickery and Donncha O’Callaghan while the Cork man leads a side which contains six players who were involved in Saturday’s 21-26 Test defeat against the world champions. Test replacements Donncha O’Callaghan and Martyn Williams both start while line-up members Ugo Monye, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery and David Wallace are all on the bench. Hayes, who has replaced ankle injury victim Euan Murray, will join England’s Tim Payne in the front row.
And, the Munster legend is still in with a shout to face the Springboks in Pretoria next weekend. Last Saturday, during the first eight scrums, the Lions conceded three penalties and shipped nine points as a direct result which surely opens the door to a complete re-structuring of the front-row for the second Test.
Commenting on the team selection head coach Ian McGeechan said: “There were many positives that came out of the Test match on Saturday.
“The Emerging Springboks match, and our training this week, will allow us to build on these plus address areas we know we need to improve on.
“There is still a lot to play for and the players are well aware of that.
“The mood in camp is still very positive due to the fact that we did come very close to winning on Saturday and the fact that we created so many scoring opportunities.
“The players are well aware of the importance of the match against the Emerging Springboks. We need to step up our performance against a talented outfit whose players, like ours, will be determined to show that they are worthy of a Test place. It should be a great match.
“The two latest squad members Tim Payne and John Hayes will start against the Emerging Springboks to give them immediate field time.
“This is important in terms of the balance of the squad as three of our other props played in the Test match only two days ago and Andrew Sheridan is recovering from injury.”

British & Irish Lions versus the Emerging Springboks: Keith Earls (Ireland), Shane Williams (Wales), Riki Flutey (England), Gordon D’Arcy (Ireland), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Harry Ellis (England), Tim Payne (England), Ross Ford (Scotland), John Hayes (Ireland), Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland), Nathan Hines (Scotland), Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales) & Andy Powell (Wales).
Replacements: Lee Mears (England), Phil Vickery (England), Simon Shaw (England), David Wallace (Ireland), Mike Blair (Scotland), James Hook (Wales) & Ugo Monye (England).

Brian McDonnell

O’Connell criticises refereeing decisions

ALTHOUGH heartened by the British & Irish Lions stirring fight-back against South Africa in Durban on Saturday captain Paul O’Connell has reacted angrily to the performance of New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence.
The tourists lost 21-26 to the Springboks, but not before Lawrence penalized Phil Vickery five times for standing up in the scrum or binding incorrectly which eventually forced the withdrawal of the Englishman.
The entire Lions pack, including Munster’s Paul O’Connell, felt aggrieved by those decisions.


“The scrums were disappointing because we had so many penalties, especially in good attacking situations,” O’Connell explained.
“That’s something we have to look at. The referee said Phil was constantly boring in, but I didn’t think so.
“Phil is a very experienced prop who has played rugby at the top for a long time.
“Why he would make the same mistake at four or five scrums is beyond me.”
Those penalties helped South Africa into a 26-7 lead early in the second half before Adam Jones replaced Vickery and the Lions scored 14 unanswered points to set up a grand finale.
“When we played rugby, we were very good,” Paul O’Connell insisted.
“We opened them up and we have just got to keep doing that. I think we ran out of time. But when the ref gives that many penalties against you, you don’t really stand a chance. It was just penalty, after penalty, after penalty.
“It’s going to be difficult now, but there is still a lot of belief there. When we played how we wanted to play, we did very well and created lots of scoring opportunities. I think the guys will be looking forward to next week.”
The second Test takes place at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the nation’s capital, next Saturday.
And, with the Lions heartened by their second half display in Durban - it was truly extraordinary to see the South Africans relieved to hoof the ball into the stands after the world champions held on for a five-point win - Ian McGeechan’s side will hope for a more positive result in Pretoria.
The Lions also have to contend with a mid-week game against the Emerging Springboks on Tuesday in Cape Town (2pm, Sky Sports) before traveling to Pretoria on Friday - Cappamore’s John Hayes, who was called up to replace Scotland’s Euan Murray on Thursday, has now joined the touring party.
Although Ian McGeechan’s men won all six of their warm-up games Saturday’s defeat means the Lions have now lost six Tests in-a-row since beating Australia in the first match of the 2001 series in Brisbane.
The final two tests, both of which will be played at altitude, take place in Pretoria and Johannesburg - never before have the Lions won Tests at both venues on the same tour.
Meanwhile Munster forward John O’Sullivan has signed a two-year deal with French second-tier club Agen. The 28-year-old, who can play in all three back-row positions, spent four seasons with the two-time European champions, making 33 Magners League and three Heineken Cup appearances.
The Tralee man joined Munster in 2005 after spell with Connacht.
O’Sullivan was released from his Munster contract at the end of the 2008-09 season, but now resumes his professional rugby-playing career in France.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Paul O’Connell closes in on his crowning glory

WITH Saturday’s first test against the world champions mere days away Limerick rugby legend Paul O’Connell is closing in on his crowning glory - his chance to lead the British & Irish Lions out against South Africa in Durban on Saturday (2pm, Sky Sports).
All the guessing games will come to an end tomorrow (Thursday) at lunch time when Ian McGeechan will name his match day 22 to face the Springboks.
The British & Irish Lions, with Limerick’s Keith Earls featuring at full-back, completed the build-up to their first test with a hard-fought 20-8 win over the Southern Kings in the Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.


