England celebrate a fantastic weekend of rugby success

In an astonishing weekend of rugby all of England’s teams were successful, while the headlines where grabbed by the men’s senior team after their huge performance at Twickenham, the women’s team who have won the Six Nations for the last four years were dominant over their opposition. And while Italy A are not the toughest test the Saxons will meet their victory in Treviso, along with their beating of a far more experienced Ireland A team a week ago shows a real depth of quality that has long been desired by the managerial teams. The success of the U20’s is also very positive for the future; it seems England can look forward to a bright future.

England v Wales
30 – 17

Tries:                                                                                                        Tries:
Haskell 2                                                                                                 AR Jones
Care                                                                                                          Hook
Conversions:                                                                                        Conversions:
Wilkinson 3                                                                                           S Jones 2
Penalties:                                                                                               Penalties:
Wilkinson 3                                                                                           S Jones

England: 15-Delon Armitage, 14-Mark Cueto, 13-Mathew Tait, 12-Toby Flood, 11-Ugo Monye, 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Danny Care; 1-Tim Payne, 2-Dylan Hartley, 3-David Wilson, 4-Simon Shaw, 5-Steve Borthwick (captain), 6-James Haskell, 7-Lewis Moody, 8-Nick Easter.

Replacements: Dan Cole for Wilson (60), Steve Thompson for Hartley (60), Louis Deacon for Shaw (70), Steffon Armitage for Moody (76), Paul Hodgson for Care (76), Dan Hipkiss for Flood (77).
Not used: Ben Foden.

England Women v Wales Women
31 – 0
Tries:
Fisher,
Merchant,
Scarratt,
McLean,
Clarke
Cons: McLean (3)

England Women: Claire Allan (Richmond); Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Emily Scarratt (Litchfield), Rachel Burford (Richmond), Fiona Pocock (Richmond); Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Amy Turner (Richmond); Claire Purdy (Wasps), Amy Garnett (Saracens), Sophie Hemming (Bristol), Rebecca Essex (Richmond), Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), Heather Fisher (Worcester), Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Catherine Spencer (Bristol, capt).

Replacements: Samantha Reeve (Worcester), Rochelle Clark (Team Northumbria), Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), La Toya Mason (Wasps), Alice Richardson (Richmond), Michaela Staniford (Wasps).

England Saxons v Italy A
31 – 5
Tries;                                                                                       Try
Benjamin,                                                                              Canavosio
penalty,
Goode,
Strettle.
Conversions:
Geraghty, Goode (3)
Penalties:
Geraghty

England Saxons: D Cipriani (Wasps); D Strettle (Harlequins), J Clarke (Northampton), B Barritt (Saracens), M Benjamin; S Geraghty (Northampton), M Young (Newcastle); D Flatman (Bath), R Webber (Wasps), P Doran-Jones (Gloucester), G Parling (Leicester), G Skivington (Wasps, captain), C Robshaw (Harlequins), H Fourie (Leeds), P Dowson (Northampton).

Replacements: R Wigglesworth (Sale) for Young (40), Alex Goode (Saracens) for Geraghty (50), T Mercey (Saracens) for Flatman (blood 18-28, 60), T Wood (Worcester) for Fourie (58), D Attwood (Gloucester) for Wood (60), D Waldouck (Wasps), R Vickers (Newcastle) for Webber (76).

Loxton beats England's Tom Catterick on his way to score a try

England U20 v Wales U20
41 – 14
Tries:
Marler 2,
George,
Rowan,
May.
Conversions:
Burns 3, Homer 2.
Penalties:
Burns 2

So far I can’t put the highlights of this game on the site but if you follow the link to the RFU site they are worth the watch. Harlequins prop Joe Marler looks a really exciting prospect.

http://www.rfu.com/News/2010/February/News%20Articles/050210_engu20_matchrept 

England U20: Tom Catterick (Newcastle Falcons; Jonathan Joseph, London Irish 52); Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers), Tom Homer (London Irish), Rory Clegg (Harlequins), Sam Smith (Harlequins); Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby; Jonny May, Gloucester Rugby 56), Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers; Sam Stuart, Harlequins 76); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Jamie George (Saracens; Rob Buchanan, Harlequins 75), Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby; Lee Imiolek, Sale Sharks 57), Calum Green (Leicester Tigers; Charlie Matthews, Harlequins 71), James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons; Jackson Wray, Saracens 67), Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie, captain), Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons)

Wales’ hopes for the Six Nations

Wales were under performers last season coming a lowly fourth despite having all the personnel that saw them win a Grand Slam in 2008. That poor form continued through to the autumn with their poor showing against both New Zealand and particularly Australia which after losing their two strike runners in attack, Shane Williams and Leigh Halfpenny to injury, led to a considerable defeat.

