Rugby: EK rugby star Ally targets Six Nations crown

RUGBY star Ally Strokosch believes it’s time Scotland realised their potential and lifted the Six Nations crown.

The 26-year-old from Stewartfield (pictured right) will have to watch from the sidelines at Murrayfield on Sunday as Scotland open their championship account against France.

The Gloucester flanker suffered a heartbreak injury and is out of the match – but says now is the time for the Dark Blues to stand up and be counted after years of talented teams failing to live up to their billing.

Ally told the News: “I definitely believe we can win the championship this year and that is our plan. We’ve set ourselves a target and that target is to win it. I think we are better prepared than last year and we are not a young team anymore.

“We’ve got a good side and it’s time all the potential we’ve talked about for the last few years was realised.

“France will be a tough start for us, but a lot of our guys have faced the French players regularly in European rugby and beaten them, so we know them well and what to expect.

“We had a good build up with the performances in the Autumn Tests (where Scotland beat Australia) and, although we lost the third game, that should stand us in good stead. We need to build our defensive display, though, and be quicker in the attack when we play France.

“But confidence is high and so is the spirit in the squad.”

After recording their first win over Australia in 27 years back in November, the Scotland camp will, no doubt, still be buzzing from the famous 9-8 victory.

However, if Andy Robinson’s Scotland side are to record victory over France this weekend they will have to overcome their terrible opening day hoodoo. For the Scots have lost nine of their last 10 opening matches in the Six Nations and this is something Ally says they are determined to change as the team aim to beat France, England, Wales, Ireland and Italy to the coveted title.

The former East Kilbride Rugby Club player added: “It’s a record we want to change. We are by no means the finished article yet, but I’m confident we can have a big impact this year – and we need to start with a good performance against France.

“They will be one of the biggest threats this year along with Ireland and Wales. Ireland are full of quality players at the moment and they won the Grand Slam last year, so they will go in as favourites. And Wales won the Grand Slam two years ago, so they are in there, too.

“It will be great to see how it unfolds this year, but we need to focus on beating France first.”

After this weekend’s match, Scotland travel to the Millennium Stadium on February 13 to face Wales, to the Stadio Flaminio on February 27 to face Italy before the Calcutta Cup match with England at Murrayfield on March 13 and a potentially huge match with Ireland on the final day, March 20, at Croke Park.

The Scots are looking forward to a home tie with England as they aim to avenge their 26-12 defeat at Twickenham last year.

“It’s always good to play England,” said Ally with great zeal. “It’s great to have them at Murrayfield this year and have the crowd behind us.

“To be honest, I’m not really that bothered where we play them anyway – I just care about winning the match.”


Ireland V Scotland Hospitality


Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations: Why Ireland can achieve the almost impossible dream

If nothing else the 2010 Six Nations Championship will break new ground on the musical front. In their wisdom, the organisers have commissioned an official anthem, cunningly entitled Six Together, to give the tournament – ahem – a "new sonic identity". The idea is to combine a Welsh harp, Irish pipes, Scottish bagpipes, a French accordion, an Italian mandolin and an English cathedral choir on the same record, a concept which could easily broaden the definition of Eurotrash. Come back Max Boyce, Harry Lauder and Pavarotti, all is forgiven.

It is too late now but Bryan Ferry's version of Let's Stick Together, or Tom Jones's Delilah, would have been more appropriate. What is the Six Nations if not a collective, cross-border celebration of history, fraternity and late-night karaoke? If it has a traditional backing track it is the sound of raucous cheering drifting from the pubs of Rose Street and Baggot Street and gales of laughter on matchday trains. I remember staying in a guest house close to Lansdowne Road and discussing the afternoon's game with the landlady. Her son would be there, she said, although he did not have a ticket. "Just you wait and see," she said, winking. Sure enough, an hour prior to kick-off, an ambulance drew up outside the front door. Into the back jumped yer man, who promptly lay down on a stretcher and covered himself up with a blanket. Within seconds the ambulance had disappeared around the corner to be ushered straight into the ground. The Irish are truly a resourceful people, economic downturn or not.

