Scrumbag

Calling all bouncers! Cipriani takes Wilkinson's place! Now if you see Danny approaching your nightclub this week, turn him away...

In the past few minutes Scrumbag has learnt that record breaking handsome legend Jonny Wilkinson has been dropped from the England team to face Ireland on Saturday. England's greatest ever points scorer will be replaced at fly-half by night-club fan Danny Cipriani. Seriously this is not a joke... Ashton is that worried about losing his job.

That is the only change made by coach Brian Ashton to the XV which started the 15-9 defeat by Scotland, meaning Balshaw will be grinning from ear to ear right now. Wilkinson replaces Sale's Charlie Hodgson on the replacements bench.

Here's the team in full: I Balshaw (Gloucester); P Sackey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), L Vainikolo (Gloucester); D Cipriani (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps. capt), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Bath), T Croft (Leicester), M Lipman (Bath), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), J Haskell (Wasps), P Hodgson (London Irish), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), M Tait (Newcastle).

Andy Sheridan has spent a week on a drip to get fit for England. That's HOW IMPORTANT this France game is...

You've got to give credit to Sheridan for this. Whilst most players would just happily accept injury and sit out England's crunch tie with France, Big Andy has said "bollocks" to his injury. He knows just how vital he is going to be against the Frenchies, and just how vital a good performance against them is for the future of English egg chasing.

Hence, the Sale prop, who stands 6ft 4in tall and weighs 19st 7lbs, has been hooked up to an intravenous drip for a week, so he can be given the all-clear to face the French at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The giant has been out with an infection after he picked up a cut to his right heel became rank. "I'm fit and well," Sheridan croaked from beneath his drip. ""I saw an immunologist and all the indications are that I am not likely to keel over at any moment."

For most people "Not likely" isn't the kind of odds that inspires you to go toe to toe with some French monsters. Credit to the man. What a hero for England.

Doug Howlett Quits The All Blacks

Oi!  What's this?  Yet another Northern Hemisphere team poaching the cream of New Zealand's crop?  Just when you thought the New Zealand Rugby Union couldn't haemorrhage anymore players, along comes the news that Doug Howlett, wise winger and all round nice guy of the All Black backline is upping sticks at the end of the Rugby World Cup to round off his rugger career at Irish club - Munster.

Although Howlett is getting a bit long in the tooth  and doesn't have the speed of his earlier days, it is still a sad day for the Dougaholics in Aotearoa. The man with the hair and the silky finishing skills will be missed by all. Especially by an All Black outfit that will return (whether they win or lose at this World Cup tournament), a depleted side without their backline general pulling the young guys into line.

Ireland team unchanged, Hell remains unfrozen.

The shortest press conference in rugby history was yesterday witnessed by Irish and Scottish scribes, as Eddie O'Sullivan walked into the room waiting for his team announcement, pointed at a copy of the match report from the 43-13 bitch-slapping of England
and walked straight out the door on the other side.  O'Sullivan did briefly return to the room to switch on an overhead projector with a single slide on it.  Said slide carried a picture of Isaac Boss with a minus sign next to it, captioned with the single word "shoulder".  Beneath that picture was a plus sign, a picture of Eoin Reddan, and no caption at all, just a crude drawing of a thumbs-up gesture.

When asked outside the press conference for his comments on the squad chosen, O'Sullivan interrupted the reporter by raising the index finger of his right hand, beckoned the scribe over, and said "I'm hungry, do you know where I could get a decent steak?"  Mr Scrumbag is as happy as the next Ireland supporter that Ireland won so handsomely last time out, but feels that O'Sullivan's cavalier attitude to the press on this occasion does Irish rugby no favours at all.

England name much-changed team for France clash

England's injury woe has continued, with it being revealed that three key players will definitely miss Sunday's Le Crunch against champions-elect France. Phil Vickery is out following incident with Bristol's Jason Hobson, Jonny Wilkinson is out also, as is Andy Farrell. The only good news is that Jason Robinson has recovered from his neck injury and is fit to play.

Brian Ashton has been forced to name a side with no less than 10 changes, two of which are positional. Martin Corry shifts from the back row to the second, while Josh Lewsey moves to fullback (writer's note: I have always thought these two are better in these positions). But the big news is the selection of Mike Catt (hurrah!); the London Irish man, who at 36 is playing amazing rugby, not only returns to the England side but has been named as captain, too.

Full side behind the cut.