But with the Ospreys in fantastic form at the moment there is a sense of new life in the same body of players which have been the core of the Welsh team in the past few years.

An all Lions front row sets a perfect platform for the Welsh pack to work from with the stand out man being Gethin Jenkins, widely regarded as one of the best props in the game. His all round athleticism and ability to work in open play gives the Welsh side the equivalent of an extra back row, a regular sight being the big man chasing down a back to make the last gasp try saving tackle.

Jenkins partner in the scrum Adam Jones came in and tamed ‘the beast’ after he had destroyed the Cornish ‘raging bull’ otherwise known as Phil Vickery in the first Test of the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa stating his credentials as a great scrumager. Mathew Rees completes the trio.

Wales are equally as strong in the back row having another all Lion representing set. Andy Powell who in recent times has moved to blind side flanker offers a physical ball carrying presence that can be match by few in the Northern hemisphere. While captain Ryan Jones is in one of the richest rains of form in his career. The number seven shirt is filled by the time defying Martyn Williams who is quite simply one of the most gifted footballers of his generation. The Cardiff Blue can simply do it all, putting in pin point kicks, unbelievable tackle counts and is simply always in the right place, using his unnerving ability to read the game to its full advantage. The result being that the Welsh have one of the strongest packs in the tournament, best of all they are all well established internationals who have a vast experience of playing together as a pack making them both very strong and very dangerous.

Where the men in red may come undone somewhat surprisingly is at scrum half. This again should be an area of great strength for the Welsh boasting two of the finest players in that position amongst their ranks but Mark Phillips the starting nine for the Lions and Dwayne Peel are both absent through injury with the two men in a race against time to be back before the end of the tournament. The result has been the recalling of Gareth Cooper into the Welsh set up and while he is by no means inexperienced he lacks the x-factor that the two men he is replacing both have. Phillips domineering size for a player in his position allows his to bully the opposition while Peele’s speed and ability to make breaks forces defences to work over time. For the most part Cooper is competent but dull.

Fly half will be an interesting battle within the squad with both Stephen Jones and Dan Bigger playing well for their clubs. Biggar has been thrust onto the scene in a hurry, only making his senior debut in September but he has dislodged James Hook from the ten shirt at the Ospreys and now looks to do the same to Jones for his country. Whatever choice Warren Gatlin makes he is fortunate to have two high quality options, and with Biggar it seems more of a case of if not now then soon as he appears to have the makings of a top class fly half.

The wondering James Hook who has filled a number of positions this season both for club and country finds himself in the twelve jersey despite playing for most of the season at full back. Where ever he is selected Hook has proved himself to be one of Wales’ most dangerous attacking assets in the autumn, despite playing in a team who were misfiring. He will need to be at the top of his game if he is to keep the shirt however, with Jonathan Davies looking better with every game. Joining him in the centre is Jamie Roberts who seemed to be suffering second season syndrome by the end of last year, but a revitalising Barbarians experience seems to have brought back some confidence in the young man. His powerful displays in the Six Nations last year and the Lions tour of the summer mark him out as a real danger man for the Welsh.

There three quarters completes a stunning attacking set of backs with the irresistible Shane Williams coming back from injury just in time to try and extend his record number of tries. Combined with the incredible lines and foot balling abilities of Lee Bryne at full back Wales really do appear to be the complete package and are as strong as any nation in the competition.

Player to watch: Shane Williams

When he is at his best the 2007 World Player of the Year and Wales’ all time leading try scorer is simply mesmeric. His light foot, quick stepping burst can beat any opposition in the world and given the even the smallest of gaps this ruthless finisher will find a way to score. Like so many of the great players in the game even when you think he is out of the game and has been quiet one flash of magic can change a game and he is so often the man to provide it for both Wales and the Ospreys.

