http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/ Rugby Forums is an open discussion forum dedicated to Rugby. en Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:36:25 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.rugbyforums.com/images/RugbyForum/misc/rss.jpg http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/ http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/448-new-look-england-secure-win.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:54:59 GMT A new-look England side got their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start with a 13-6 triumph over Scotland in Stuart Lancaster's first game in charge.

A second-half Charlie Hodgson try and eight points from the boot of debutant Owen Farrell gave England their first victory at Murrayfield in eight years.

Scotland dominated large parts of the game and pushed hard in the closing stages, but couldn't find any way past England's stubborn defensive line. A lack of cutting edge hindered Scotland as they failed to score a try against the English for the fifth time in six home matches.

It was a scrappy opening as both sides struggled to keep hold of possession. The first opportunity of the game came when Ben Foden earned a penalty 40 metres out. Farrell pushed the kick to the right of the posts. Anyone looking at the Six Nations odds online will have been expecting a close game.

Following another disjointed period of play, Farrell opened the scoring with a 25-metre penalty, his first points in international rugby. Back-to-back Dan Parks penalties put the home side ahead going into the break.

Scotland were the dominant force towards the end of the first half but handed the initiative back to England in suicidal fashion just after the restart. Parks hesitated near his own try-line and saw his kick charged down by Hodgson, who pounced on the loose ball to score. Farrell converted to make it 10-6.

Hodgson's try sparked the game into life and both sides lifted. Greig Laidlaw looked to have put Scotland ahead, only to be denied by the Television Match Official.

England were hanging on in the closing stages and were indebted to careless play by Scotland in the final 22, before Farrell made the game safe with his second penalty.

It was a case of job done for Lancaster's inexperienced side. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/448-new-look-england-secure-win.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/447-ford-named-skipper.html Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:36:36 GMT Scotland have named Edinburgh hooker Ross Ford as their captain for their opening Six Nations clash against England of February 4th. Ford, who toured... Scotland have named Edinburgh hooker Ross Ford as their captain for their opening Six Nations clash against England of February 4th.
Ford, who toured with the British Lions in 2009 has been capped 53 times by his country and has been given the job by coach Andy Robinson as he seen as the 'man who will step up and lead from the front'.

Robinson says that he originally intended to give the armband to Saracens’ flanker Kelly Brown but the 29-year-old has been ruled out of the match with an injury allowing Ford the opportunity to step-up and lead the side. Punters will be treated to a number of live in-play betting opportunities for the tournament, one of the biggest sporting events of the year.

"This is a special day for Ross, who has been a key figure in our leadership group and our most consistent performer for some time. I firmly believe he is the man who will step up and lead from the front," said Robinson.

"That said, I'm really disappointed for Kelly Brown. I had asked him to be the captain late last week but unfortunately injury will deprive him of that honour and the chance to lead out his country for his 50th cap. I wish him a speedy recovery."

Ford is understandably delighted to be bestowed with the honour and sent his condolences to Brown. Both players have been key figures in the Scotland set-up and have often been praised for their inspiring performances which has seen many rugby previews tipping Scotland to cause a few surprises when the tournament kicks off this weekend.

The 27-year-old says he is determined to take his opportunity as skipper and will be looking to lead by example.

It's a massive honour and privilege to captain your country. I'm really grateful to be given this chance to captain a team of so much potential," he told Scottish Rugby. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/447-ford-named-skipper.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/446-wales-confident-success.html Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:32:06 GMT Wales attack coach Rob Howley believes that his side’s youngsters have the ability to light up the upcoming Six Nations and possibly claim the Grand... Wales attack coach Rob Howley believes that his side’s youngsters have the ability to light up the upcoming Six Nations and possibly claim the Grand Slam.

After investing his faith in youth at the recent World Cup where Wales finished fourth, head coach warren Gatland has once again selected a young squad for the championship which starts in February.

Wales begin their campaign in Dublin against Ireland and go into the tournament as one of the favourites to win the competition outright according to is rugby previews, mainly due to the emergence of starts such as Sam Warburton, Toby Faletau and George North.

The Kiwi coach has also called-up a number of new faces with 21-year-old centre Ashley Beck and 18-year-old wing Harry Robinson and both could be handed their debuts at some point during the tournament. There have already been a number of online bets backing Wales to build on heir World Cup and play their way to Six Nations glory.