England team: J Lewsey (Wasps); D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tindall (Gloucester), M Catt (London Irish), J Robinson (Sale); T Flood (Newcastle), H Ellis (Leicester); T Payne (Wasps), G Chuter (Leicester), J White (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), T Palmer (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), S Turner (Sale), L Deacon (Leicester), M Lund (Sale), S Perry (Bristol), S Geraghty (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle).                    

England woe as injury list spirals out of control

Roll up, roll up, the England misery parade continues apace following a weekend of Guinness Premiership action that has probably injured six key players for this weekend's game against France. Unsurprisingly, Jonny Wilkinson has got problems, as does England captain Phil Vickery, who is believed to have been punched. Jason Robinson is said to be 50-50, and there's also problems with David Strettle, Danny Grewcock and Andy Farrell.

Six Nations for England! Really just a bit of a joke!

Eddie O'Sullivan delighted at the return of Peter Stringer

Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan has spoken out in praise of scrum half Peter Stringer, who returns to the Irish starting line up today following injury. O'Sullivan said: "It's a big boost to have Peter back for a game like this."It's a pivotal game in the Six Nations for us and this is the one you want to have a full deck for.If we win we're right back in the hunt again.Peter is probably the best passer of the ball in the world at number nine - he gives the receiver so much time."

Stringer returns to an Ireland side who saw their Grand Slams dreams blown out of the water by France a fortnight ago. Both he and Brian O'Driscoll - arguably the two most key backs for Ireland - were unavailable for the French game but return to the side today against England and also play their first games at Croke Park.

I know I'd feel a lot more confident about an England wing if they were still injured...

(Don't forget, our Live Blogs kick off today with Ireland vs. England!).

Leicester Tigers continue to build squad for next season

They may be top of the premiership pile, but the Leicester Tigers are already planning for next season with several intelligent signings. The first announced was that of New Zealander Aaron Mauger, and he will now be joined by Ayoola Erinle, who has signed from Wasps. Interestingly, both are centres, so one would imagine current Tigers midfielders Ollie Smith, Dan Hipkiss and Daryl Gibson are feeling a tad uncomfortable at the moment.

With new squad members in the bag, the Tigers are still searching for a new head coach, as Australian Pat Howard leaves Welford Road at the end of the current season. The latest man tipped for the top job is current Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda. He said: "I told them I was surprised and that I would prefer to go back to Argentina to see what my family feel about this and also because I had to look at my current job. I had to evaluate if I could do it.Up to now, it's just an approach, a simple informal discussion in which they let me know their interest to go there and help the team as head coach."

Loffreda has an excellent record with Argentina and may wish to take the Tigers top job, but he must also consider the World Cup. I, however, would welcome him gladly to Welford Road.

Northampton Saints confident that Carlos Spencer will honour his contract

Ever since Northampton Saints announced that they were signing fly-half Barry Everitt from London Irish, the world and his rugby wife have been wondering why exactly Saints needed him, what with them having Carlos Spencer already. Earlier this week French club Agen admitted they had had "talks" with Spencer about a possible move to France, but now Northampton Saints boss Paul Grayson has hit back, insisting Spencer isn't going anywhere and that there's room for both Everitt and the New Zealander at the club.

Grayson said: "We have signed Barry Everitt for next season to bring a renowned kicker into the mix. I believe there is room for both Barry and Carlos on the field with the latter comfortable at outside centre and full-back, positions where he can put his pace and skills to good use."

Say what you want, Paul, but I've a feeling Spencer isn't going to be delighting the Franklins Garden crowd for much longer...

Ireland name team for historic match vs. England

You know, I'm beginning to think that Ireland are just out to piss me off at the moment. First Brian O'Driscoll, who up until now I thought was relatively normal, stokes up the England-Ireland bad feeling, now Eddie O'Sullivan has dropped Geordan Murphy from his match day 22. This is quite clearly directed at me (me! ME!) because I am a Tigers fan, so double ouch.

The rest of the team is pleasingly understandable, though Ireland are stalling making a decision about Peter Stringer, who was injured against Wales and missed the French game. Murphy is replaced by Andrew Trimble, and of that decision O'Sullivan said: "It was a tough call but that's where we were. Geordan is not firing on all cylinders at the moment and Andrew has come back stronger." Nice, that, kick a man when he's down.