Wales’ 35-man Six Nations squad:
Backs: Gareth Cooper, Leigh Halfpenny, Tom James, Richard Rees, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin (all Cardiff Blues) Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, Lee Byrne, James Hook, Kristian Phillips, Tom Prydie, Shane Williams (all Ospreys), Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones, Martin Roberts (all Llanelli Scarlets)

Forwards: Bradley Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Deiniol Jones, Andy Powell, Sam Warburton, Gareth Williams, Martyn Williams (all Cardiff Blues), Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Paul James, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas (all Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate (both Dragons, Eifion Lewis-Roberts (Sale Sharks), Rhys Gill (Saracens)

Fixtures

England v Wales Saturday 6th 17:00 February
Wales v Scotland Saturday 13th 14:00 February
Wales v France Friday 26th 20:00 February
Ireland v Wales Saturday 13th 14:30 March
Wales v Italy Saturday 20th 14:30 March

Ladbrokes odd’s on Wales winning
5/1

Some classic highlights of Welsh rugby from across the ages.

Ireland v Italy preview

Ireland v Italy team sheets

Ireland will just simply be too good for Italy as they have been on the past 13 occasions.

This is the coming together of two teams on the different ends of the scale, Ireland looking to repeat their Grand Slam glories of last season having broken their 62 year wait. The only side to have won back to back Grand Slams in the professional era is France in 1997/98. But with a settled and well accustomed group of high quality players, studded with a few legitimate superstars of world rugby, such as Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell, Declan Kidneys side may just be the team to do it.

Starting as he means to go on Kidney has selected the strongest possible side available, choosing the experienced Ronan O’Gara over the new comer and ever improving Jonny Sexton. With fierce competition for the two wing positions Andrew Trimble of Ulster was won the race after impressive recent displays.

Even the loss of Donncha O’Callaghan will have no real effect on the side, with the giant Munster man who captained the mid-week British and Irish Lions team this summer being replaced by the more than capable Leo Cullen, captain of Leinster. Few teams are fortunate enough to have replacements of such calibre available to them.

In contrast Italy, the perennial whipping boys of the Six Nations having been the unfortunate recipient winners of the wooden spoon (awarded for losing every game) in four of the last five seasons. Their already distant hopes of even a single win the tournament have been all but distinguished with the injury of their inspirational captain, Sergio Parisse. The Azzurri No.8 is a force of nature, and even at international level a one man team, frequently being referred to as the best player in his position in the world. Without their seemingly mythical colossus acting as the lynchpin of the side the Italian have no real chance of winning and certainly not against potentially the strongest side in the competition.

Any Italian fan will watch with interest at the progress of their new fly half, Craig Gower. The ex-Australian league international who captained the Wallabies in 2005 against France has switched codes and through his Italian grandfather qualified to play for Nick Mallet’s Italy. But the player now plying his trade for French Top 14 club Bayonne does not come without a degree of controversy; he been involved in numerous embarrassing alcohol related interests which saw him dismissed as captain of his former club and thrown of the Wallaby touring party.

Here is a short video showing the very best and the very worst of Craig Gower in his internation rugby union debut for Italy on their tour down under in June 2009.

The Bergamasco brothers offer some rare quality to the Italian side and Kaine Robertson has been in good form this season but none of those players would be likely to break into any other team in the competition. One exception to that is Martin Castrogiovanni; the Leicester Tiger is regularly named amongst the top props in the premiership and is a favourite with the Welford Road fans. His expertise along with Salvatore Perugini will keep Italy’s reputation as a fierce scrummaging side alive.

Most depressingly for Mallet and Italian rugby fans is the breakdown in negotiations for Italian clubs to join the Magners league. The Italian Rugby Federation have claimed that they were being priced out of the talks but the inclusion of domestic clubs in the well established Magners league which Warren Gatlin believes to be a better standard of rugby than the Guinness Premiership, was seen as a real opportunity to raise the standard of Italian club rugby which in the long run would hugely benefit the national side.