Although the Lions’ 12-point winning margin would suggest otherwise the clash with the Southern Kings proved a bruising encounter.
And, Ian McGeechan is counting the cost with Euan Murray (ankle) and James Hook (concussion) now listed as doubtful for Saturday’s battle with the South Africans.
The Lions struggled for long periods against the Southern Kings and were grateful for a penalty try which allowed the touring side a little breathing room late in the second half.
Munster’s Donncha O’Callaghan captained the side and although David Wallace was named on the bench he played no part in Tuesday’s game in Port Elizabeth.
Ronan O’Gara, who was outstanding when introduced as a replacement in the 12th minute, drew the sides level at three points apiece before pushing the Lions into a three-point lead with another penalty just after the break. The Munster out-half then picked out winger Ugo Monye with a superb cross-field kick for the Lions’ first try which the Cork man also converted. Referee Nigel Owens awarded a penalty try against the Southern Kings in the 68th minute for infringements at the scrum and O’Gara converted to give the tourists a seventeen-point lead (20-3) entering the final minutes. The Kings did score a late try, but such resistance proved futile.
The Irish fly-half also pulled off a superb try-saving tackle on the Southern Kings’ Wylie Human after the Lions defence had been initially shredded at a crucial juncture in the game. Referee Nigel Owens also sin-binned two Southern Kings players - fly-half Van der Westhuyzen and Ross Skeate.
Having played twice previously in the centre for the Lions Keith Earls was, this time, handed the full-back role. The Limerick man sliced through the Southern Kings’ defence on occasion, but it is unknown at this point whether Earls’ display, allied to his try-scoring performance in Bloemfontein on Saturday, was enough to force his way into the test side.
It’s interesting to note that 12 probable test starters, including captain Paul O’Connell, had already flown north up the coast and watched the game against the Southern Kings from a safe distance. Ian McGeechan is taking no chances with his side to face the South Africans in the first test.
Although McGeechan has long insisted that the match day 22 for Saturday would not be selected until after the game against the Southern Kings the evidence would suggest that the wily Scot has already settled on the majority of his starting XV.
The second (June 27 in Pretoria) and third (July 4 in Johannesburg) tests against the South Africans will be played at altitude and if the tourists are to have a reasonable chance of series success they must beat the Springboks on Saturday.
And, since the South African players have not played any practice matches of note (the Springboks, without their Super 14-winning Blue Bulls core, had one outing against Namibia) now is the time for the Lions to pounce.
The British & Irish Lions starting team however will be crucial and the areas of most debate for the Lions management team appear to centre around numbers three, four, six, 10 and 11.
Wales’ Lee Byrne is expected to start at full-back while Tommy Bowe and Ugo Monye have been touted to join Byrne in the back three - Luke Fitzgerald is pushing hard for inclusion in this sector while Shane Williams’ loss of form appears to have ruled out the 2008 World Player of the Year.
Although Keith Earls will hope to be included in the match day 22 Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts are expected to form a partnership in midfield. At half-back Stephen Jones had appeared to represent a fait accompli at fly-half alongside scrum-half Mike Phillips, but Ronan O’Gara’s brilliant performance against the Southern Kings has certainly given the management an alternative to seriously consider. The concussion incurred by James Hook on Tuesday should rule the Welshman out and at the very least O’Gara should be named on the bench.
Up front props Gethin Jenkins and Phil Vickery look likely to partner hooker Lee Mears in the front-row while Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones is now favourite to partner Paul O’Connell in the second row. Scotland’s Nathan Hines, England’s Simon Shaw and Ireland’s Donncha O’Callaghan are all vying for the number four shirt while Tom Croft and Jamie Heaslip are favoured to start in the back-row. Martyn Williams’ performance on Saturday could threaten David Wallace’s place in the starting XV.
On Tuesday evening the Springboks sprung a surprise when South Africa named their starting XV for Saturday’s first test and included Heinrich Brussow in place of the injured Schalk Burger (calf) - the Cheetahs flanker, who was called into the squad less than 24 hours before being named on the team, will start at blindside flanker. Morne Steyn, the stand-out fly-half from the Super 14, is the only uncapped player in the match 22 but will have to wait for his debut with the disputed number 10 jersey going to Ruan Pienaar.
The other contested position, full-back, went to Frans Steyn, while the rest of the squad, which will be led by John Smit is packed with experience.
South Africa: F. Steyn (Sharks), J.P. Pietersen (Sharks), A. Jacobs (Sharks), J. de Villiers (Stormers), B. Habana (Bulls), R. Pienaar (Sharks), F. du Preez (Bulls); T. Mtawarira (Sharks), B. du Plessis (Sharks), J. Smit (Sharks), B. Botha (Bulls), V. Matfield (Bulls), H. Brussow (Cheetahs), J. Smith (Cheetahs), P. Spies (Bulls).