Which is another good reason why Brian O'Driscoll's side may just be worth backing to collect a second title to add to the long-awaited triumph of 2009, their first grand slam since 1948. Hang around long enough for an ambulance and the chances of two arriving improve. To win consecutive Six Nations slams, however, is about more than mere good fortune or the law of averages. England have achieved the feat twice since the Great War, Wales have not managed it for a century and Scotland, Ireland and Italy are still waiting. Only France in 1997 and 1998 have cracked the code in the professional era and both of those successes were in the old Five Nations.

What people always forget is the tournament's X-factor: the ceaseless undertow of ancient rivalry. No one likes an uppity neighbour, as Wales discovered last season.

"There's more pressure on defending champions and we found that last year," said Warren Gatland, the Wales coach who used to be in charge of Ireland. "Everyone targets you as the game to win. I wouldn't normally have expected France to be doing a lap of honour in Paris, having beaten Wales. Ireland will go in as favourites but they've got two tough games in England and France and our meetings with them are really close. On the plus side, they've got two teams playing well in Europe at the moment, a lot of experience and a lot of confidence."

Ireland also have a coach, Declan Kidney, who knows more about the psychology behind sustained success than most. Under Kidney, Munster developed from perennial nearly-men into ruthless champions. If some of the players involved are long in the tooth – John Hayes is about to become the first man to play 50 Six Nations games – the mentality has been absorbed by the next generation. Talk to the likes of Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip and they will tell you, not cockily but matter‑of‑fact, that they expect to win every game. Winning is a habit and Ireland are disinclined to kick it, particularly with O'Driscoll at the helm. "We're owed nothing in this Six Nations" he said. "You don't retain anything, you give it back and then you try and win it again. We need to start from scratch. It will be the same attitude we've had for the past 10 years. You try and build into a competition, you don't win it in the first couple of weeks. That's how you lose it."


Ireland V Italy Hospitality


Six Nations Hospitality

Mathieu Bastareaud back for France determined to repair his damage

Euan Murray wraps his arms around his 18st body and shivers. The Northampton Saints and Scotland tighthead prop is a mountain of a man, but he looks vulnerable when facing the subject of his religious choices.

This Sunday, as Scotland take on France at Murrayfield in their first match of the Six Nations, the 29-year‑old will not be on the pitch. He has decided to forgo Sunday matches, and all non-religious activity that affects the Christian Sabbath – including interviews with Sunday newspapers.

Tired of explaining himself, he recently informed his club that he would no longer discuss the decision, and so as we approach the subject Murray sighs. He rearranges his feet on the coffee table in front of him, and sinks deeper into his coat, visibly retreating. "What do you want me to say about it? I don't think I need to say much about it. It's a decision, a difficult decision I had to make. And I'm happy with my decision."

There is a stony silence. The interest in his story has been intense and there is a weariness apparent over being cast in the role of religious curiosity of the week. But it is impossible for Murray not to discuss the subject in detail because his two great loves – rugby and Christianity – are so inextricably linked. Even as he speaks the language of the two collide. "Take my yoke upon thee …" he says, quoting the Bible, before pausing to note the irony. "You know like the yoke we use in training?"

To sacrifice one for the other has been tough and there is a revealing sadness in his voice as he describes what it has been like to miss games for Northampton. "I missed being part of it," he says quietly. "Someone actually told me the score the last time and I was really, really happy that we'd won."

Does he sometimes wonder if he's made the right decision? There is a very long pause. "I believe that biblically I've made the right decision." And emotionally? Murray blows out his cheeks. "Well, when you really become a Christian, life's a battle. You're going against the tide. The crowd are going one way and you're going another. It's always going to be a battle to be different. The easy thing is to go along with the crowd, everybody's doing it. You know? Try going the opposite direction to a crowd. It's hard. You won't get very far."

Murray was raised as a Christian, his mother taking the family to church in Glasgow. But he only turned to Christ in earnest after he was knocked unconscious in a game against Munster in September 2005. For those who witnessed the incident, the images are distressing. A collision with Anthony Horgan's knee sent Murray's head snapping back. As he lay on the pitch, his face contorted, his body writhing, he suffered a horrific seizure. Those around him thought he was dying. When he finally regained consciousness he entered a state of delirium, swaying on his feet and battling with the paramedics as he roared in confusion.