The 35-man training squad head off to Spala in Poland for an intensive week-long training camp where Howley is hoping the youngsters can prove their class. Gatland has regularly taken his teams to the Polish town to prepare for tournaments and after the positive effect it had before the World Cup to former Wasps’ scrum-half is hoping it will prove to breeding ground for healthy competition amongst the squad.

"It's very encouraging to see these youngsters coming through," said the assistant coach. "I am delighted with Ashley Beck, he has played very well and has benefited from having a regular starting berth at the Ospreys."These new faces can put pressure on some of the more established members of the squad.

“Going to Poland is part of that and bringing in fresh faces makes people realise you are not guaranteed your position. Having that competition will be key to what we want to do in Poland and in the tournament itself" he added. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/446-wales-confident-success.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/445-will-no-tolerance-approach-discipline-restore.html Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:37:46 GMT The All Blacks' World Cup winning coach Graham Henry may well be a man with a wealth of experience in the game (after all, you have to be fairly good at coaching to win a World Cup!) but his decision to undermine the current approach of England coach Stuart Lancaster, who has instigated a zero tolerance approach towards ill discipline in the England squad, seems to be based on a pure lack of knowledge of the English game.

Other countries may well be able to apply a more relaxed, cheerful, and optimistic approach towards the attitude and behaviour of their players, but in this country there has always been a problem with the drinking culture of both fans and players, in rugby as well as other sports. Those following the Betfair 6 Nations betting need to remember this.

Although this hasn't always prevented England from doing well, it has meant that the culture of the team hasn't adapted in the same way as teams elsewhere in the rugby world have. As such, England have now started to find themselves left behind, even in European rugby, where England no longer stand as joint major rugby power alongside France. Fans should click here for rugby betting tips.

With this in mind, the approach of Lancaster to drive out the sort of tomfoolery that has plagued the sport over the past 12 months must be regarded as a positive approach, rather than a negative tactic that can never work in the long-term. After all, even if the hard-nosed approach fails, at least rugby in England will have started to move into the real world, and out of the back pages of the press, to some extent. So, if a few of the "laddish" English players have a hard time of it for now, then so be it! ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/445-will-no-tolerance-approach-discipline-restore.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/444-lui-hands-queensland-injury-worry.html Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:12:36 GMT North Queensland new boy Robert Lui has handed the club an injury worry as they prepare for the upcoming Super Rugby season after sustaining a... North Queensland new boy Robert Lui has handed the club an injury worry as they prepare for the upcoming Super Rugby season after sustaining a possible knee injury. The halfback joined the club at the end of last season – when his contract at the Tigers was terminated following the youngsters assault charge. The talented playmaker has been handed a fresh start in Queensland, however, many punters who bet on rugby league will no doubt take note that his hopes may be scuppered by injury, pending the results of scans on the injury.

The 21-year old sustained the injury after being tackled by Johnathan Thurston and Gavin Cooper during a training session in Townsville, when Lui felt a click in his knee. The halfback will now sit out his new club’s upcoming pre-season friendly against Brisbane next week in Redcliffe, with rugby previews suggesting he will return to training ahead of the start of the new campaign.

The Cowboys general manager Peter Parr confirmed the news regarding Lui, insisting the initial prognosis was fairly positive and that the back should soon be back in action and ready to make his debut for his new club.

"We are confident it's not a serious injury and cannot comment or speculate any further until we have the scan results," Parr said.

Lui has made no secret of his desire to make the halfback position his own, ideally with Thurston outside him, taking the role of five-eighth, where he’ll be able to pass on his experience and lend a hand when needed. Before any partnerships are planned, Lui will first need to get himself fully fit, as well as prepare for his upcoming court appearance, which is due next month.


. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/444-lui-hands-queensland-injury-worry.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/443-stuart-lancaster-finally-admits-his-hat.html Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:06:12 GMT Although it had widely been hoped, if not expected, in the rugby previews (http://www.bet365.com/news/en/betting/) that Stuart Lancaster would stick... Although it had widely been hoped, if not expected, in the rugby previews that Stuart Lancaster would stick around in the coaching position only until the end of the Six Nations tournament, or perhaps until a more experienced and more talented coach could be found and signed up, the harsh reality of appointing a caretaker who doesn't see himself as worthy of being a caretaker has finally been revealed to the RFU, with Lancaster admitting that he is looking to take on the role for the long haul.