Ireland:
15 R Kearney,
14 T Bowe,
13 B O’Driscoll,
12 G D’Arcy,
11 A Trimble,
10 R O’Gara,
9 T O’Leary;
1 C Healy,
2 J Flannery,
3 J Hayes,
4 L Cullen,
5 P’Connell,
6 K McLaughlin,
7 D Wallace,
8 J Heaslip.

Replacements: R Best, T Court, L Cullen, S O’Brien, E Reddan, P Wallace, K Earls.

Italy:
15-Luke McLean,
14-Kaine Robertson,
13-Gonzalo Canale,
12-Gonzalo Garcia,
11-Mirco Bergamasco,
10-Craig Gower,
9-Tito Tebaldi;
8-Alessandro Zanni,
7-Mauro Bergamasco,
6-Josh Sole,
5-Quintin Geldenhuys,
4-Carlo Antonio Del Fava,
3-Martin Castrogiovanni,
2-Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain)
1-Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: 16-Fabio Ongaro, 17-Matias Aguero, 18-Marco Bortolami, 19-Paul Derbyshire, 20-Simon Picone, 21-Riccardo Bocchino, 22-Andrea Masi.

A short clip of Andrew Trimble in action in the Heineken Cup, perhaps one of the reason that Kidney went for the Ulsterman and why the Itlians should fear him.

Northmapton Saints v Leicester Tigers preview

Saturday 6th February, 15:00
Franklin Gardens
LV= Cup

With four big names returning to the Tigers playing squad last weekend in the form of Billy Twelvetrees, Lucas Amorosino, Harry Ellis and Julian White this week possibly the biggest name in the club, captain Geordan Murphy makes his return if only to a place on the bench.

It will be the first inclusion of the club captain in a match day 23 since he dislocated his shoulder against Bath back in the last weekend of September in a 20-20 draw at the Rec. The return of Murphy will be a huge boost to the whole club coming down to the championship months.

Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill makes just two changes from the side that beat bath last Friday by 27-11 winning the all important bonus point. Leicester bring in Tom Youngs at hooker and Dan Hemmingway in the second row.

The Tigers still have a chance to progress through to the Semi finals of the LV= Cup but will probably need a bonus point win to do so. They currently sit top of Pool 1 tied with Saracens on nine points. Leicester are looking to win the cup which they have not held since 2007, then the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

Leicester Tigers
15 Lucas Amorosino
14 Alesana Tuilagi
13 Billy Twelvetrees
12 Aaron Mauger (c)
11 Matt Smith
10 Sam Vesty
9 Harry Ellis
1 Boris Stankovich
2 Tom Youngs
3 Julian White
4 Dan Hemingway
5 Ben Kay
6 Ben Pienaar
7 Ben Woods
8 Brett Deacon

Replacements
16 Joe Duffey
17 Robbie Harris
18 Ryan Bower
19 Rob Conquest
20 Matt Everard
21 James Grindal
22 Jeremy Staunton
23 Geordan Murphy

Northampton Saints
15 Bruce Reihana
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joe Ansbro
12 Chris Mayor
11 Paul Diggin
10 Stephen Myler
9 Alan Dickens
1 Soane Tonga’uiha
2 Brett Sharman
3 Brian Mujati
4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (c)
5 Juandre Kruger
6 Mark Easter
7 Neil Best
8 Roger Wilson

Replacements
16 Andy Long
17 Adam Parkins
18 Alex Waller
19 James Cannon
20 Owen Giles
21 Lee Dickson
22 Barry Everitt
23 James Downey

Preview of England v Wales

England v Wales Team sheets

Both Wales and England have suffered huge blows ahead of tomorrow’s game at Twickenham. First Wales announced that their talisman prop Gethin Jenkins is out with a calf injury. The man who was unanimously voted into the Rugby World team of the decade by their panel of legends will be a huge loss to the Welsh side that had already had another Lion, Mathew Rees, drop out with a shoulder injury. The original all 2009 Lion, Welsh front row that could well have been a real weapon against a comparably inexperienced England opposition denies the visitors an advantage they should have enjoyed.

