Rugby

Did ye see Darcy and Roy Keane sitting alongside each other?

yeh, keano doesnt like being spotted in the crowd does he?

Originally Posted by Celtic_and_SRFC

Did ye see Darcy and Roy Keane sitting alongside each other?

yeh, keano doesnt like being spotted in the crowd does he?

no he doesnt! was the same last year at the munster wasps game

Savage game today lads, but i must say, we got away with it big time. That was a try any other day of the week!!!! how or why the ref didn't go upstairs is beyond me but he didn't we got out of jail and the GS is still very much on the cards, altough to beat wales and france i think we really need to the anti with out running rugby...

Big game on Saturday, biggest game for the Irish in years. We will need a good start aginst Les Bleus. Allez les verts!

With all the football going on i'd completely forgotten about this

England - Ireland went largely as expected but England had some encouraging signs as they did manage to put some pressure on Ireland. Considering the way we lost to France i hope you really punish them

the irish dream of the grand slam is over after last weeks defeat to france which i watched in kookabar in milan but hopefully we can beat wales for the triple crown and an outside chance of title on points scored

Well we certainly took a nose dive didn't we?

congratulations to wales, and i'm not even gonna meniotn italy bad luck to ireland, but wales were just too strong even if ireland did contribute to their own downfall.

now roll on the lions tour, i can't wait for it, even if i think the lions won't do t great

Well we certainly took a nose dive didn't we?

at least you got off the runway


Wales deserved their grandslam, considering how open the tournament was its a great achievement to finish with 5 victories from 5

How long is it before the Lions get going?

True, well done to Wales, they did the slam in a very open tournament and whats more they did it with style and at times beautiful running rugby...

Hats off.

Originally Posted by iregk

Well we certainly took a nose dive didn't we?

u can say that again, so much expectation that this would be our year. we missed darcy and horgan a lot though.

Fair play to wales they deserved to win

True darcy and o'dris together are class and horgan also was a big loss. still can't see us doing it for a while yet as a lot of the lads are the wrong side of 30

meant to post this yesterday but didnt have time
from sky sports:

Jonny Wilkinson has been left out of the 44-man British and Irish Lions squad to tour New Zealand.

Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll will captain the team for the three-Test Tour starting in June.

But Wilkinson, who has not played an international since drop-kicking the winning goal in the 2003 World Cup final, could still travel if he regains full fitness.

Coach Sir Clive Woodward also stated that centre Mike Tindall (foot) and prop Phil Vickery (broken arm) are in an identical position to Wilkinson if they prove their fitness in club rugby.

"If they confirm genuine form and fitness in the coming weeks, they could still go," said Woodward.

"My thinking is it is better they try to do so with their clubs before becoming part of the Lions squad.

"At their very best and fully fit, all three would have made the squad. And their absence from the list does not necessarily rule them out from the tour.

"I clearly know how much Jonny wants to play and I think this is the best way of keeping that prospect alive.

"He's an exceptional player and he hopes to start his first game on Friday.

"My thought is this, if he comes through the next six games with his club, then he will be included in the squad.

"I had a chat with the other three fly-halfs and they fully support my decision.

"If he does make it, he is in for a hell of a fight to displace the other three players."

"But I would be very doubtful if Mike Tindall and Phil Vickery make it to the standard we need for the Lions.

"We're not going out to trial players in any of these matches. The clock is against Tindall and Vickery, but I don't think the clock is against Wilkinson."

O'Driscoll is the first Irishman to lead the Lions since Ciaran Fitzgerald skippered the 1983 side in New Zealand.

He said: "It is a tremendous honour to be asked to be Lions captain and lead a squad of so many great players.

"When you look at the list of past Lions captains that include the likes of Martin Johnson and Willie John McBride, it is humbling. But I am relishing the challenge, and I will give it everything I have.

"The level of preparation and professionalism will ensure this tour combines the inspiration of Lions history, while being at the cutting edge of modern sport."

Woodward believes he has found the right man in O'Driscoll.

He said: "I am confident he will lead the Lions to victory. It will be as tough a challenge as he or I have ever faced.

"I spoke to him in January but I wanted to see how he performed in the Six Nations. And I thought he did very well in a difficult season for Ireland."

The party features 20 Englishmen, 11 Irish, 10 Welsh and just three Scots, scrum-half Chris Cusiter, hooker Gordon Bulloch and back-row forward Simon Taylor.

Woodward has chosen 14 of his victorious 2003 World Cup squad, and nine of the World Cup final starting XV including stalwarts Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill.

Woodward defended the selection of 36-year-old Leicester flanker Back who becomes the oldest player in Lions history selected for an original tour squad.

He said: "Back's performance last weekend for Leicester against Leinster fully supported his selection.

"Playing in New Zealand you need a certain type of player, and in him and Martyn Williams we have got two of the toughest characters around."

And the huge England contingent includes centre Will Greenwood, who makes his third successive Lions trip after recovering from shoulder surgery, and full-back Iain Balshaw also makes it, despite an injury-plagued last 12 months.