OK, so if Lancaster did manage to prove that, unlike certain others, he is capable of organising the England side in a manner that would allow the players to start regaining their sporting focus rather than worrying about events off the pitch, then maybe he could stand a slight chance of getting the job. However, the online bets are pointing towards the far likelier scenario that Lancaster will represent a diverting distraction for fans and the media while those behind the scenes figure out what the hell to do with the state of English rugby union.

With English rugby in a pretty bad place right now, the worry is that Stuart Lancaster's distracting comments prove to be a hindrance to the side, with the media jumping on his statements before creating all sorts of ridiculous stories, and by announcing his desire to keep the England job for the foreseeable future, he's highlighted exactly how easily this sort of thing can occur.

Ultimately, though, the real truth of the matter lies in the fact that Lancaster should never have been appointed in the first place and is now being led like a lamb to the slaughter while the RFU continues to bumble around, failing miserably to make the decisive decisions rugby fans are crying out for. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/443-stuart-lancaster-finally-admits-his-hat.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/442-stuart-lancaster-finally-admits-his-hat.html Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:05:42 GMT Although it had widely been hoped, if not expected, in the rugby previews (http://www.bet365.com/news/en/betting/) that Stuart Lancaster would stick... Although it had widely been hoped, if not expected, in the rugby previews that Stuart Lancaster would stick around in the coaching position only until the end of the Six Nations tournament, or perhaps until a more experienced and more talented coach could be found and signed up, the harsh reality of appointing a caretaker who doesn't see himself as worthy of being a caretaker has finally been revealed to the RFU, with Lancaster admitting that he is looking to take on the role for the long haul.

OK, so if Lancaster did manage to prove that, unlike certain others, he is capable of organising the England side in a manner that would allow the players to start regaining their sporting focus rather than worrying about events off the pitch, then maybe he could stand a slight chance of getting the job. However, the online bets are pointing towards the far likelier scenario that Lancaster will represent a diverting distraction for fans and the media while those behind the scenes figure out what the hell to do with the state of English rugby union.

With English rugby in a pretty bad place right now, the worry is that Stuart Lancaster's distracting comments prove to be a hindrance to the side, with the media jumping on his statements before creating all sorts of ridiculous stories, and by announcing his desire to keep the England job for the foreseeable future, he's highlighted exactly how easily this sort of thing can occur.

Ultimately, though, the real truth of the matter lies in the fact that Lancaster should never have been appointed in the first place and is now being led like a lamb to the slaughter while the RFU continues to bumble around, failing miserably to make the decisive decisions rugby fans are crying out for. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/442-stuart-lancaster-finally-admits-his-hat.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/441-heineken-cup-2012-leinster-vs-cardiff.html Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:08:19 GMT The 2012 Heineken has been a competition of the highest standard this year. Just 8 teams remain in what has so far been an exhilarating event. Each... The 2012 Heineken has been a competition of the highest standard this year. Just 8 teams remain in what has so far been an exhilarating event. Each of the teams left will be battling it out in the quarterfinals to claim their place in the semifinals of the tournament. This particular article will be analysing the Irish side Leinster and the Welsh team Cardiff Blues. It will also describe their previous matchups in the competition, along with their key players. The article will finalise with a match prediction to sum it up.

Leinster's last matchup was against French outfit Montpellier. The Irish side demolished the French side 25-3. It was a deserved victory and certainly proved what Leinster are capable of. In the Pool stages the Irish team resided in Pool 3 along with: Scotland's Glasgow Warriors, England side Bath and France's Montpellier. Those placing England Rugby bets should remember this.

Leinster were evidentially domineering in this pool as they finished in a respectable first-position, 12-points ahead of Glasgow Rangers who finalised in second-position. For me, Leinster's star individual has to be Brian O'Driscoll. The former captain plays a central role for the Irish side and has looked to be in fine form so far in the 2012 Heineken Cup. Fans of rugby betting should bear this in mind.

The last opponents Cardiff Blues faced up against were French side Racing Metro 92. The Welsh side scraped the victory at a score of 36-30 in what was an intense match. In the Pool stages the team from Wales resided in Pool 2 and finished in a respectable second-place, a mere point behind Scottish side Edinburgh.

Cardiff Blues' most important player has to be their New Zealand international captain Paul Tito. Tito has been in fine form and has certainly benefited his side a great deal on the road to the quarterfinals of this year's Heineken Cup.