"Sometimes it takes a bang on the head to wake someone up," he says. "Some people don't get that chance. For some people it's bang, dead." He laughs.

He suggests that the path many professional sportsmen follow is "rotten". He tries to explain. "All the shiny bubbles," he says, holding out his big hands and shaking his head in sadness. "The money, the possessions, the fame, the great elusive relationship – all bubbles that appear perfectly spherical, all the colours of the rainbow. They're bright and shiny and light as a feather, and you chase them because it's good fun, but the minute you get them they burst and they're empty." He pauses. "I'd had enough of chasing bubbles."

In a portrait of Murray it would be misleading to only reference the religious sportsman. As a young boy growing up in the countryside south of Glasgow he worked on a farm, mucking out the outhouses, feeding the milk calves. "I loved working with animals, and the manual hard work," he says. "It made me strong."

He went on to qualify as a veterinarian – "because I love puppies and kittens," he jokes – only embarking on a professional rugby career at the advanced age of 23. Even so, during that first year of rugby he still practised as a vet one day a week, before deciding to give it up and focus on the game.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations: 'Rugby is not what fuels my happiness,' says Euan Murray

Euan Murray wraps his arms around his 18st body and shivers. The Northampton Saints and Scotland tighthead prop is a mountain of a man, but he looks vulnerable when facing the subject of his religious choices.

This Sunday, as Scotland take on France at Murrayfield in their first match of the Six Nations, the 29-year‑old will not be on the pitch. He has decided to forgo Sunday matches, and all non-religious activity that affects the Christian Sabbath – including interviews with Sunday newspapers.

Tired of explaining himself, he recently informed his club that he would no longer discuss the decision, and so as we approach the subject Murray sighs. He rearranges his feet on the coffee table in front of him, and sinks deeper into his coat, visibly retreating. "What do you want me to say about it? I don't think I need to say much about it. It's a decision, a difficult decision I had to make. And I'm happy with my decision."

There is a stony silence. The interest in his story has been intense and there is a weariness apparent over being cast in the role of religious curiosity of the week. But it is impossible for Murray not to discuss the subject in detail because his two great loves – rugby and Christianity – are so inextricably linked. Even as he speaks the language of the two collide. "Take my yoke upon thee …" he says, quoting the Bible, before pausing to note the irony. "You know like the yoke we use in training?"

To sacrifice one for the other has been tough and there is a revealing sadness in his voice as he describes what it has been like to miss games for Northampton. "I missed being part of it," he says quietly. "Someone actually told me the score the last time and I was really, really happy that we'd won."

Does he sometimes wonder if he's made the right decision? There is a very long pause. "I believe that biblically I've made the right decision." And emotionally? Murray blows out his cheeks. "Well, when you really become a Christian, life's a battle. You're going against the tide. The crowd are going one way and you're going another. It's always going to be a battle to be different. The easy thing is to go along with the crowd, everybody's doing it. You know? Try going the opposite direction to a crowd. It's hard. You won't get very far."

Murray was raised as a Christian, his mother taking the family to church in Glasgow. But he only turned to Christ in earnest after he was knocked unconscious in a game against Munster in September 2005. For those who witnessed the incident, the images are distressing. A collision with Anthony Horgan's knee sent Murray's head snapping back. As he lay on the pitch, his face contorted, his body writhing, he suffered a horrific seizure. Those around him thought he was dying. When he finally regained consciousness he entered a state of delirium, swaying on his feet and battling with the paramedics as he roared in confusion.

"Sometimes it takes a bang on the head to wake someone up," he says. "Some people don't get that chance. For some people it's bang, dead." He laughs.

He suggests that the path many professional sportsmen follow is "rotten". He tries to explain. "All the shiny bubbles," he says, holding out his big hands and shaking his head in sadness. "The money, the possessions, the fame, the great elusive relationship – all bubbles that appear perfectly spherical, all the colours of the rainbow. They're bright and shiny and light as a feather, and you chase them because it's good fun, but the minute you get them they burst and they're empty." He pauses. "I'd had enough of chasing bubbles."