Brian McDonnell

Earls features in bruising Port Elizabeth encounter

THE British & Irish Lions, with Limerick’s Keith Earls featuring at full-back, completed the build-up to their first test against South Africa with a hard-fought 20-8 win over the Southern Kings in the Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Although the Lions’ 12-point winning margin would suggest otherwise the clash with the Southern Kings proved a bruising encounter.
And, today Ian McGeechan is counting the cost with Euan Murray (ankle) and James Hook (concussion) now listed as doubtful for Saturday’s battle with the South Africans in Durban (2pm, Sky Sports).


The Lions struggled for long periods against the Southern Kings and were grateful for a penalty try which allowed the touring side a little breathing room late in the second half.
Munster’s Donncha O’Callaghan captained the side and although David Wallace was named on the bench he played no part in Tuesday’s game in Port Elizabeth.
Ronan O’Gara, who was outstanding when introduced as a replacement in the 12th minute and who could now have forced his way into the test side, drew the sides level at three points apiece before pushing the Lions into a three-point lead with another penalty just after the break.
The Munster out-half then picked out winger Ugo Monye with a superb cross-field kick for the Lions’ first try which the Cork man also converted.
Referee Nigel Owens awarded a penalty try against the Southern Kings in the 68th minute for infringements at the scrum and O’Gara converted to give the tourists a seventeen-point lead (20-3) entering the final minutes. The Kings did score a late try, but such resistance proved futile.
The Irish fly-half also pulled off a superb try-saving tackle on the Southern Kings’ Wylie Human after the Lions defence had been initially shredded at a crucial juncture in the game. It is also worthwhile noting that Welsh referee Nigel Owens sin-binned two Southern Kings players - fly-half Van der Westhuyzen and Ross Skeate.
Having played twice previously in the centre for the Lions Keith Earls was, this time, handed the full-back role. The Limerick man sliced through the Southern Kings’ defence on occasion, but it is unknown at this point whether Earls’ display, allied to his try-scoring performance on Saturday, was enough to force his way into Ian McGeechan’s thinking.
The guessing games will finally come to an end tomorrow afternoon when the Lions’ starting team for the first test will be revealed.
Lions XV v the Southern Kings: K. Earls (Munster); U. Monye (Harlequins), R. Flutey (London Wasps), G. D’Arcy (Leinster), L. Fitzgerald (Leinster); J. Hook (Ospreys), M. Blair (Edinburgh); A. Sheridan (Sale Sharks), R. Ford (Edinburgh), E. Murray (Northampton), S. Shaw (London Wasps), D. O’Callaghan (Munster), N. Hines (Perpignan), J. Worsley (London Wasps), A. Powell (Cardiff Blues). Replacement: S. Williams (Ospreys) for Monye, R. O’Gara (Munster) for Hook, M. Rees (Scarlets) for Ford, A. Jones (Ospreys) for Murray.

Meanwhile coach Allen Clarke has named his Irish under-20 side to face Wales this evening in the IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship - Ireland will face the Welsh in a fifth place play-off game in Fukuoka (5pm).
Allen Clarke has made several changes to the side that defeated Uruguay 45-0 on Saturday in their final pool game of the tournament.
Irish under-20 team: Ian Madigan (Leinster), David Kearney (Leinster), Danny Barnes (Munster), Eamonn Sheridan (Leinster), Michael Keating (Leinster), Ian McKinley (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Thomas Sexton (Leinster), Adam Macklin (Ulster), Dominic Ryan (Leinster), Mark Flanagan (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Exiles), Brian O’Hara (Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster). Replacements: David McGregor (Ulster), Paddy McAllister (Ulster), Joe Moran (Connacht), David O’Callaghan (Munster), Matthew Healy (Leinster), Andrew Burke (Munster), Jonny Shiels (Ulster).

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Lions nervously await starting team