Several young England prospects have also received the nod, including Leicester centre Ollie Smith, Sale front-row forwards Andy Titterrell and Andrew Sheridan and Bath prop Matt Stevens.

But Woodward was at pains to point out the Welsh and Irish strengths.

Wales' Grand Slam stars are out in force - Gareth Thomas, Gareth Cooper, Dwayne Peel, Gavin Henson, Stephen Jones, Tom Shanklin, Shane Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams and Michael Owen all make the trip - but there is no place for Colin Charvis.

"If we were playing this weekend, the majority of the starting XV would come from Wales and Ireland, with two players from England and one from Scotland," he added.

"I'm delighted with the form of Wales fly-half Stephen Jones. He was up there along with Martyn Williams as one of the players of the tournament in the Six Nations. I spent a week behind the scenes watching him train and his leadership is good.

"So people should not read too much into the national make-up of the squad, which incidentally, is very similar to that of the last two Lions tours.

"Being picked for the Lions is the ultimate honour, and a New Zealand tour is the ultimate challenge.

"The players we have announced are world-class, and the best in the British Isles and the right squad to take.

"We believe we can win. For all of us, it will be an achievement to match anything else we have done during our careers.

"History is exactly what a win would be. Since 1888, we have won only six out of 35 Test matches, winning only one series in 11 attempts."

The Lions will play a warm-up game against Argentina in Cardiff on May 23 and set off for New Zealand two days later where they will play eight tour games as well as the three Tests.

Squad: I Balshaw (England and Leeds), G Murphy (Ireland and Leicester), J Robinson (England and Sale Sharks), G Thomas (Wales and Toulouse), S Williams (Wales and Neath-Swansea Ospreys), J Lewsey (England and Wasps), S Horgan (Ireland and Leinster), D Hickie (Ireland and Leinster), T Shanklin (Wales and Cardiff Blues), B O'Driscoll (Ireland and Leinster, capt), G Henson (Wales and Neath-Swansea Ospreys), O Smith (England and Leicester), G D'Arcy (Ireland and Leinster), W Greenwood (England and Harlequins), S Jones (Wales and Clermont Auvergne), R O'Gara (Ireland and Munster), C Hodgson (England and Sale Sharks), M Dawson (England and Wasps), D Peel (Wales and Llanelli Scarlets), G Cooper (Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons), C Cusiter (Scotland and Borders), G Rowntree (England and Leicester), A Sheridan (England and Sale Sharks), M Stevens (England and Bath), G Jenkins (Wales and Cardiff Blues), J White (England and Leicester), J Hayes (Ireland and Munster), G Bulloch (Scotland and Glasgow), S Thompson (England and Northampton), A Titterrell (England and Sale Sharks), S Byrne (Ireland and Leinster), D Grewcock (England and Bath), B Kay (England and Leicester), M O'Kelly (Ireland and Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Ireland and Munster), P O'Connell (Ireland and Munster), M Owen (Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons), R Hill (England and Saracens), N Back (England and Leicester), M Williams (Wales and Cardiff Blues), L Moody (England and Leicester), S Taylor (Scotland and Edinburgh), M Corry (England and Leicester), L Dallaglio (England and Wasps).

Clive Woodward was right to leave Jonny Wilkinsion out of the British & Lions squad to tour New Zealand, Stuart Barnes told Sky Sports News.

The England captain, currently battling for fitness following a second knee injury this season, was not named among the 44-man party featuring 20 Englishmen, 11 Irish, 10 Welsh and just three Scottish - but he could still face the All Blacks.

Woodward has left the door open, stating that the England World Cup hero could still travel if he regains full fitness. Centre Mike Tindall (foot) and prop Phil Vickery (broken arm) are in in an identical position to Wilkinson.

Barnes, however, believes Woodward has got it right by leaving Wilkinson out of the initial group and that the mix between experience and youth in the rest of the group is spot on.

"Obviously the headline is the omission of Jonny Wilkinson," he said. "I think it's the right thing to do. Whether they should have said quietly to Wilkinson 'play well and we'll bring you in' and not put pressure on the other three fly halves, I don't know.

"But let's look at the positives and there are some big positives there. I was very fearful that a couple of players, like Tom Shanklin, were going to be left out. The call of Charlie Hodgson is controversial but it is positive.

"I think you've got a balance of the old guard of the English World Cup winners and some very exciting young players there too. I'm delighted that he resisted the siren temptation to leave out Shane Williams as he hurts New Zealand.

"Overall, it's a pretty good squad and the right captain."




As expected, Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll has been appointed skipper, and there are places for England World Cup stalwarts Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill.

Leicester flanker Back, 36, becomes the oldest player in Lions history selected for an original tour squad.

O'Driscoll heads a strong Irish contingent, while RBS 6 Nations champions Wales have 10 Lions, but struggling Scotland are confined to scrum-half Chris Cusiter, hooker Gordon Bulloch and back-row forward Simon Taylor.