The result in this particular matchup is sure to be a win for Leinster. The Irish outfit have won the prestigious competition a total of 2-times with the last time being as recent as 2011. Cardiff Blues are going to have to withstand a substantial amount of pressure in the match and are sure to let slip quite a few points against the powerful Irish side. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/441-heineken-cup-2012-leinster-vs-cardiff.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/440-heineken-cup-2012-edinburgh-vs-toulouse.html Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:45:19 GMT So far the 2012 Heineken Cup has been an exhilarating affair for rugby union fans around the world. A mere 8 teams remain in the competition and are... So far the 2012 Heineken Cup has been an exhilarating affair for rugby union fans around the world. A mere 8 teams remain in the competition and are all anticipating a win in their quarterfinal matchups to secure that all-important semi-final place. This article shall be focusing on the Scottish side Edinburgh, and the French side Toulouse. It will describe their previous matchups, their key players, along with a match prediction to round it up.

Edinburgh's last matchup was against England's London Irish. The result ended with the Scottish side finishing on 34-points, with the English side finishing on 11-points. It was a deserved victory and ensured a first-place position in the Pool stages. In the Pool stage Edinburgh resided in Pool 2 and finished with a respectable points tally of 22, a mere point ahead of the Welsh side Cardiff Blues. Those looking at the rugby betting should remember this.

The Scotland side's greatest asset has to be their captain and scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw. The 26-year-old has put in some admirable performances so far and has aided his team substantially in reaching the quarterfinals of the Heineken Cup. People following the rugby betting offers need to bear this in mind.

Toulouse's last matchup saw them face English side Gloucester. The French side sustained an away defeat by Gloucester at Kingsholm at a score of 34-24. It was a disappointing result for Toulouse, but nevertheless the French team was still able to qualify to the latter stages.

Currently Toulouse's greatest player has to be French international Yannick Jauzion. The 33-year-old plays predominantly in the centre and is a key figurehead in the strong Toulouse squad.

My match prediction for this matchup would have to be a win for the French side. Toulouse's array of talented players is sure to be too much for the Scottish team. Edinburgh's saving grace will be their star player Laidlaw. If Laidlaw can put in a good performance then there's no reason why Edinburgh wouldn't give their fellow quarterfinalist opponents a good, close match. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/440-heineken-cup-2012-edinburgh-vs-toulouse.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/439-morrison-predicts-scotland-win.html Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:50:07 GMT Scotland centre Graeme Morrison is confident his side can get their Six Nations off to the perfect start and beat England at Murrayfield on February... Scotland centre Graeme Morrison is confident his side can get their Six Nations off to the perfect start and beat England at Murrayfield on February 4th.

Andy Robinson's side play host to the team he formally coached with both teams going into the match looking to banish the memories of their disappointing World Cup campaigns.

Morrison joined up with the rest of the squad at St Andrews following the conclusion of the Heineken Cup group stages and says the squad are in confident mood going into the tournament. Those looking at the online bookmaker betting should remember this.

"You really want to start well to put yourself in a good position and you can't look much further from the first game," Morrison said.

"To play England at a full Murrayfield is something to aspire to. It's exciting times and something I'm very much looking forward to."

Scotland have a disappointing record in recent Six Nations campaigns and since Robinson took over the team in 2009 have only won two out of their ten games in the competition.

Despite this the Glasgow Warriors' midfield man believes this is the dawning of a new age for Scottish rugby, especially after Edinburgh qualified for quarter-finals of the Heineken and says he and his teammates need to take inspiration from their colleagues.

"It's a good feeling, we've not been together as a squad since the World Cup but we all went back and did a lot of hard work at our pro teams and had a good run of games, especially with Glasgow and Edinburgh doing well going into this," he said."

Certainly, Edinburgh winning the group in the Heineken Cup was great to watch and I'm sure those guys are on top of the world at the moment" he added. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/439-morrison-predicts-scotland-win.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rodc/438-potential-british-lions-squad-2013.html Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:37:34 GMT The British Lions will embark on their tour of Australia in the summer of 2013, hoping to at least emulate the 2-1 test match victory achieved in... The British Lions will embark on their tour of Australia in the summer of 2013, hoping to at least emulate the 2-1 test match victory achieved in 1989, when the side was led by Head Coach, Sir Ian McGeechan and captained by Gavin Hastings.

The last time the Lions went "Down Under" was in 2001, when coached by New Zealander, Graham Henry, they lost that series however by 2-1, having gone into a 1-0 lead in the first test and the British Lions odds will reflect a similar outcome in 2013.

In 2013 the Lions will play six Provincial matches and three tests culminating with the final test on 6th July at the ANZ in Sydney. Before all that however they will play a Barbarians team in Hong Kong on 1st June.