In a portrait of Murray it would be misleading to only reference the religious sportsman. As a young boy growing up in the countryside south of Glasgow he worked on a farm, mucking out the outhouses, feeding the milk calves. "I loved working with animals, and the manual hard work," he says. "It made me strong."

He went on to qualify as a veterinarian – "because I love puppies and kittens," he jokes – only embarking on a professional rugby career at the advanced age of 23. Even so, during that first year of rugby he still practised as a vet one day a week, before deciding to give it up and focus on the game.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

RUGBY: Kidney gears up for Six Nations test

IRELAND coach, Declan Kidney, said having a competitive squad would be key to following on last year's success in the Six Nations Championships.

There was no talk, however, of Grand Slams, with Kidney preferring to focus only on the visit of Italy to Croke Park on Saturday and the opening game in a new campaign.

Kidney was basically saying the slate was clean again and the side had to build once more towards achieving what they did last year.

The Irish management made a few tough calls on Tuesday when announcing the team to start against Italy.

But Kidney said competitiveness in the squad would breed success.

"Having players all bidding for the same places is what you want.

"It is crucial and if you do not have it, then the team, the squad, do not grow."

He added: "Last year we tried to put ourselves in a position where there would have to be calls to be made when selecting the teams.

"You look at the players and see how they are going. You just have to be honest and make the calls on form, which players are going better.

"Some of the decisions are so marginal it is almost inexplicable, others are based around combinations and also the opposition we face."

Andrew Trimble was one of several close calls made by Kidney, but he said the Ulster winger had come through well after a difficult spell with injury.

"In Andrew's case, he had an injury situation where it was do you get it sorted, or do you play?

"Ulster, Andrew and ourselves decided the right option was not to take him on the summer tour to North America.

"He got what he needed done, had a big pre-season and when he started playing in September he showed great form. He has continued to do that on a consistent basis.

"Andrew was probably unlucky in November not to get a game, but Shane (Horgan) deserved his outing on that occasion.

"This time around he (Horgan) loses out and Andrew gets his chance."

Last year, Ulster skipper and hooker, Rory Best played a big part in the Grand Slam and he also captained the Ireland side which toured North America.

But he has not played since following a neck injury which required surgery. Remarkably, Best has returned to playing earlier than expected and with him fit and ready to go, Kidney had no problem naming him on the bench.

"It is a credit to Rory. It was a major injury, but the way he has got himself back and fit again. Indeed I think he is probably fitter than he has been for some time.

"I think the importance of the club system to us as well was reflected in that he was able to play for Banbridge just two weeks ago and then get an outing against Saxons last Sunday.

"The fact that he has presented himself as being fit and ready to go is a credit to himself as much as anyone else.

"He was a senior player for us last year and we are going to need all that experience coming into the game."

Wales V France Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

SIX NATIONS 2010: Jonny Wilkinson back in the firing line

For now, Jonny Wilkinson has put aside his contented new life on the Cote d'Azur. The joys of swimming in the sea and cycling in the mountains, freediving and al fresco dining - and, of course, the challenge of French club rugby - are temporarily on hold.

He has swapped it all for his designated place at the eye of a storm with England, in Surrey, at Twickenham and beyond in this RBS Six Nations.

The 30-year-old will attempt to galvanise England's misfiring attacking game armed with the shield of healthy perspective. After the missing years of savage injuries, from 2003 to 2009, when his future was repeatedly called into question, the former Newcastle fly-half is simply revelling in a long spell of unbroken rugby.

A few unflattering reviews cannot diminish his upbeat mood, not when he admits that, had circumstances been different, his playing days could have been over already.

When Wilkinson lined up for England against Australia on November 6, it was his first Test for 18 months and the first time manager Martin Johnson had been able to select his former team-mate.

That day, he performed admirably in a losing cause, but the next two matches - against Argentina and New Zealand - saw him struggle to impose himself and inspire a side weighed down by caution.

