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
Showing posts with label ian mcgeechan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ian mcgeechan. Show all posts
Monday, July 06, 2009
Thursday, July 02, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
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
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
Monday, June 29, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
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
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
Monday, June 22, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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
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
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
Monday, June 15, 2009
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
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
Thursday, June 11, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
‘We need to do justice to the Lions jersey’
CAPTAIN Paul O’Connell says it is crucial the Lions do justice to the red jersey in South Africa this summer unlike four years ago when they suffered a whitewash Test series defeat to New Zealand.
Ian McGeechan’s Lions squad are continuing their preparations for the 10-match tour to South Africa at a training camp at Pennyhill Park in Surrey this week. The squad departs for South Africa on Sunday next with the opening match in the tour taking place on Saturday, May 30 when the Lions face a Highveld XV in Rustenberg.
The tourists then play a further five provincial fixtures before taking on the world champion Springboks in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg on June 20, 27 and July 4 respectively. Lock O’Connell said the experience the Irish and Welsh players had gained from winning Grand Slams should stand them in good stead during the tour, but playing for the Lions was the next step up for all the squad members.
“We have a lot of players who have been a bit more successful,” O’Connell pointed out this week.
“Ireland got the Grand Slam at last, the Welsh have two. For a lot of those players being on a successful Lions tour is the next level.
“We need to do justice to the Lions jersey, I don’t think we did that in 2005. We need to do the Lions proud over there and see what happens after that.”
The 29-year-old lock said the squad needed to work on gelling as a unit as quickly as possible.
“First and foremost, the talent is here,” Paul O’Connell insisted.
“The coaching staff have very good ideas on how we want to play and how we want to perform. I think all those bits are going to be ticked off so it’s about us coming together as a team.
“We don’t have a lengthy time frame so we don’t have time to suss each other out. We really have to work on coming together as a team in a short space of time. If we can do that then we’ll have a very good chance.”
Meanwhile, two Munster players will win their first full international caps when Ireland face Canada in their summer international in Vancouver this Saturday. Winger Ian Dowling and flanker Niall Ronan are two of the six new caps named in Declan Kidney’s side to face the Canucks at Thunderbird Stadium. Kick-off is at 10pm Irish time (Live coverage on RTE 2).
New caps Dowling and Ronan are two of seven Munster players named in the starting XV for the game. The Magners League winners are also represented by winger Barry Murphy, scrum-half Peter Stringer, prop Tony Buckley, lock Mick O’Driscoll and number eight Denis Leamy.
The replacements’ bench will feature five players who are in line to win their first caps if introduced. These include Limerick-born hooker Sean Cronin and Munster full-back Denis Hurley.
Fourteen-time capped scrum-half Eoin Reddan, who will move from London Wasps to Leinster later in the summer, is also named on the replacements’ bench.
Ireland: Gavin Duffy (Connacht), Barry Murphy (Munster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Ian Whitten (Ulster), Ian Dowling (Munster); Ian Keatley (Connacht), Peter Stringer (Munster); Tom Court (Ulster), Rory Best (Ulster), Tony Buckley (Munster); Bob Casey (London Irish), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster); John Muldoon (Connacht), Niall Ronan (Munster), Denis Leamy (Munster).
Replacements: Sean Cronin (Connacht), Mike Ross (Harlequins), Ryan Caldwell (Ulster), Donncha Ryan (Munster), Eoin Reddan (London Wasps), Niall O'Connor (Ulster), Denis Hurley (Munster).
Colm Kinsella
Ian McGeechan’s Lions squad are continuing their preparations for the 10-match tour to South Africa at a training camp at Pennyhill Park in Surrey this week. The squad departs for South Africa on Sunday next with the opening match in the tour taking place on Saturday, May 30 when the Lions face a Highveld XV in Rustenberg.
The tourists then play a further five provincial fixtures before taking on the world champion Springboks in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg on June 20, 27 and July 4 respectively. Lock O’Connell said the experience the Irish and Welsh players had gained from winning Grand Slams should stand them in good stead during the tour, but playing for the Lions was the next step up for all the squad members.
“We have a lot of players who have been a bit more successful,” O’Connell pointed out this week.
“Ireland got the Grand Slam at last, the Welsh have two. For a lot of those players being on a successful Lions tour is the next level.
“We need to do justice to the Lions jersey, I don’t think we did that in 2005. We need to do the Lions proud over there and see what happens after that.”
The 29-year-old lock said the squad needed to work on gelling as a unit as quickly as possible.
“First and foremost, the talent is here,” Paul O’Connell insisted.
“The coaching staff have very good ideas on how we want to play and how we want to perform. I think all those bits are going to be ticked off so it’s about us coming together as a team.
“We don’t have a lengthy time frame so we don’t have time to suss each other out. We really have to work on coming together as a team in a short space of time. If we can do that then we’ll have a very good chance.”
Meanwhile, two Munster players will win their first full international caps when Ireland face Canada in their summer international in Vancouver this Saturday. Winger Ian Dowling and flanker Niall Ronan are two of the six new caps named in Declan Kidney’s side to face the Canucks at Thunderbird Stadium. Kick-off is at 10pm Irish time (Live coverage on RTE 2).
New caps Dowling and Ronan are two of seven Munster players named in the starting XV for the game. The Magners League winners are also represented by winger Barry Murphy, scrum-half Peter Stringer, prop Tony Buckley, lock Mick O’Driscoll and number eight Denis Leamy.
The replacements’ bench will feature five players who are in line to win their first caps if introduced. These include Limerick-born hooker Sean Cronin and Munster full-back Denis Hurley.
Fourteen-time capped scrum-half Eoin Reddan, who will move from London Wasps to Leinster later in the summer, is also named on the replacements’ bench.