Obviously this year’s Six Nations and that of 2013 will have a huge bearing on what players are selected to tour. On the last Lions tour which took place in South Africa in 2009, 36 players were selected but a large number of replacement players were also involved due to the many injuries incurred on what was a robust tour. As it stands right now it is impossible to say which players will make the final cut of 36, but already rugby fans are speculating on who they should be.

Scotland’s former full back and captain, Andy Irvine has been named as the tour manager and he expects to name the appointed Head Coach following the 2012 Six Nations, but speculation is running high that Wales coach, Warren Gatland will get the job. He was involved in a coaching capacity on the 2009 tour, supported by Rob Howley, his understudy in the Wales set up and England’s forward coach Graham Rowntree. All three are very highly respected by all players from the four nations that make up the Lions.

One of those being tipped to captain the team is Wales captain and flanker, Sam Warburton who was so impressive before his RWC came to an abrupt end via the red card incident. Only a young man, but already a player highly regarded throughout the rugby world. The remaining squad could end up looking very similar to that listed below:

Full Back: Ben Foden, England, Rob Kearney, Ireland.

Wing: George North, Wales, Chris Ashton, England, Tommy Bowe, Ireland, Leigh Halfpenny, Wales.

Centre: Jamie Roberts, Wales, Manu Tuilagi, England, Scott Williams, Wales, Max Evans, Scotland

Fly Half: Jonathan Sexton, Ireland, Ryan Priestland, Wales, James Hook, Wales.

Scrum Half: Mike Phillips, Wales, Ben Youngs, England, Danny Care, England.

Hookers: Jerry Flannery, Ireland, Ross Ford, Scotland, Huw Bennett, Wales

Props: Gethin Jenkins, Wales, Euan Murray, Scotland, Adam Jones, Wales, Dan Cole, England, Cian Healy, Ireland.

Locks: Paul O’Connell, Ireland, Courtney Laws, England, Richie Gray, Scotland, Louis Deacon, England, Bradley Davies, Wales.

Flankers: Sam Warburton, Wales (Captain), James Haskell, England, Tom Croft, England, Tom Wood, England, Sean O’Brien, Ireland

Number 8: Jamie Heaslip, Ireland, Toby Faletau, Wales. ]]> RodC http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rodc/438-potential-british-lions-squad-2013.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/437-ford-chosen-captain-scotland.html Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:01:57 GMT Scotland coach Andy Robinson has named Ross Ford as his captain for the Six Nations opener against England as Kelly Brown will miss the tournament... Scotland coach Andy Robinson has named Ross Ford as his captain for the Six Nations opener against England as Kelly Brown will miss the tournament with a knee injury.

Back-row forward Brown had been due to win his 50th cap in the Calcutta Cup clash but picked up the injury in Saracens' Heineken Cup clash with Treviso at the weekend and needs surgery on the problem. Those following the best online rugby union betting need to remember this.

However, Robinson is confident that 27-year-old Edinburgh hooker Ford will be a fine captain, saying: "This is a special day for Ross, who has been a key figure in our leadership group and our most consistent performer for some time. I firmly believe he is the man who will step up and lead from the front.

"That said, I'm really disappointed for Kelly Brown. I had asked him to be the captain late last week but unfortunately injury will deprive him of that honour. I wish him a speedy recovery."

Ford, who has represented Scotland on 53 occasions, also featured in the third Test between the British and Irish Lions and South Africa in 2009.

Meanwhile, centre Joe Ansbro is a doubt for the game against England at Murrayfield on 4th February as he is struggling to recover from a back injury.

David Denton is another player that could miss the game as he was sidelined for Edinburgh’s Heineken Cup victory against London Irish at the weekend with a hamstring strain.

Scotland will be seeking to gain revenge over England after a last-gasp Chris Ashton try denied Robinson’s side a spot in the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/437-ford-chosen-captain-scotland.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/436-reds-secure-key-duo.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:01:33 GMT Queensland Reds have moved quickly to tie down two key players ahead of the 2012 season, re-signing lock pairing Rob Simmons and Adam... Queensland Reds have moved quickly to tie down two key players ahead of the 2012 season, re-signing lock pairing Rob Simmons and Adam Wallace-Harrison. The two players were instrumental in the club’s title winning season last year and the Reds were determined to tie the duo down to new deals as they prepare to defend their title.