LATER today, when Ian McGeechan names the starting XV to face the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth tomorrow (2pm, Sky Sports), the auditions for the British & Irish Lions team to face South Africa will come to an end.
Ian McGeechan has persistently stated that the team for the first test will not be determined until after Tuesday’s match, but it is almost certain that the players selected to face the Southern Kings will consider that a dubious honour knowing that the team to face the 2007 world champions on Saturday next in Durban will already have their feet up.
Irrespective of the make-up of the team Paul O’Connell has demanded the British & Irish Lions’ bring their ‘A’ game for the first test against South Africa in King’s Park, Durban when the tourists collide with the world champions for the first time.
Speaking on Saturday O’Connell said: “If we all bring our A game to Durban next Saturday there is no doubt we can be successful. The odds are still stacked against us. It is a massive challenge to come over here and beat the world champions, who have a very settled side and a lot of leaders in their team.
“The odds are still against us. Individually, we are good enough talent-wise to be successful, but we have to play as a team to be successful and that process is on-going.”
O’Connell was speaking in the aftermath of the Lions’ clash with Western Province.
The Lions did collect their fifth win (26-23) of the tour, but were left to rely on a 77th-minute penalty from replacement full-back James Hook on a wet and windy afternoon.
Ian McGeechan’s men out-scored their hosts by three tries to one (Tommy Bowe, Ugo Monye & Martyn Williams), but were fortunate to survive after Joe Pietersen’s late try threatened to blotch their 100 per cent record.
The make-up of the British & Irish Lions team to face South Africa in Durban on Saturday is consuming the minds of rugby fans everywhere. Wales’ Lee Byrne is hot favourite to start at full-back, Tommy Bowe also looks sure of his starting spot while Shane Williams’ poor form could see Luke Fitzgerald or England’s Ugo Monye complete the back three.
Unfortunately Keith Earls looks likely to miss out in the centre with Brian O’Driscoll and Wales’ Jamie Roberts hotly tipped to constitute the starting midfield partnership.
Sadly it looks as if Ronan O’Gara will miss out on the first test entirely. With the Welsh partnership of Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips touted to start and James Hook likely to occupy a stop on the replacements bench no room is left for the Munster out-half in the match day 22 to face South Africa. Props Gethin Jenkins and Phil Vickery look likely to partner hooker Lee Mears in the front-row while Paul O’Connell’s partner at lock looks wide open with Scotland’s Nathan Hines, England’s Simon Shaw, Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones and Donncha O’Callaghan all vying for the number four shirt. While Tom Croft and Jamie Heaslip are favoured to start in the back-row Martyn Williams’ performance on Saturday could threaten David Wallace’s place in the starting XV.
Meanwhile there was some encouraging news for British & Irish Lions fans this weekend with the news that Springboks flanker Schalk Burger may miss Saturday’s first test - Burger is suffering with a calf injury.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Lions maintain perfect record following comfortable win

THE British and Irish Lions maintained their perfect record in South Africa with a comfortable 39-3 victory over a depleted Sharks side in Durban this Wednesday night.
The tourists ran in five tries without reply at the Absa Stadium, including a try for two Irish stars, Luke Fitzgerald and Jamie Heaslip.
Munster out-half Ronan O’Gara added three conversions and also slotting over two penalties. However, the performance may have left more questions than answers for head coach Ian McGeechan, particularly with the issues at the breakdown not yet resolved. Munster flanker David wallace boosted his chances of gaining inclusion in the Lions side to face the Springboks in the opening Test match on June 20 with a powerful display.
While out-half Ronan O’Gara produced a solid display and some excellent goal-kicking he would still appear to be behind Stephen Jones in the pecking order to win the battle to fill the number 10 jersey.
Lions and Munster skipper Paul O’Connell said the side had put in their best display of the tour in securing a 36-point victory. The tourists were only 7-3 ahead at the break but they produced a stirring second-half display to secure a comfortable victory.
“I think a lot of things came together,” lock Paul O’Connell said. We looked a lot more like a team than we have done in the last few weeks.
“One of the biggest things is the defence, we’ve got four defensive systems trying to come together and play under one system and it came together well.
“They had a lot of the ball there at the end and everyone looked very comfortable defending together.”
The Lions have struggled at the breakdown so far in South Africa but the Munster lock believes his side are getting to grips with the contact area.
“The breakdown is the most important part of the game right now, no doubt about it, wherever you play,” he added.
“I thought we made a big improvement and I think we’ll continue to improve.”
O’Connell was also satisfied with his side’s patience after they ended up with only seven points despite dominating the first half.
We would have liked to have got more points from the pressure and the possession we had in the first half, but were very patient and the points began to rack up,” he added.
“Pressure is very hard to defend against constantly and I think it paid off - the longer we stuck at it, the points did come. If we didn’t trust each other, it would have been very easy for the team to get frustrated out there.”
Head coach Ian McGeechan was also a happy man, saying that his side put in a “very strong performance”.
“I’m very pleased,” he said. “Very strong discipline, patience and I am very pleased that it was right through the 80 minutes.
“I thought we didn’t panic, we were just building a performance tonight and reaped the benefits in the second half. Our defence was outstanding, absolutely superb.”
Forwards coach Warren Gatland insists that the Lions can take a lot of positives from how they performed.
“We were very happy at half-time with the possession we’d had against one of the top provincial sides in South Africa,” he said.
“Any group of players can last for 40 minutes and the Sharks gave it everything in those first 40 minutes. We just said to stay patient and stick to the game plan and the pressure will tell.”

British & Irish Lions
Lee Byrne (Wales); Shane Williams (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland); Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales); Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Lee Mears (England), Adam Jones (Wales); Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Ireland) (capt); Tom Croft (England), David Wallace (Ireland), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland). Replacements: Simon Shaw (England) for O’Connell, Riki Flutey (England) for Roberts (both 64 mins), Matthew Rees (Wales) for Mears, Phil Vickery (England) for Adam Jones (both 69 mins), Mike Blair (Scotland) for Phillips (71 mins), James Hook (Wales) for O’Gara (79 mins).