This was not the commanding Jonny of old and the upshot was an overwhelmingly negative reaction which stung him. More than two months on, he insists he took all the comments in his stride - emphasising that criticism had increasingly come with the territory in his England career.

'It didn't really have an impact on me,' he said. 'It doesn't affect my life whether someone decides that I am the best thing since sliced bread or that I am rubbish. All I can do is try my best for the team.

'My career has been dominated by talk of injuries, but in recent times with England I have experienced people questioning me regularly. The first time was during the 2007 Six Nations, then there were more questions in the 2008 Six Nations.

'I wouldn't want to be in an England team if I didn't deserve to be. But I will keep going while I can do a job and, at the moment, I feel relatively happy about the way I am playing.'



The most persistent barb directed at Wilkinson in November was that he played too deep behind the gain line. Since then, England's attack coach Brian Smith has made it plain that he wants the first receiver to play flat and the man in possession of the No 10 shirt is willing to oblige, if it helps the team function better.

England V Wales Hospitality

Scotland V England Hospitality

Ireland V Italy Hospitality

France V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

SIX NATIONS 2010: Martin Johnson is facing his biggest Test

Martin Johnson, in charge of England for 18 months, must know that when the

RBS Six Nations Championship begins in six days’ time, there really will be no

excuses for failure.

Nearly all the players injured and absent during England’s depressing performances in the autumn are back — Riki Flutey, Nick Easter and Delon Armitage among them — and Johnson and his coaching staff are adamant that lessons will be learned.

Not even two men who played alongside England’s manager for both Leicester and the national team are under any illusions about what is riding on one, single rugby match.



‘It’s probably England’s biggest game since Johnno’s been in charge,’ said former England captain Martin Corry. And Ben Kay, who packed down alongside Johnson in the 2003 World Cup final when England’s captain famously lifted the Webb Ellis trophy, added: ‘England versus Wales is absolutely massive. I’d argue that it’s

England’s biggest game in the whole of the Six Nations, even if at the end of it

they are going for the Grand Slam.’

‘I know people always bring up player resources and revenue but, put simply, look how many intense games of rugby Ireland’s Paul O’Connell plays in a season. Then look at how many any of the England boys do. No wonder we never have a settled team because there are always so many injuries.’

Kay stresses, too, the importance to England’s squad morale of getting off to a good start — and not giving Twickenham Man the opportunity to indulge in further jeering of the national team.



‘Win and England have confidence,’ said Kay. ‘Don’t forget, the likes of myself, Mike Catt, Phil Vickery and others who played on after 2003 could take the abuse when we were losing because we were experienced. But many of our younger, less experienced players, have spent the past two years being told by everyone in the game and the media how bad they are.

‘We have a big confidence issue in this country, a problem you never see in the southern hemisphere, and that’s why our new Test players are so fearful of costly errors. Lose and suddenly the remaining matches in the Six Nations look a great deal worse.

‘Coaches need more time than that. The best example of this is Clive Woodward, who could have lost his job after two indifferent years, but whose England side became the best in the world after six years.

Corry remains confident for his old team-mate’s fate. ‘England will go to Paris for their fifth and final game against France with both playing for the Grand Slam,’ he insisted, adding that he was not simply speaking out of loyalty to Johnson.

England V Wales Hospitality

Scotland V England Hospitality

Ireland V Italy Hospitality

France V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

O'Connell: Fixture list a tough task for Ireland

Ireland and Munster lock Paul O'Connell believes winning the RBS 6 Nations eclipsed being awarded the Lions captaincy, but reckons a repeat will be tough to achieve in 2010.

Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on Friday's night Late Late Show, he said: 'Winning the Grand Slam was really a career highlight. I think captaining the Lions is very special but captaining a team is not something you ever really set out to achieve. If it comes your way, and you're happy to do it well and good.

Ireland beat all comers in the Championship last season, the first Irish side to do so since Karl Mullen's Five Nations Grand Slammers in 1948 and the first to do so in the Six Nations.