Ireland: Gavin Duffy (Connacht), Barry Murphy (Munster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Ian Whitten (Ulster), Ian Dowling (Munster); Ian Keatley (Connacht), Peter Stringer (Munster); Tom Court (Ulster), Rory Best (Ulster), Tony Buckley (Munster); Bob Casey (London Irish), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster); John Muldoon (Connacht), Niall Ronan (Munster), Denis Leamy (Munster).
Replacements: Sean Cronin (Connacht), Mike Ross (Harlequins), Ryan Caldwell (Ulster), Donncha Ryan (Munster), Eoin Reddan (London Wasps), Niall O'Connor (Ulster), Denis Hurley (Munster).
Colm Kinsella
Monday, May 18, 2009
Munster Lions join McGeechan’s squad in Surrey
MUNSTER’S Lions are due in England today to begin a pre-tour training camp in Surrey ahead of the squad departure to South Africa on Sunday next - the five Munster Lions on Ian McGeechan’s squad who played in the province’s 36-10 Magners League victory over the Ospreys at Thomond Park on Friday night came through the game unscathed.
David Wallace, who bagged two tries, Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan and Lions skipper Paul O’Connell contributed handsomely to the victory over the Welsh visitors. Hooker Jerry Flannery, who was not involved in the win, is also set to join up with the Lions squad in Surrey.
A decision will be made later today on whether flanker Alan Quinlan will appeal his 12-week suspension which puts his participation in the Lions tour in serious doubt.
Quinlan was banned until 9 September after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of making contact with the eye area of Leinster’s Leo Cullen in the sides’ Heineken Cup semi-final.
Quinlan was in Thomond Park on Friday night as Munster received the Magners League trophy following the game against the Ospreys.
Munster and Lions skipper O’Connell said it was important the side put on a big performance in their final home game of the season.
“I’ve been training away for two weeks since we got knocked out of the Heineken Cup semi-final, but it’s great for my match fitness to play.
“You can’t get that without games,” Paul O’Connell said.
“It was a fabulous reception from the fans and we’ve got a great home crowd here.
“They will have felt the disappointment of two weeks ago so it was very important to put on a big performance.
“By and large, I thought it was a good performance.
“It was a great to play and a really tough game especially in the first half before we cut loose in the second half.”
Friday night’s game was an emotional one for several Munster players who are now departing the province.
These players include Frankie Sheahan, Anthony Horgan, Mike Prendergast, Federico Pucciariello, Rua Tipoki, John O’Sullivan and Kieran Lewis.
Munster have also received the ‘Best Supported Team’ award in this season’s Magners League. The province sold more than 160,000 tickets for their nine home Magners League games this season, five of which were staged at Thomond Park and four at Musgrave Park.
Munster’s average ticket sales reached almost 18,000, moving the province into the top three best-supported teams in European rugby leagues.
Just Stade Francais and Toulouse attract more supporters to their home domestic league games.
Meanwhile Declan Kidney’s Ireland side, who face Canada and the USA in full internationals in Vancouver and California respectively over the next two weekends, will play three home games in the Guinness November series later this year.
Ireland will face Australia at Croke Park on Sunday, November 15 at 3pm, before hosting Fiji at the RDS on Saturday, November 21 at 5.15pm.
Ireland then complete their programme of November matches when World champions South Africa visit Croke Park on Saturday, November 28 at 2.30pm.
Colm Kinsella
David Wallace, who bagged two tries, Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan and Lions skipper Paul O’Connell contributed handsomely to the victory over the Welsh visitors. Hooker Jerry Flannery, who was not involved in the win, is also set to join up with the Lions squad in Surrey.
A decision will be made later today on whether flanker Alan Quinlan will appeal his 12-week suspension which puts his participation in the Lions tour in serious doubt.
Quinlan was banned until 9 September after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of making contact with the eye area of Leinster’s Leo Cullen in the sides’ Heineken Cup semi-final.
Quinlan was in Thomond Park on Friday night as Munster received the Magners League trophy following the game against the Ospreys.
Munster and Lions skipper O’Connell said it was important the side put on a big performance in their final home game of the season.
“I’ve been training away for two weeks since we got knocked out of the Heineken Cup semi-final, but it’s great for my match fitness to play.
“You can’t get that without games,” Paul O’Connell said.
“It was a fabulous reception from the fans and we’ve got a great home crowd here.
“They will have felt the disappointment of two weeks ago so it was very important to put on a big performance.
“By and large, I thought it was a good performance.
“It was a great to play and a really tough game especially in the first half before we cut loose in the second half.”
Friday night’s game was an emotional one for several Munster players who are now departing the province.
These players include Frankie Sheahan, Anthony Horgan, Mike Prendergast, Federico Pucciariello, Rua Tipoki, John O’Sullivan and Kieran Lewis.
Munster have also received the ‘Best Supported Team’ award in this season’s Magners League. The province sold more than 160,000 tickets for their nine home Magners League games this season, five of which were staged at Thomond Park and four at Musgrave Park.
Munster’s average ticket sales reached almost 18,000, moving the province into the top three best-supported teams in European rugby leagues.
Just Stade Francais and Toulouse attract more supporters to their home domestic league games.
Meanwhile Declan Kidney’s Ireland side, who face Canada and the USA in full internationals in Vancouver and California respectively over the next two weekends, will play three home games in the Guinness November series later this year.
Ireland will face Australia at Croke Park on Sunday, November 15 at 3pm, before hosting Fiji at the RDS on Saturday, November 21 at 5.15pm.
Ireland then complete their programme of November matches when World champions South Africa visit Croke Park on Saturday, November 28 at 2.30pm.
Colm Kinsella
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