Colm Kinsella

Springboks will represent a far more formidable test

BRITISH and Irish Lions head coach, Ian McGeechan has warned that the Springboks will pose a far more formidable challenge than any of the four sides the tourists have defeated t odate on their tour of South Africa.
The Lions travel to Newlands, Cape Town this Saturday to face their fifth match of the tour against the Western Province (2pm).
Confidence is sure to be high in the wake of the Lions’ impressive second half display against the Sharks on Wednesday night. Several members of the Lions starting line-up this weekend will be hoping to boost their chances of being included in the squad to face the Springboks in the first Test on June 20.
Lions head coach Ian McGeechan said: “The Test match will be another game and level completely.
“What we have to try and do is build confidence and structure that we are happy with, keep our feet on the ground about what is going well and what needs to be looked at.
“But to finish that strongly against the Sharks, with a very powerful defensive set, shows that the players are happy, playing with or without the ball, which hopefully gives us a chance.”
Meanwhile, Munster out-half Ronan O’Gara is hoping to gain inclusion in the side to face South Africa in a week’s time in Durban.
O’Gara, who bagged 14 points in the win over the Sharks is involved in a battle with Stephen Jones for the number 10 jersey ahead of the opening Test with the Springboks at the ABSA Stadium, Durban on Saturday, June 20.
Thirty two-year-old O’Gara said: “The kicking game has gone well but there’s so much more to a kicking game than a goalkicking game.
“It will be interesting in that we haven’t done much in terms of an attacking kicking game or much in a strategic kicking game. But that’s an area I’m looking forward to exploring. If you can get the right kind of kick it’s very, very hard for you to defend.
“It’s all kicking on the run which is how rugby is played and running through the balls that’s something I’ve really enjoyed. I get very excited with kicking in training and kicking in games - the ability to keep learning and evolving, otherwise you stay the same.
“You put more emphasis on a power position than standing tall, so you’re kicking with your body instead of kicking with your leg. That’s something I practice in training and it’s working so I go with it.”
In stark contrast to 2005, when Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward split his party into a midweek side and the Test squad early on, McGeechan is adamant everyone will get a fair chance to play their way into the team to face the World champions on June 20.
McGeechan is, however, aware of the risks of not giving the first Test team a match together before they meet the Springboks.
“It’s got to be about us and what we want to try and be come first Test day,” the coach explained.
“There are some risks, but I think what we get out of it as a squad far outweighs that.
“The only other way of doing it is you separate the teams and you say to half the squad ‘You are not going to be involved in a Test match,’ and I am not prepared to do that.”
“I want all the players to give me a selection headache. The fewer easy choices I have to make, the better. If you’ve got only six games to your first Test match, the chances are you might only play twice or three times. What is important is the time they are getting together on the training field. If you were saying to me now ‘Pick a Test team,’ I would be doing it on the back of one game that a player has played, in some cases. I don’t think that is fair to the players. I know we can’t change the number of games going into the first Test. I just think it is more important that each player gets a genuine go - at least twice - to put his own game on the field.”

Colm Kinsella

‘It will be incredibly hard to get out of the group’

MUNSTER captain Paul O’Connell believes it will be ‘incredibly hard’ for the two-time Heineken Cup winners to reach the knock-out stages next season following the draw for the group stages of the competition.
Munster will be bidding to reach the quarter-finals for a 12th straight season when they lock horns with the Northampton Saints, new French champions Perpignan and Italian kingpins Benetton Treviso in the pool stages of Europe’s premier club rugby competition.


Speaking in South Africa, where he is captaining the Lions on their 10-match tour, Munster skipper O’Connell described Pool 1 as producing a ‘standard Munster draw.’
“We usually draw the top teams in the competition. We have the French champions, Perpignan, who have probably one of the biggest budgets in the whole of French rugby.
“It’s a typical Munster draw. It will be, as usual, incredibly hard to get out of the group. Northampton just won the European Challenge Cup. They have invested heavily and have signed a lot of players.
“It is the first time that we have been drawn with Italian opponents for a long time and they are the Italian champions.”
Adding a degree of spice to the draw is the fact that Munster lost out by a single point to the Northampton Saints in the 2000 Heineken Cup final at Twickenham.
O’Connell said that defeat might well be used as a motivating factor ahead of their two pool meetings with the Guinness Premiership outfit.
“2000 is a long time ago. I don’t know how many players we still have who played in that final,” Paul O’Connell said.
“There’s the likes of David Wallace, Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer, of course.
“We will bring everything we can to those games with Northampton and the 2000 defeat will probably be one of those things we will bring to it.”
Munster beat Perpignan in a quarter-final at Lansdowne Road on route to winning the 2006 Heineken Cup.
Meanwhile, Magners League champions Munster have lined up three glamour pre-season friendlies against top English opposition for August. Munster will take on old rivals, the Sale Sharks, at Musgrave Park on Friday, August , before facing Guinness Premiership finalists London Irish at the same venue seven days later.
Munster will complete their programme of pre-season friendlies with an away fixture against Heineken Cup finalists Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Friday, August 28.
In the lead-up to the three friendlies, Munster will have a week long pre-season training camp in Portugal.
The camp, which begins on Wednesday, August 5, will be held at the Browns Sport & Leisure Club in Vilamoura.
For the past two years Munster have conducted their pre-season training camp in the United States- last year in Boston and the year previous in Chicago - but this time around the team has chosen Portugal.
Established in 1986 as a tennis club, Browns was completely renovated in 2000 as part of a two phase project to create an exclusive sports training facility in Southern Europe. On completion in December 2002 the venue now boasts 30 villas with a maximum capacity of 105 athletes in a total area of 53000 sq meters and a grass pitch of 120 sq meters x 80 sq meters plus all the requisite gym facilities.
Among those who have used the facility are the Kerry, Mayo and Monaghan GAA sides, rugby clubs including ASM Clermont Auvergne and Saracens, while England coach Martin Johnson had his senior elite player squad there in January of this year.
The majority of the Munster squad will begin pre-season training on Monday, June 29. The players who are currently involved in the Churchill Cup in Colorado with the Ireland ‘A’ side return to the training pitch two weeks later, while Munster’s representatives on the Lions tour are set to return to the gym on Monday, August 3.
Meanwhile, members of the Castletroy College senior squad were present in the ABSA Stadium, Durban this Wednesday night to cheer on the Lions in their tour match with the Sharks.
Thirty players and 10 coaches from the school have embarked on a three-week tour to South Africa which will see the Limerick side play five matches.
The students will get the chance to attend three of the Lions touring games, the Sharks in Durban earlier this week, the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth as well as the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town.
The tour took the best part of two years to organise. The students engaged in a number of fundraising initiatives, including raffles, bag packing and quiz nights.
The Castletroy College senior squad will take on Hillcrest High School and Northwood High School in Durban, Grey High School in Port Elizabeth, Point High School in Mossel Bay and Park Gymnasium in Cape Town during their trip.

