Bastareaud gets second chance
3 Feb 2010
Keo.co.za brings you the latest news ahead of this weekend’s Six Nations matches.
Bastareaud gets second chance
Mathieu Bastareaud will start in France’s midfield alongside Yannick Jauzion for their Six Nations opener against Scotland on Sunday.
Bastareaud was in the middle of a dilpomatic dispute between France and New Zealand last year after he lied to officials, claiming he had been beaten up, but in truth he fell on his face after a night out. After showing good form for Stade Francais, he has been recalled by coach Marc Lievremont.
Fullback Clement Poitrenaud, wing Aurelien Rougerie and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo are also recalled after they missed the November internationals through injury or a dip in form.
France – 15-Clement Poitrenaud, 14-Benjamin Fall, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Yannick Jauzion, 11-Aurelien Rougerie, 10-Francois Trinh-Duc, 9-Morgan Parra, 8-Imanol Harinordoquy, 7-Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5-Pascal Pape, 4-Lionel Nallet, 3-Nicolas Mas, 2-William Servat, 1-Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16-Dimitri Szarzewski, 17-Luc Ducalcon, 18-Julien Pierre, 19-Julien Bonnaire, 20-Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 21-David Marty, 22-Vincent Clerc.
Byrne cleared for Twickers clash
Lee Byrne has successfully appealed his two-week ban and will start for Wales against England this Saturday.
The Wales fullback was suspended for his role in the Ospreys’ 16-man debacle. In a recent European Cup game against Leicester, the Welsh club had 16 men on the field at one stage after Byrne returned from the blood bin, and the club has since been fined 25 000 Euros.
An independent appeal committee in Glasgow allowed an appeal and changed Byrne’s punishment to a fine of 5000 Euros. The Lions No 15 will now run out against the Poms at Twickenham.
Gareth Jenkins earns his third start at hooker as Matthew Rees is injured, while James Hook will play outside centre for the first time in his international career.
Wales – Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Tom James (Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets); Gareth Cooper (Blues); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Gareth Williams (Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Andy Powell (Blues), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, c).
Subs: Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Richie Rees (Blues), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).
O’Gara back at 10
Ronan O’Gara reclaims his place at flyhalf in Ireland’s match against Italy at Croke Park on Saturday.
Jonny Sexton kicked all the Paddies’ points in their win over the Springboks in their latest Test last year, but he’s been ruled out with a leg injury. Flank Kevin McLaughlin will make his debut in place of the injured Stephen Ferris.
In other changes, Andrew Trimble ousts Keith Earls on the wing, while Gordon D’Arcy replaces Paddy Wallace at 12.
Ireland – 15 – Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), 14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), 13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (c), 12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), 11 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), 10 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), 9 – Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster), 1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), 2 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster), 3 – John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), 4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), 5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster), 6 – Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), 7 – David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), 8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster).
Subs: 16 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), 17 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), 18 – Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), 19 – Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), 20 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), 21 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), 22 – Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster).
Poms turn to Tait
Martin Johnson has recalled Mathew Tait, Delon Armitage, Rickey Flutey and Nick Easter to his team to face Wales on Saturday.
The latter trio missed the November internationals due to injury and are part of six changes to the side that last to New Zealand in their last Test.
Tait has been out of favour with Johnson but forms a midfield partnership with Flutey, and it will be his second start since the 2007 World Cup final where England lost to the Springboks. Danny Care returns at scrumhalf, as does tighthead David Wilson.
England – 15 Delon Armitage (London Irish), 14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), 13 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks), 12 Riki Flutey (CA Brive), 11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins), 10 Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon), 9 Danny Care (Harlequins), 1 Tim Payne (London Wasps), 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 3 David Wilson (Bath Rugby), 4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps), 5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain), 6 James Haskell (Stade Francais), 7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers), 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins).
Subs: 16 Steve Thompson (CA Brive), 17 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), 18 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), 19 Steffon Armitage (London Irish), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), 22 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints).
Mallet sweats on Gower
Nick Mallet has included injured pivot Craig Gower in his 24-man squad for Italy’s Six Nations opener against Ireland.