Full team behind the *snip snip snip* cut ---

Ireland: Dempsey; Horgan, O'Driscoll (capt), D'Arcy, Hickie; O'Gara, Stringer or Boss; Horan, R Best, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, S Easterby, D Wallace, Leamy.
Replacements: Flannery, S Best, N Best, M O'Driscoll, Boss or Reddan, P Wallace, Trimble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doug Howlett Quits The All Blacks

Oi!  What's this?  Yet another Northern Hemisphere team poaching the cream of New Zealand's crop?  Just when you thought the New Zealand Rugby Union couldn't haemorrhage anymore players, along comes the news that Doug Howlett, wise winger and all round nice guy of the All Black backline is upping sticks at the end of the Rugby World Cup to round off his rugger career at Irish club - Munster.

Although Howlett is getting a bit long in the tooth  and doesn't have the speed of his earlier days, it is still a sad day for the Dougaholics in Aotearoa. The man with the hair and the silky finishing skills will be missed by all. Especially by an All Black outfit that will return (whether they win or lose at this World Cup tournament), a depleted side without their backline general pulling the young guys into line.

Ireland team unchanged, Hell remains unfrozen.

The shortest press conference in rugby history was yesterday witnessed by Irish and Scottish scribes, as Eddie O'Sullivan walked into the room waiting for his team announcement, pointed at a copy of the match report from the 43-13 bitch-slapping of England
and walked straight out the door on the other side.  O'Sullivan did briefly return to the room to switch on an overhead projector with a single slide on it.  Said slide carried a picture of Isaac Boss with a minus sign next to it, captioned with the single word "shoulder".  Beneath that picture was a plus sign, a picture of Eoin Reddan, and no caption at all, just a crude drawing of a thumbs-up gesture.

When asked outside the press conference for his comments on the squad chosen, O'Sullivan interrupted the reporter by raising the index finger of his right hand, beckoned the scribe over, and said "I'm hungry, do you know where I could get a decent steak?"  Mr Scrumbag is as happy as the next Ireland supporter that Ireland won so handsomely last time out, but feels that O'Sullivan's cavalier attitude to the press on this occasion does Irish rugby no favours at all.

England name much-changed team for France clash

England's injury woe has continued, with it being revealed that three key players will definitely miss Sunday's Le Crunch against champions-elect France. Phil Vickery is out following incident with Bristol's Jason Hobson, Jonny Wilkinson is out also, as is Andy Farrell. The only good news is that Jason Robinson has recovered from his neck injury and is fit to play.

Brian Ashton has been forced to name a side with no less than 10 changes, two of which are positional. Martin Corry shifts from the back row to the second, while Josh Lewsey moves to fullback (writer's note: I have always thought these two are better in these positions). But the big news is the selection of Mike Catt (hurrah!); the London Irish man, who at 36 is playing amazing rugby, not only returns to the England side but has been named as captain, too.

Full side behind the cut.

England team: J Lewsey (Wasps); D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tindall (Gloucester), M Catt (London Irish), J Robinson (Sale); T Flood (Newcastle), H Ellis (Leicester); T Payne (Wasps), G Chuter (Leicester), J White (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), T Palmer (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), S Turner (Sale), L Deacon (Leicester), M Lund (Sale), S Perry (Bristol), S Geraghty (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle).                    

England woe as injury list spirals out of control

Roll up, roll up, the England misery parade continues apace following a weekend of Guinness Premiership action that has probably injured six key players for this weekend's game against France. Unsurprisingly, Jonny Wilkinson has got problems, as does England captain Phil Vickery, who is believed to have been punched. Jason Robinson is said to be 50-50, and there's also problems with David Strettle, Danny Grewcock and Andy Farrell.

Six Nations for England! Really just a bit of a joke!

Eddie O'Sullivan delighted at the return of Peter Stringer

Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan has spoken out in praise of scrum half Peter Stringer, who returns to the Irish starting line up today following injury. O'Sullivan said: "It's a big boost to have Peter back for a game like this."It's a pivotal game in the Six Nations for us and this is the one you want to have a full deck for.If we win we're right back in the hunt again.Peter is probably the best passer of the ball in the world at number nine - he gives the receiver so much time."

Stringer returns to an Ireland side who saw their Grand Slams dreams blown out of the water by France a fortnight ago. Both he and Brian O'Driscoll - arguably the two most key backs for Ireland - were unavailable for the French game but return to the side today against England and also play their first games at Croke Park.

I know I'd feel a lot more confident about an England wing if they were still injured...

(Don't forget, our Live Blogs kick off today with Ireland vs. England!).