Colm Kinsella

O’Connell partners Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones against the Sharks

LIONS captain Paul O’Connell will play with his third different second-row partner of the British & Irish Lions tour when Ian McGeechan’s side face the Sharks in Durban tomorrow evening (6.10pm).
Twenty-nine-year-old lock O’Connell will pack down in the engine room alongside Welsh international Alun Wyn Jones while Munster out-half Ronan O’Gara and flanker David Wallace will be hoping to impress against the Sharks in order to boost their chances of gaining inclusion in the Test side for Saturday week’s clash with the Springboks.


Skipper O’Connell is one of four survivors from the Lions side which secured a nail-biting 26-24 victory over the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday.
The other players to gain back-to-back starts are Irish star Luke Fitzgerald and the Welsh duo of Lee Byrne and Shane Williams.
Lions coach Ian McGeechan said: “I am delighted that as we head into the fourth match we only have one player who is unavailable for selection.
“The players and the medical staff have managed the injuries that have been sustained in a very professional manner. This is crucial as we enter matches against two of South Africa’s strongest provinces in the Sharks and Western Province in the space of four days. This is reflected by the fact that four starting players from the Cheetahs match will back up against the Sharks while five players are starting their third match of the tour. We also have new starting partnerships in the back three, the half-backs and in the front-row.”
The British & Irish Lions clash with the Sharks tomorrow evening will be televised live on Sky Sports 2.
Meanwhile two Limerick-born players have been included in the Ireland A side to face Canada in their opening match in the Churchill Cup in Colorado tomorrow night.
Sean Cronin, a replacement the full Irish side in their recent games with Canada and the USA, is named at hooker. Cronin’s Connacht team-mate Keith Matthews has been selected in the centre for the clash with Canada.
Shannon and Munster prop Tony Buckley will line out at tighthead prop while Donnacha Ryan has been selected to play in the second row for the game at Infinity Park, Glendale. The match begins at 11.30pm Irish time and will be televised live on Sky Sports 1.

British & Irish Lions v Sharks: Lee Byrne (Wales); Shane Williams (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland); Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales); Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Lee Mears (England), Adam Jones (Wales); Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Capt) (Ireland); Tom Croft (England), David Wallace (Ireland), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland). Replacements: Matthew Rees (Wales), Phil Vickery (England), Simon Shaw (England), Joe Worsley (England), Mike Blair (Scotland), Riki Flutey (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales).

Ireland A v Canada: Denis Hurley (Munster), Fionn Carr (Connacht), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Keith Matthews (Connacht), Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers); Niall O’Connor (Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ulster) (capt); Bryan Young (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Connacht), Tony Buckley (Munster); Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Neil Best (Northampton Saints), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Chris Henry (Ulster) Replacements: Denis Fogarty (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Trevor Hogan (Leinster), John Muldoon (Connacht), Frank Murphy (Connacht), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), James Downey (Northampton Saints).

Colm Kinsella

Earls makes a startling recovery

LIONS star Keith Earls recovered from the type of injuries normally associated with being in a car crash a week ago to score his side’s second try in their nail-biting victory over the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday.
Highly-experienced Lions doctor, James Robson reckoned 21-year-old Earls suffered injuries similar to a seat belt in a car snapping across the chest when damaging his right shoulder at the clavicle region as a result of Royal XV prop Albertus Buckle landing heavily on him.