Gower is currently suffering from a knee injury but could recover in time for Saturday’s clash at Croke Park.
However, should Gower not recover in time, Mallet will give 21-year-old Rovigo flyhalf Riccardo Bocchino his Test debut.
Italy’s match 22 will be announced on Thursday.
Italy Six Nations 24-man squad:
Forwards – Matias Aguero, Mauro Bergamasco, Marco Bortolami, Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Paul Derbyshire, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leonardo Ghiraldini (c), Fabio Ongaro, Salvatore Perugini, Josh Sole, Alessandro Zanni.
Backs – Mirco Bergamasco, Riccardo Bocchino, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Craig Gower, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Simon Picone, Kaine Robertson, Alberto Sgarbi, Tito Tebaldi.
21 Comments
2 Feb 2010, 15:53 pm
season in full swing!
2 Feb 2010, 15:56 pm
Looking forward to the Six Nations.
Finally some good rugby to look forward to this weekend. Then the next…….. The best tourney in the world starts..
2 Feb 2010, 16:13 pm
James Haskel has the makings of a very good 8.Not a 6 IMO,great athlete.Probably he and Delon Armitage and Stefon Armitage or athletes in team with rugby ability.Rest cumbersome or no skills
2 Feb 2010, 17:49 pm
finally an english side to be proud of .i stand to make quite a bit of money from my welsh friends if englnd win on saturday .cumon ROSES!!!!
2 Feb 2010, 18:03 pm
@mshiniwami:
I went to Leinster vs L.Irish a week ago at HQ. Ive just about recovered.
But I wasnt so drunk as to notice that D.Armitage struggled to catch so much as a beach ball. His positional play was terrible at FB and he sent out a couple of hospital passes. The comparison betw him and his opposite, R.Kearney, was black vs white. Engl opposition will be licking their lips, and so they should.
Interesting selection with Tait at centre. Now there is 1 talented player who has been stuffed around at selectors whims. Still not sure he’s strong enough for the modern centre but he runs lovely lines and has balance not since in an Engl back since Guscott. Whether he gets any decent ball with Wilko at flyhalf is the only imponderable.
Dont rate Easter as a no8, Haskell is a way better option.
2 Feb 2010, 19:06 pm
@mshiniwami: Haskell’s a good 6 imo doesn’t have the brains for No.8, Steffon struggled against Italy and Argentina.
@Black Panther: I’ve already said that Delon is just returning from 3 months out of the game and is rusty, he’s a top full-back. Kearney has been playing all season. Easter is underrated imo, Tait’s a wildcard, interested to see how he goes.
2 Feb 2010, 19:43 pm
@Big Hit:
Perhaps but taking highballs for a Test-quality FB should be their bread’n'butter. Ive read your previous opinions re McCaw last season and nary a hint of acknowledging his form on the back of coming back from a major injury….
In fact I hope Armitage comes good as he was a player that learnt everything at the club I coach minis at, Richmond. But I suspect that he is one of those that looks good with the ball in open spaces and with a bit more time. But, as we know, in Test rugby there is less open space and F.A. time.
Perhaps Easter is underrated as much as Christmas is overrated. Big lump with thumbs for fingers I say.
2 Feb 2010, 21:34 pm
Ahhh James Haskell superb athlete product of the finest rugby school in England…
3 Feb 2010, 09:52 am
You coached at Richmond Panther? I played there for 9 years…
3 Feb 2010, 10:14 am
@Black Panther: armitage is brilliant under the high ball ,he was the standout perfomer in the 2008 autumn series and 2009 six nations .johnson will propbably be esctatic bout having him back after the ugo monye failure at fullback
3 Feb 2010, 11:51 am
Great news. Go Wales.
3 Feb 2010, 11:54 am
Poms gonna battle to beat Wales,France or Ireland
3 Feb 2010, 15:03 pm
@PaulLondon:
Coach, present tense. My 3rd season. Only minis tho (albeit children of certain Messrs Lynagh, Castignede, Dallaglio watching from the sideline).