Just as significantly England have lost Brive’s Riki Flutey who had originally been named to start at inside centre after suffering a series of injuries that saw him miss the majority of the Lions tour in the summer and all of the autumn internationals. The Kiwi convert went down with a dead leg in training on Thursday which, although minor means he misses Saturday’s fixture.

Leicester’s Toby Flood comes in for the injured man, gaining his 27th cap. Interestingly although Flood plays almost solely at fly half for the Tigers half of his 14 starts for England have come at inside centre and six of those alongside Jonny Wilkinson who he partners once again.

The news of the injuries to both sides has somewhat over shadowed the positive selections of both managers, particularly Martin Johnson who seems to have selected a side in response to the criticism his teams are slow, plodding and uninventive which his side has been subject to over the past year. Riki Flutey was one of central cogs in his new attacking line up, and will be a big loss to a side that are desperately in need of his creative capabilities to unlock the opposition defences.

The most surprising selection of the tie has been Johnson’s decision to reinstate Mathew Tate back into the England side for his first start since the 2007 World Cup final. This time the utility player starts at outside centre making up an all ex-Newcastle back line of Wilkinson, Flood and Tait, a factor that can only enhance the team’s performance with the players having a degree of familiarity with each other. Matt Banahan has lost his place on the wing with Monye, who has been in superb form for Harlequins returning to the wing with Delon Armitage reclaiming the full back jersey after his own injury battles.
Even with Flutey missing Johnson’s bold selection is one of the most exciting in some time, with every player in the backs division holding the ability to beat a man one on one.

Wales however have selected an equality gifted set of backs, with the unpredictable James Hook at centre, alongside the powerful Jamie Roberts who seems to be finding his lost form from last season. Warren Gatlin has also rushed back Shane Williams into the side after his recent injury, knowing full well the need for Wales’ all time top try scorer. However perhaps the biggest boast Wales received this week was the reinstatement of Lee Byrne at full back. The Osprey had been due to miss the game after picking up a ban for his part in the 16th man debacle in his club’s final group game of the Heineken Cup against Leicester. After a review the ERC disciplinary panel replaced the ban with a 5,000 Euros fine which seems more fitting than making the Welsh national side suffer. Byrne is one of the world’s best full backs and his inclusion will give Wales an extra dimension they would have been missing without him. His canon of a boot along with Hook’s offers Wales ample kicking options to assist Stephen Jones at fly half who has beaten out his younger contender Dan Biggar.

It should be a very even fixture, with two attacking sides flying at each other in a much needed display of attacking rugby and one feels that the most adventurous side will be the one that comes out on top. As an Englishman the excellent recent form of the Ospreys is a concern, especially with seven of the Swansea men in the starting line up. The former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain Gareth Thomas said in light of the injury situation, ‘I think Wales will still win, but it’s going to be very tough.’ While Martin Corry commented that the injury to Jenkins tips the game in England’s favour.

Whatever happens it will be interesting to see how these two sides perform; with both have a point to prove after poor showings in the autumn.

England:
15 D Armitage (London Irish);
14 M Cueto (Sale Sharks),
13 M Tait (Sale Sharks),
12 T Flood (Leicester),
11 U Monye (Harlequins);
10 J Wilkinson (Toulon),
9 D Care (Harlequins);
1 T Payne (Wasps),
2 D Hartley (Northampton),
3 D Wilson (Bath),
4 S Shaw (Wasps),
5 S Borthwick (Saracens, capt),
6 J Haskell (Stade Francais),
7 L Moody (Leicester),
8 N Easter (Harlequins).

Bench: S Thompson (Brive), D Cole (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), S Armitage (London Irish), P Hodgson (London Irish), S Hape (Bath), B Foden (Northampton).

Wales:
15 Lee Byrne (Ospreys);
14 Tom James (Blues),
13 James Hook (Ospreys),
12 Jamie Roberts (Blues),
11 Shane Williams (Ospreys);
10 Stephen Jones (Scarlets);
9 Gareth Cooper (Blues);
1 Paul James (Ospreys),
2 Gareth Williams (Blues),
3 Adam Jones (Ospreys),
4 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys),
5 Luke Charteris (Dragons),
6 Andy Powell (Blues),
7 Martyn Williams (Blues),
8 Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Bench: Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Richie Rees (Blues), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).