The collision injured Keith Earls’ shoulder in two places and left him with deep bruising in that area of his chest.
It was the sort of injury which Dr. Robson would have sent a player home from many of the previous tours he has been on, yet seven days later Earls scored a vital try in the 26-24 win over the Cheetahs.
“In the past, Keith would almost certainly have been off the tour.
“I really thought that he and Riki Flutey were going to be the first players out of Africa,” said Dr. Robson.
“Keith did phenomenally well to return to play on Saturday and score that try.
“He had the kind of collision injury you see in a car accident when a seat belt snaps across your chest.
“He damaged his shoulder joint and had very deep bruising across his chest.
“It is testament to his character, and the hard work of the physio Phil Pask, that he is still on the tour.
“Phil inflicted a huge amount of pain on the young man with some very deep muscle massage therapy.
“So, seeing him score the try was fantastic.
“The professionalism shown by the whole squad in their injury management is the best I have ever seen.
“Keith was having treatment about six times per day from first thing in the morning to last thing at night.
“It was very painful, deep massage on a very severe bruise.
“You could say that Phil Pask has helped to save Keith’s tour by the work he has done with him.”
The Lions continue their 10-match tour of South Africa with a game against the Sharks this Wednesday night at the ABSA Stadium (6.10pm).
Members of the Castletroy College senior squad are set to be present in the ABSA Stadium to cheer on the side. Thirty players and ten coaches from the school have embarked on a three-week tour of South Africa which will see the Limerick side play five matches.
The students will get the chance to attend three of the Lions touring games, the Sharks in Durban this Wednesday, the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth as well as the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town.
Meanwhile Magners League champions Munster have lined up three glamour pre-season friendlies against top class English opposition for August.
Munster will take on old rivals the Sale Sharks at Musgrave Park on Friday, August 14 before facing Guinness Premiership finalists London Irish at the same venue seven days later.
Munster will complete their programme of pre-season friendlies with an away fixture against Heineken Cup finalists Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Friday, August 28.
In the lead-up to the three friendlies, Munster will have a week-long pre-season training camp in Portugal.
The camp, which begins on Wednesday, August 5, will be held at the Browns Sport & Leisure Club in Vilamoura.

Colm Kinsella

‘We have got to want to play for each other’

A DECADE on from starring with the Irish Colleges’ team in South Africa, Paul O’Connell returned to the rugby hotbed this week to captain the Lions on their mammoth 10-match tour.


Giant lock O’Connell and his team mates have stepped up their preparation’s for Saturday’s opening tour match with the Royal XV at Rustenburg (2pm Irish time).
O’Connell is one of five Munster players in line to make the starting line-up for this weekend’s clash.
The other Munster representatives hoping to feature in the fixture when the match day ‘22’ is confirmed this Thursday are David Wallace, Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara and Donncha O’Callaghan.
Recalling his first visit to South Africa as a rugby player a decade ago, Paul O’Connell said he was instantly taken with the fiery passion the South African players possessed during that tour.
“I played in South Africa in 1999 for the Irish Colleges side and I’ll never forget how big their players were, how fast over hard grounds and how skilful they were,” O’Connell said.
“They have a fiery passion about their rugby that’s stronger, more aggressive than Kiwis.
“There’s nothing to compare with this experience, nothing.
“The closest I can think of in another sport would be the Ryder Cup- but without the blood and bruises.
“You play every game away, you are always in a hostile environment and you are charged with creating a team out of players from varied cultures and playing styles.
Paul O’Connell said he was excited by the manner in which the players from the four Home Unions had gelled since coming together last week.
“I think there’s a big buzz,” the giant Munster lock O’Connell said.
“There are a lot fewer people than I was used to four years ago and that’s the best thing about it.
“Everyone is on the pitch at the same time, everyone is in the gym together and everyone fits into the team room as one.
“I think there’s a lot of good friendships being made, a lot of characters emerging already and that’s going to be a big thing for us.
“Clive (Woodward) tried something different in 2005 which looked good on paper but we struggled.
“It was a tough tour because so many things were not in our favour.
“We had a very big squad and a very big coaching staff and, straight away, we failed to come together as a team.
“First of all, we have got to be a team.
“We have got to want to play for each other, first and foremost.
“If you have bonds, you will always be willing to play for others in the team and that will make a big difference.
“We are massive underdogs but we have a smaller coaching staff and a guy who knows the Lions inside out in Ian McGeechan.”
O’Connell said it was now up to the players to perform as the Lions hadn’t done the tradition proud in New Zealand four years ago.
“I said recently that the talent is there in the group, the coaching is there in the group and now it’s up to us to perform as a team,” Paul O’Connell insisted.
“I think it’s important that when the players wear the jersey on this tour, they live up to the tradition and the history of the jersey.
“I think when you look back at some of the players that have won the British & Irish Lions jersey down the years, there were great players.
“Maybe in 2005 we didn’t live up to that.
“A lot of things went against us on the tour and at the same time I don’t think we did the tradition proud.
“I think for me personally, looking back at 2005 is a big motivation.
“I know for a few other guys that were on the tour, it’s the same thing.
“Living up to the tradition of the jersey is a big thing for us.
“A lot of us when we play for our clubs give everything playing for Munster or Ireland.
“I think the same thing applies when we play for the British & Irish Lions.”