Rugby previews are reporting that 22-year old Simmons has extended his contract with Queensland Rugby and the Australian Rugby Union until the end of the 2013 season, with Wallace-Harrison signing until the end of 2014. There had been significant interest in both players from Europe, especially in the case of Simmons, and this news will be a huge boost to both Queensland and Australia.

Simmons was one of the Reds’ stand-out players last year, with live in-play betting markets booming thanks to punters backing the youngster after a string of eye-catching performances, earning a call up to the Australian side as a result. The second-row quickly established himself as a key member of the Wallaby side, going on to feature in 10 of his country’s 13 Tests in 2011.

Head coach Ewen McKenzie had admitted his delight at having secured both players to new deals ahead of their title-defending season; where he’ll be hoping the two players have a similar impact as they did last year

“Both Rob and Adam excel in their work at lineouts but are also very talented attackers and defenders who possess a strong understanding of how to play the game.”

“Our goal is to be attacking with the ball but you've got to win the ball before you can use it and denying the opposition possession is just as critical. They've both consistently shown the ability to shine in both those areas.”
]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/436-reds-secure-key-duo.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/435-o-connor-excited-cipriani-partnership.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:46:41 GMT James O’Connor has played down talk he could be about to battle it out with new Melbourne Rebels team-mate Danny Cipriani for the fly-half position,... James O’Connor has played down talk he could be about to battle it out with new Melbourne Rebels team-mate Danny Cipriani for the fly-half position, insisting he excited by a possible partnership with the England man. O’Connor has admitted he would be more than willing to step into his new team at inside centre, with last season’s first choice number 10 Cipriani continuing at fly-half.

The Aussie star has recently linked up with his new Rebel team-mates in pre-season training following his close-season move from the Western Force. The 21-year old will now look to play a major part in the Melbourne-based club establishing themselves as genuine Super Rugby contenders.

The versatile back has made it clear he willing to play wherever, as long as it benefits the team; with rugby previews predicting that O’Connor will be picked at 12, where he will be able to form a potentially deadly partnership with Cipriani.

“I've made it no secret I want to be in the front-line so I guess that puts two positions out there in 10 and 12,” O'Connor said.

“That's where I've been training so whatever's best for the team. In this team I can see myself playing 12 pretty nicely with Danny slotting into 10.”

“I wouldn't call him a rival; we're going to be playing on the same team and hopefully we can build something pretty special.”

While their debut Super Rugby season ended in the Rebels propping up the table – something widely expected before the campaign got under way – this season, however,punters placing online bets are expecting much bigger things from the Victorians. O’Connor and Cipriani could well be key to the club reaching their targets. ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/435-o-connor-excited-cipriani-partnership.html http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/434-les-bleus-recall-nallet.html Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:34:56 GMT New boss Philippe Saint-Andre has called the former French captain Lionel Nallet into his squad after Toulouse lock Romain Millo-Chluski was ruled... New boss Philippe Saint-Andre has called the former French captain Lionel Nallet into his squad after Toulouse lock Romain Millo-Chluski was ruled out of the Six Nations with a shoulder injury.

Racing-Metro second row Nallet had started France's World Cup final defeat to New Zealand but was surprisingly left out of Saint-Andre's first squad. The 35-year-old benefits from Millo-Chluski's misfortune though and now has the chance to add to his three Six Nations titles.

Saint-Andre said of his decision to turn to Nallet rather than uncapped pair Mickael De Marco and Christophe Samson: "We wanted a powerful player with the same profile as Romain. Lionel's experience as well as his physical and mental qualities led us to call him into the squad."

Les Bleus will kick off their Six Nations campaign at home to Italy on 4th February hoping to gain revenge for last year's shock 22-21 defeat in Rome. Those looking at the online rugby betting should keep an eye on this.

Meanwhile, France's Under-20 side are looking for a new head coach after Philippe Sella resigned from his post.

The 49-year-old ex-French centre, who won the Five Nations six times, is expected to take up a role with former club Agen after coaches Christophe Deylaud and Christian Lanta announced their departures at the end of the season.

The vice-president of the French Rugby Federation Jean Dunyach was shocked by Sella's decision, particularly as his contract had only been renewed last month.

"I was surprised because during our work there was nothing to indicate that he would distance himself from the Under-20s," he said. "Now it's his decision and he's told me no more." ]]> rugbyblogger http://www.rugbyforums.com/blogs/rugbyblogger/434-les-bleus-recall-nallet.html