Some brief highlights of last years encounter between the two sides.

Leicester Tigers wingers to leave

More departures at Leicester Tigers

It has been announced this week that two more Leicester Tigers wingers will be leaving the club before the start of the next season. As was always planned the Australian duel international Lote Tuqiri has confirmed than he shall leave the midlands club for the Australian NRL side West Tigers on a three year deal that will see him earning $400,000 a season.

West Tigers’ chief executive, Stephen Humphreys personally flew into Leicester this week to secure the signature of Tuqiri after months of negotiations. There has been a great deal of interest in both codes of rugby in Tuqiri who scored an impressive 31 tries in 67 Tests for Australia including a memorable try in the 2003 World Cup final, towering over the comparably diminutive Jason Robinson. But after years of playing rugby union the Australian will return to league where he has also represented both Australia and Fiji.

Talking of his move Tuqiri said; ‘I’m really excited to return to the NRL. There is no question it is one of the toughest sporting competitions in the world.’ He also outlines that one of the major attractions of joining particularly the West Tigers was to work with legendary veteran coach Tim Sheens.

Lote Tuqiri came to Leicester in a state of disgrace in October having been dismissed by the Australian Rugby Union for misremembers off the field but since he was warmly welcomed to Welford Road on the historic night Tigers beat South Africa 22-17 he has been a regular fixture on the wing, playing 11 times. Brought in because of an injury crisis Tuqiri has rapidly returned to his world beating best while at the club, his first performances looked a little shaky with his pace seeming a little of the mark but the Christmas period saw a transformation, into the deadly attacking weapon we all remember him as.

In response to his short spell with the Tigers he said; “I will never forget Leicester’s warm hospitality,” and Tigers fans will remember his with warm hearts.

Also Ireland A winger Johne Murphy is to return back to Ireland with Munster. The 25 year old has agreed a two year deal with the European giants after a fruitful spell with the Tigers for whom he made 93 appearances since joining the side in 2005, scoring 27 tries in the process. In a personal highlight he was Leicester’s top try scorer in the clubs extremely successful 2008/09 season.

Munster head coach Tony McGahan said of his new signing;
“After being part of a very successful period with Leicester we look forward to Johne’s participation on and off the field with Munster. His strong ball-carrying, strong individual defence and finishing ability from either wing or full back are some of the attributes we are looking forward to Johne brining to the back division.”

The acquisition of Murphy has led to further speculation that New Zealander Doug Howlett will be leaving the club at the end of the season to return to his home country, perhaps with an eye on adding to his incredible record 49 tries in 62 caps for the All Blacks in the run up to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Video highlights of Tuqiri’s defining game as a Leicester Tiger

Scotland’s hopes for the Six Nations

Scotland are undoubtedly the wild card team of the competition. For some time they have been trading with Italy as the whipping boys of the tournament and more likely winners of the wooden spoon than the Six Nations trophy although it must be said at the same time they have been a constant thorn in the side of the England side taking their fair share of Calcutta Cup victories in the past few years. But the vastly improved performances in the autumn internationals by Andy Robinson’s side give all Scot’s reason to hope that they might be on their way back to the promised land of the sporting glory after a long spell lost in the doldrums.

Scotland have been a capable underperforming side for a couple of years now, but Robinson seems to have found a way to bring his limited number of players together into a cohesive team. Most importantly he looks to have built them into a team that can score tries, something that the Scottish public , whose numbers at Murryfield have been dwindling in recent years due to poor, dull performances, so desperately want to see. With the inclusion of the Evans brother who have come to providence in the past twelve months with Sean Lamont and Hugo Southwell being directed by the attackingly minded Phil Godman at fly half Scotland can boast as strong as attacking set of backs as any team in the competition, barring Ireland perhaps who are in a league of their own at the moment. That said the autumn was still dominated by kicking but when you have ‘the world’s most reliable kicker,’ note I don’t write ‘best’ as so many have before, on your side getting into a kicking duel isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What is required from Robinson’s side is to see line breaks. At international level hammering the ball up with players built in the mould Frankenstein reincarnated is not going to be successful. The modern game has tipped the scales towards defences being quite often much stronger than attacking play. Scotland need to show some flair and verve to break down even the most organised and drilled defences. With the players they have selected they have the tools available to do so.