Colm Kinsella

Across The Gain Line . . . with Colm Kinsella

REPORTS from South Africa this week suggest that local rugby supporters are more taken with the Bulls’ Super 14 final against the Chiefs this Saturday rather than the Lions opening tour match with a Royal XV earlier the same day.
That’s if the demand for tickets for both games is anything to go by. But once Saturday’s Super 14 decider is over, then the Lions will have the rugby scene in South Africa all to themselves.
Since the squad’s arrival in Johannesburg this week, head coach Ian McGeechan has made some significant changes from the most recent Lion tours.
McGeechan is keen to develop the bond between the players during the 10-game tour and has ended the single-room policy adopted by Sir Clive Woodward in New Zealand four years ago.


So Munster’s five Lions can expect to be sharing rooms with squad members from the other Home Nations during the course of the tour.
The Lions were based in Auckland for most of the 2005 tour, keeping travel to a minimum, but the 2009 Lions will travel from west to east and north to south.
“I can understand Clive’s thinking, but sharing rooms breaks down barriers and you like to see as much of a country as you can when on tour,” Wales out-half Stephen Jones, who was in New Zealand four years ago, explained.
“One of the significant things during our training week in Bagshot before we left for South Africa was that when you went down to breakfast in the morning or went into the dining room in the evening, players were mixing freely.
“There was no huddle of Welsh players on one table, Irish on another and English on a third. A beauty of a Lions tour is getting to know players from other countries and sharing rooms is a sure way of making that happen.
“I was with Ireland’s Tommy Bowe last week and he made me laugh a lot. We are also a more experienced squad than we were four years ago.
In a column this week, Wales and Lions flanker Martyn Williams admitted the 2005 trip to New Zealand had been a ‘bit of a disaster’.
“I’ve been on two Lions tours and haven’t managed to win one yet. The 2001 series against Australia was decided by fine margins, but last time was a bit of a disaster if I’m honest,” Martyn Wiliams said.
“New Zealand were awesome, probably head and shoulders above any other team in world rugby at the time, but we came away feeling we hadn’t done either ourselves or the Lions justice.. .
“If I’m honest, my main memories of 2005 are of rugby pitches and hotel rooms. Sometimes it’s good for the players to be able to unwind over a few beers, which we didn’t have much opportunity to do.
“I’m a firm believer that the better you know someone, the better you play together.
“It’s about getting the balance right, which is where our head coach Ian McGeechan is so good.
“No-one understands the Lions better, and if last week at Pennyhill Park was anything to go by, Geech has got the balance spot on. It was an awesome week and by Wednesday everyone was really comfortable in each other’s company. My Cardiff and Wales team-mate Andy Powell seemed to be the highlight of the week for a lot of the lads. If you don’t know much about him, Andy is a larger-than-life character who can liven up any proceedings.
“At a formal black-tie dinner on Wednesday night, Geech asked the management to stand up.
“At that point Andy took it upon himself to get to his feet and join the management.
“That went down a treat in front of 500 people.”
Roll on Saturday.

Former Garryowen hooker Damien Varley will sign for Munster

FORMER Garryowen hooker Damien Varley will return from London Wasps this summer to take up a contract with Munster.
The 25-year-old Damien Varley moved to Guinness Premiership giants Wasps last summer and made an instant impact when scoring a dramatic match-winning try against the Leicester Tigers in his opening league appearance. Varley, who made 10 appearances for Wasps during the season, was a key member of Garryowen’s All-Ireland League and AIB Cup-winning side of 2007.
Former AIB Club international Varley joins Munster in the wake of Frankie Sheahan’s departure from the club after a distinguished 13-year career.
Eleven members of Munster’s 2008-09 squad depart the province this summer while it has already been confirmed that Ireland under-20 full-back Felix Jones is on his way south from Leinster.
Back-row forward Billy Holland and centre Tom Gleeson will move from development to full contracts while academy players, flanker Tommy O’Donnell and prop Dave Ryan, brother of Toulon-bound Timmy Ryan will move onto development contracts.
Exciting winger Ciaran O’Boyle is back training having suffered injury in his try scoring appearance against the Dragons in March while Darragh Hurley is also on the mend following minor neck surgery last month.
The Munster squad will report back for training on June 29.
Meanwhile Lions captain Paul O’Connell has urged his players to restore the pride lost during the 2005 tour of New Zealand with the opening match of their South African tour now just four days away.
The Lions were today stepping up their preparations for their clash against a Royal XV selection in Rustenburg.
Ian McGeechan’s starting line-up is scheduled to be announced this Thursday.
“The players must now live up to the tradition of what the Lions is all about,” Paul O’Connell said.
“Maybe in 2005 we didn’t do the Lions jersey proud, but this tour gives us a chance to restore that pride.
“All the talent is there for us to be competitive, we have a great coaching team, but now it’s up to us, the players, to perform as a team.”
Coach Ian McGeechan said he would give everyone an opportunity in training in the coming days to force their way into Saturday’s team, as well as the Test XV.
“I’m going to give every player an equally chance to get into the Test side. I’ll pick the Test team in the Test week,” McGeechan said.

Colm Kinsella