All Black legend and Sky Sports News panellist Sean Fitzpatrick endorsed the decision to give O'Driscoll the role.

"I like what Brian O'Drsicoll has said, that he's going to be a leader. There also seems to be a nice chemistry between coach and captain and they relate well. That's vital; the coach needs the captain to help mould the team," he said.

"He is the voice and ears of the players and he's got all the characteristics needed. It's a big job, a huge job. But what I like about the team is that he has a lot of lieutenants.

"I think it's quite predictable 44 but I like the mix. He's got experience and he's got young flair that can create opportunities. To have the Backs, the Dawsons and the Greenwoods there, I think he's picked on what's gone before which isn't a bad thing."

Dewi Morris added: "On a team-sheet Brian O'Driscoll is one of the first names you put down. He is one of the players you look up to and you know that in the heat of battle he will go bang and score that try. He has incredible pace, incredible vision - he is the right man for captain."

Barnes concurred: "O'Driscoll will do it his own way. There does seem to be a good chemistry between captain and coach. Woodward, remember, was a maverick outside centre who divided opinion. You could say the same about O'Driscoll.

"Woodward will like the independent spark in him and also the fact that when he goes on that pitch he is not only a world-class player but also extremely aggressive. He'll see him in a lot of ways as the natural successor to Martin Johnson.

"We had this late talk about Dallaglio but he has to nail down a test place first. You have to have a captain who is nailed on in the team so it had to be O'Driscoll."




Woodward has chosen 14 of his victorious 2003 World Cup squad, and nine of the World Cup final starting XV, but he was at pains to point the Welsh and Irish strengths.

The huge England contingent includes centre Will Greenwood, who makes his third successive Lions trip after recovering from shoulder surgery, and full-back Iain Balshaw also makes it, despite an injury-plagued last 12 months.

The Irish representatives are predictable, although fly-half Ronan O'Gara could possibly consider himself fortunate following a disappointing Six Nations.

And Wales' Grand Slam stars are out in force - Gareth Thomas, Gareth Cooper, Dwayne Peel, Gavin Henson, Stephen Jones, Tom Shanklin, Shane Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams and Michael Owen all make the trip - but there is no place for Colin Charvis.

Scotland's miserable run under coach Matt Williams is also reflected, although Taylor, especially, must have a strong Test team chance.

Several young England prospects have received the nod, including Leicester centre Ollie Smith, Sale front-row forwards Andy Titterrell and Andrew Sheridan and Bath prop Matt Stevens.

The inclusion of Smith pleased the panel in particular, and Barnes was particularly pleased after a bit-part 6 Nations for the Leicester centre.

"I'm delighted for him," said Barnes. "I think England's selection process through the 6 Nations was pretty shabby. Ollie Smith is the best centre in England - even if Mike Tindall and Will Greenwood are fit.

"I was fearful that not starting for England was going to cost him a Lions place that he deserves, but the Heineken Cup has come at the right time. His performance against Leinster in Dublin was superb.

"I think his try in that match and the way he performed against Brian O'Driscoll has got him in at the last minute."

The Lions leave for New Zealand on May 25, with the first Test against New Zealand scheduled for Christchurch a month later.

Sir Clive Woodward has named Jonny Wilkinson in his first team for the British and Irish Lions side.

The Newcastle fly-half, a late addition to the squad to tour New Zealand, will face Argentina on Monday.

Captain Brian O'Driscoll has been rested, along with Jason Robinson and the Sale contingent who are omitted because of Sharks' European Challenge Cup final this weekend.

So Wales forward Michael Owen will lead the side with Wilkinson acting as his vice-captain.

Gareth Cooper, kept out of Wales' victorious Six Nations side by Dwayne Peel, is named as Wilkinson's half-back partner while there are six Irishmen in the starting XV.

Centre Gordon D'Arcy is another looking to prove his fitness after an injury-hit season while Geordan Murphy, selected at fullback, is one of four players who featured in Leicester's Zurich Premiership Grand Final defeat.

Flanker Simon Taylor is the sole Scot in the team, while there are five Englishmen and three Welshmen.

Many of the favourites for the Test side - including lock Paul O'Connell, centre Gavin Henson and back-row forwards Martyn Williams and Lawrence Dallaglio - sit the match out.

Stephen Jones, expected to be Wilkinson's main rival for the fly-half position, is required by his club Clermont Auvergne this weekend while Wales skipper Gareth Thomas will not play because he will be in action for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup final.

Lions: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Denis Hickie, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Gareth Cooper, 1 Graham Rowntree, 2 Shane Byrne, 3 John Hayes, 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 5 Danny Grewcock, 6 Simon Taylor, 7 Lewis Moody, 8 Michael Owen (c)
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Julian White, 18 Donncha O'Callaghan, 19 Martin Corry, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Shane Horgan

good to see Wilkinson back, removes the need for try scorers