Lovely club, Richmond. Other than a few knobby Engl types that turn up in their Porsche Cayenes and talk shite on the sideline about their Funds whilst their kids look over desperately for their approval. But lots of real rugby heads. Funnily enough, its always the Kiwis, Paddys and Safas who muck in and help at every opportunity…
Did you ever play for the 1sts ? You know the likes of the Cuthberts or Huttons ?
3 Feb 2010, 15:07 pm
@mbaxman93:
Im just reporting back from his most recent game, thats all. He was dreadful all game. BH tells me he was rusty. My VW has more rust and goes like the clappers.
He has talent tho, I agree. I just dont think he’s ready yet and is there because options are so thin on the ground.
Being better than Monye is your refeerence point ? Even Caleb Ralph was better than Monye, in any position.
4 Feb 2010, 04:10 am
@Black Panther:
Hehehe,
Thought I was the only one to notice!
There must be something not kosher there, I am pretty sure of that, long list: Varndal, Sacky, Lloyed, are they all sharing the match fees with someone?
4 Feb 2010, 10:23 am
@BLACKPANTHEr
I know those guys very well.I am guessing you know Dougal and Atfiled too?
I played Saxon,Normans,and Heavies. I played higher grade rugby,for the co tennants.Intresting place on a Sunday morning Car park full of X5′s 4X4′s and Range Rovers.
Do you also thave the son of a famous prop,and an Argy kid in your Squad?
Pint in The Sun?
4 Feb 2010, 13:19 pm
@PaulLondon:
Ha ! yes, those names ring a bell too. The Huttons are actually my cousins so I spent alot of time at the clubrooms when we 1st arrived in London 16yrs ago. I watched the whole amateur to professional phase, the likes of Ben Clarke, the Quinnells etc coming thru the doors for the 1st time, Gus Pichot (what a man !), all those fellas. And now its gone full circle now that I have 2 boys in Minis, 1 of which is in the same squad as Cuthberts 2 kids (U6).
Im not sure if Leonards kids are there but he is certainly part of the furniture altho, as you pointed out, he probably IS part of the furniture at the Sun. Im not sure about an Argy kid but there are so many nationalities there. Thank God for the Kiwis and Safas tho, the friendliest parents there.
Always amenable to have my arm twisted for a cheeky pint of the dark stuff…
4 Feb 2010, 13:23 pm
@Hondo:
Sackey would be lucky to get start for Carlton-Grammar club in Auckland.
Varndell appears to think skin tight kerseys will make him go faster ?
Monye ? – Stephen Jones called him the ‘best winger in the World’. That was just before he blew 2 certain tries for the Lions by carrying the ball under the wrong arm like 1 of my Richmond Minis.
4 Feb 2010, 14:03 pm
@BLACK PANTHER
******,I probally would have seen you in the club house. One of the last amateur teams had Kevin Borovhich,(spelling)and Mark Hudson playing.Were you around then? If you ever see Mike and Robbie tell them PC says hi.
The Argy kids,father is a couple of years older and in the same group as one of JL boys.
Robbie is on my facebook list.
4 Feb 2010, 16:19 pm
@PaulLondon:
Yep, Mike was the last amateur Capt. He then had to fight for his position with a Uni mate of mine recruited from NZ, Steve Cottrell. I remember him being on the wing and calls of “Fatboy, get yr arse in the scrum !”. Robbie is now coaching in Nth Paris, great fella isnt he. I really only see him at Christmas and more recently at his daughters Baptism.
I dont remember Borevich being there. Hang on……perhaps I do. He sure was 1 meeeeeeean farker, a real old-school type of no-nonsense.
Good stuff PC. Do you loiter around Richmond/Scottish (I like that ‘co-tenants’) or any other club these days ? Perhaps when Jnr is coming up thru the ranks ? I often rib Lynagh about his sons playing for Engl. 1 of his sons torpedo-kicks the ball from age 5, mind-boggling.
5 Feb 2010, 09:57 am
The odd Heavies lunch,on match day.I also have a season ticket for Harlequins,which is 10 minutes walk from home.(Twickenham Green).
I remember Cottrell> I played against him when he was at Cambridge.There was the another Kiwi,who played in the Centre? I think he was an Otago lad,surname Wright?
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