Leicester Tigers continue to build squad for next season

They may be top of the premiership pile, but the Leicester Tigers are already planning for next season with several intelligent signings. The first announced was that of New Zealander Aaron Mauger, and he will now be joined by Ayoola Erinle, who has signed from Wasps. Interestingly, both are centres, so one would imagine current Tigers midfielders Ollie Smith, Dan Hipkiss and Daryl Gibson are feeling a tad uncomfortable at the moment.

With new squad members in the bag, the Tigers are still searching for a new head coach, as Australian Pat Howard leaves Welford Road at the end of the current season. The latest man tipped for the top job is current Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda. He said: "I told them I was surprised and that I would prefer to go back to Argentina to see what my family feel about this and also because I had to look at my current job. I had to evaluate if I could do it.Up to now, it's just an approach, a simple informal discussion in which they let me know their interest to go there and help the team as head coach."

Loffreda has an excellent record with Argentina and may wish to take the Tigers top job, but he must also consider the World Cup. I, however, would welcome him gladly to Welford Road.

Northampton Saints confident that Carlos Spencer will honour his contract

Ever since Northampton Saints announced that they were signing fly-half Barry Everitt from London Irish, the world and his rugby wife have been wondering why exactly Saints needed him, what with them having Carlos Spencer already. Earlier this week French club Agen admitted they had had "talks" with Spencer about a possible move to France, but now Northampton Saints boss Paul Grayson has hit back, insisting Spencer isn't going anywhere and that there's room for both Everitt and the New Zealander at the club.

Grayson said: "We have signed Barry Everitt for next season to bring a renowned kicker into the mix. I believe there is room for both Barry and Carlos on the field with the latter comfortable at outside centre and full-back, positions where he can put his pace and skills to good use."

Say what you want, Paul, but I've a feeling Spencer isn't going to be delighting the Franklins Garden crowd for much longer...

Ireland name team for historic match vs. England

You know, I'm beginning to think that Ireland are just out to piss me off at the moment. First Brian O'Driscoll, who up until now I thought was relatively normal, stokes up the England-Ireland bad feeling, now Eddie O'Sullivan has dropped Geordan Murphy from his match day 22. This is quite clearly directed at me (me! ME!) because I am a Tigers fan, so double ouch.

The rest of the team is pleasingly understandable, though Ireland are stalling making a decision about Peter Stringer, who was injured against Wales and missed the French game. Murphy is replaced by Andrew Trimble, and of that decision O'Sullivan said: "It was a tough call but that's where we were. Geordan is not firing on all cylinders at the moment and Andrew has come back stronger." Nice, that, kick a man when he's down.

Full team behind the *snip snip snip* cut ---

Ireland: Dempsey; Horgan, O'Driscoll (capt), D'Arcy, Hickie; O'Gara, Stringer or Boss; Horan, R Best, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, S Easterby, D Wallace, Leamy.
Replacements: Flannery, S Best, N Best, M O'Driscoll, Boss or Reddan, P Wallace, Trimble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

France to continue rotation policy

Annoying show off Bernard "Graham Henri" Laporte will again rotate his squad for the weekend's Super Saturday clash with Wales, with another five changes from the side that jammily spawned their way to a lucky victory over Ireland.  Among those missing will be Sale's Sebastien Chabal, whose selection over the weekend mysteriously failed to raise any hackles at all in the press, and who limped off the field as Philippe Saint-Andre's men fell to defeat against Wasps.

France manager Jo Maso, speaking to the press in lieu of Laporte (who was busy preening in front of a mirror while crossing names off a list and laughing manically), said:  "We've fixed it as a rule to give a chance to each of our 40 squad members during the tournament and we will stick to our promise."  This promise includes another few changes for the game against England, while the final weekend's game against Scotland will see a surprise appearance at hooker for Thomas Castaignede, as well as a back three made up entirely of ducks.  Possibly.

Northampton Saints sign Barry Everitt from London Irish

Whilst we've been blethering on about the Six Nations, East Midlands club Northampton Saints have gone and made a canny signing; they've acquired fly half Barry Everitt from London Irish, where he's been playing second fiddle to Shane Geraghty for the majority of the season. Of course everyone's simply delighted about it and have provided quotes saying so, with head coach Paul Grayson saying: "Barry is a proven performer over a number of years and has great experience in the Premiership," Grayson told the BBC. "His kicking game obviously stands out as exceptional, but he is a very capable footballer and distributor and there is a lot more he has to offer. I am looking forward to working with him to express his full range of talents."

As a Tigers fan I am almost physically unable to say anything positive about Northampton, so we'll leave it at: that's a clever little signing they've made, Everitt has a lot more to give.