What is more they also have a solid platform in the form of the scrum with a front row of Euan Murray, and Alan Jacobson with Ross Ford hocking, that is a front row that with recent injury problems Martin Johnson would be envious to have starting for him. The return of big Jim Hamilton from injury in the second row lends the Scotland team some extra muscle and a body of experience.

Scotland’s rugby fortunes have seen a turnaround in the last twelve months; the overcoming of Australia in the autumn and with Glasgow sitting atop the Magners League table there is a sense of raised expectations of what they can now achieve and so it should. They will never get back to the top of the game unless they show some ambition. While unfortunately joint captain Dan Parks is injured the other captain Chris Cusiter is as good a replacement as you could ever hope for. Both men have the ability to change a game in a second and drive their team forward from the vital position of scrum half.

The result of all this is that if Scotland play well on the day they have the ability to beat anyone in the competition, which is one of the reasons that this is such an interesting and open Six Nations competition.

Player to watch: Euan Murray

The giant prop is considered one of the best scrumagers in the game and against a diminished England front row, a very average Welsh one and a fairly weak Irish front row he could well be in his element in 2010, and if the scrum is strong it will act as a launching pad for all Scotland’s attacking aspirations. In a side note the Scotsman has shown great personal integrity by choosing not to play the first game of the tournament against France on a Sunday due to his religious beliefs. He says “I just wish that games of rugby weren’t played on Sundays. Christ doesn’t want them to be played on Sundays.”

Scotland squad

Forwards: John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie, Kelly Brown (all Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Richie Gray, Dougie Hall (both Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester)

Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans, Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Alex Grove (Worcester), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors) and Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais).

Fixtures
Scotland v France Sunday 7th February 15:00
Wales v Scotland Saturday 13th February 14:00
Italy v Scotland Saturday 27th February 13:00
Scotland v England Saturday 13th March 17:00
Ireland v Scotland Saturday 20th March 17:00

Ladbrokes odds on Scotland winning
20/1

England Saxons impressive in win over Ireland A

Two very different games between England Saxons and Ireland A. The first clip is recent highlights from the two sides meeting in the Churchill Cup Final on the 21st June 2009 in Denver in where England were blown away by the free flowing Irish losing 22-49, the Saxons worst ever defeat in their 43 year history.

But in a vast change around which we can only hope signals equal progression in the full senior side Saxons put in an outstanding performance to get revenge and win 17-13 at the Recreation Ground. A youthful England side out did a far more experienced Ireland A with the demoted Shane Geraghty at the reigns controlling things from the fly half position. One can olny hope that the strength in youth will set England in good stead for the futre with Ben Youngs of Leicester and Noah Cato of Saracens looking particulary good.

Ireland’s hopes for the Six Nations

While the bookies do not make the Irish the favourites it would be hard to bet against last year’s Grand Slam winning champions. With both Munster and Leinster flying in Europe and with the continuation of their impressive form through the autumn internationals climaxing in a tightly fought win over the current World Champions South Africa. Ireland have not lost a test match in over 15 months and they have all the tools to continue their run and climb the IRB world rankings ladder to the very top.

The squad is once again led by the incredible Brain O’Driscoll at centre, last year’s Player of the Tournament and runner up in the World Player of the Year award. With BOD on the field you always have a chance and rather than falling off the pace as many predicated calling last season’s heroics the swan song of Ireland’s ‘golden generation’ instead the key players are looking as strong as ever. Paul O’Connell has seemingly grown from his captaincy of the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa last summer, an illustrious honour which puts him amongst a fabled few.

Ireland have a real competition for places taking place, which can only breed quality. They are blessed with an abundance of talent on the wings with Tommy Bowe all but certain of his shirt as he remains one of the deadliest finishers in world rugby and if anything has improved since last year’s championship. The other wing is wide open, Andrew Trimble is playing fantastically for Ulster as is Shane Horgan for Leinster, the big man appears to have found his form and hunger for tries once again. Then there are the mercurial talents of Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald when fit. The aforementioned Earls has quickly developed into a world class talent who can play in a number of positions.

Even the concern with Ireland’s front row seems to have been put to bed with both prop John Hayes and Jerry Flannery being involved with the Lions this past summer and Cian Healy being one of the stand out performers in the autumn winning a Man of the Match award for his efforts against Australia.

Ireland have the perfect combination of the flair and attacking prowess of Leinster led by O’Driscoll, alongside the forward might of Munster led by O’Connell with a few superstar Ulstermen thrown in. Their familiarity of playing together week in week out gives them a huge advantage.

They have world class options for selection in nearly every position including fly half where Jonny Sexton of Leinster is snapping at the heels of Ronan O’Gara and this tournament could usher in the transition of a new fly half superstar. Despite his young age Sexton appears to have the big game nerve, as he displayed kicking Leinster past the Leicester Tigers in the 2009 Heineken Cup final.

The only thing against them in a championship that might just be the tightest in years is the fact that they have to visit both Twickenham and the Stade de France, two of the toughest places to visit in world rugby when their respective teams are playing well. This will be a true tester of the legacy that Ireland’s ‘golden generation’ are going to leave behind but with the weight of a 61 year wait for a Grand Slam off their backs Ireland may just be able to relax a little and enjoy it.

Player to watch: Rob Kearny

The Leinster man matured at a starling speed last year and got better with every game. That form transfered into a great Lions tour which saw him emerge as one of the worlds best full backs. His great choice of lines and power along with his canon of a kicking foot make him a deadly weapon in Ireland’s arsenal. Expect big things from him this year.

Ireland squad

: Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster), John Fogarty (De La Salle Palmerston/Leinster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster), Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster), Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster), Kevin McLaughlin (UCD/Leinster), Johne Murphy (Leicester), Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) , Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster), Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht).

Fixtures
Ireland v Italy Saturday 6th February 14:30
France v Ireland Saturday 13th February 14:30
England v Ireland Saturday 27th February 14:00
Ireland v Wales Saturday 13th March 14:30
Ireland v Scotland Saturday 20th March 17:00

Ladbrokes odd’s on Ireland winning
9/4

This video captures everything great about rugby, rugby is in the blood of the Irish, listen to them talk it is not a game it is a way of life.

Personnel changes at Tigers

It was announced today that Brett Deacon will leave the Leicester Tigers at the end of the season to join Gloucester in a two year deal. The 27 year old has played 114 games for the Tigers since making his senior debut in 2003 having come through Leicester’s Junior academy. Gloucester Director of Rugby Bryan Redpath said of his first new signing for the coming season; “He is English-qualified, has a lot of experience in a winning environment at Leicester and is ambitious to establish himself at a new club.”

Brother Louis Deacon has just put pen to paper to extend his time at Welford Road along with Dan Hipkiss, Jordan Crane, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Matt Smith.

Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill sees it as important to have his team built around a core of English players. He states the importance of keeping these players saying; “These guys all understand the culture of the club, and they have a role too as an example and inspiration to all of our young players.”

But it seems there are going to be some considerable changes at the Tigers next season. Aaron Mauger is leaving at the end of the season to return to the Canterbury Crusaders in New Zealand in hope of gaining a place in the All Blacks 2011 World Cup squad which will be played on his home soil. When joining the club after the last World Cup in 2007 in France he always stated this would be his intention wanting to add to his 45 All Black caps and 13 tries for his country.

Since his arrival at Welford Road Mauger has proved himself to be an integral player to the club, reaching 50 caps for the club, scoring 42 points and leading the Tigers as captain on numerous occasions. He was hugely influential in helping Leicester reach the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup final in 2008/09 and in the same season was voted ‘Supporters Player of the Year.’

Rumours are also in the air that currant first choice full back Scott Hamilton will also be leaving the club in the summer with the same intention of breaking his way back into the New Zealand team to add to his two caps. If these rumours prove to be true he will be a huge loss to the club as he has been one of the players of the season this year; strong in defence, great under the high ball and adventurous and deadly going forward in a team that needs players with his inventive talent.

Just a short clip of Hamilton playing in Leicester Tigers win over Viadanna in the Heineken cup this season.