O'Connell added: 'The Grand Slam was an amazing moment. It's not just that Irish rugby was so long in pursuit of it. That core group of players were chasing it for so long. You go back and Brian had been there since 1999.'

However, Ireland will play France and England away this year and O'Connell expects that to make a repeat Grand Slam a very difficult proposition.

He said:'It's a very tough year for us this year with England and France away. Grand Slam expectations have probably been dampened by that fixture list. But we have a great chance in the Championship and we'll give it a good run again.'

The Munster captain is also in pursuit of Heineken Cup honours having won the competition twice already. However, the men in red are struggling for consistency.

O'Connell said: 'We're delighted to come out top of our group. We're probably a bit off where would like to be and there are probably a few teams who fancy their chances a bit more ahead of us.'

Over the course of an entertaining interview, O'Connell, 30, also revealed that he and girlfriend Emily are expecting their first child at the end of April.

Ireland V Italy Hospitality

England V Wales Hospitality

Scotland V England Hospitality

France V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Ronan O'Gara Ireland Player

Ronan John Ross O'Gara (born 7 March 1977 in San Diego, California) is an Irish rugby union rugby player, occupying the fly-half position for both Munster and Ireland. He is the highest point scorer in both Munster and Irish history and has played for, and captained, the British and Irish Lions.

He was selected for his first Irish International cap in the Six Nations Championship against Scotland in February 2000. O'Gara scored all of Ireland's goals in their 18-9 win over Australia at Lansdowne Road in the Autumn Tests of 2002. He was a member of Ireland's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad.

O'Gara scored all of Ireland's points in a 17-12 win over the South Africa Springboks at Lansdowne Road on 13 November 2004. Two weeks later, on 27 November, O'Gara kicked a last-minute drop goal to give Ireland a 21-19 victory over Argentina. As in the Springboks Test, O'Gara scored all of Ireland's points. O'Gara won the man-of-the-match awards against both South Africa and Argentina. In 2004, he was named RTE Sports Person of the Year.

In 2006 O'Gara overtook David Humphreys as Ireland's highest points scorer. The same season, he won the Triple Crown with Ireland in the Six Nations.

On 11 February 2007, O'Gara scored the first Irish international try at Croke Park in the Six Nations loss to France. On 10 March 2007, O'Gara once again scored all of Ireland's points to win the Triple Crown at Murrayfield, Edinburgh versus Scotland by 19-18. On 24 August 2007, in Ireland's final 2007 Rugby World Cup warm-up against Italy at Ravenhill in Belfast, O'Gara scored and converted a controversial try nine minutes into stoppage time, winning the match 23-20 after Italy had taken the lead with a stoppage-time try. O'Gara finished the match with 18 points. He was a member of Ireland's 2007 Rugby World Cup squad.

On 9 February 2008, O'Gara became the eighth player in history to score 800 Test points, reaching the mark in Ireland's loss to France in the Six Nations. On 11 March 2008, O'Gara was named as Ireland team captain for the first time in his career, leading the side in the Six Nations match against England at Twickenham.

On 14 March 2009 O'Gara overtook Johnny Wilkinson to become the top Six-nations point scorer ever. In 2009, he scored a late drop goal to beat Wales and win Ireland their first Grand Slam for 61 years. This was also O'Gara's fourth Triple Crown win.

O'Gara is also the sixth highest points scorer in the history of international rugby and on March 14, 2009 became the all-time highest scorer in the Six Nations, scoring from a penalty against Scotland in the 15-22 win at Murrayfield Stadium.. He currently holds a total of 499 points.

Ireland V Italy Hospitality

England V Wales Hospitality

Scotland V England Hospitality

France V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Peter Bills: Manawatu on cloud nine in Italian bubble

His name won't strike a ready chord with you, but then, that won't surprise him. Tim Manawatu knows he doesn't exactly have a name as familiar as Dan Carter or Richie McCaw.

No matter, this young man's life has been transformed since he got to Italy on his rugby odyssey; there really is no other way to describe it.

Originally from Kaikoura, part of the Canterbury region on the south island, Manawatu took a leap into the unknown several years ago and has counted his blessings every day since.

"After everything is paid for by your club, you then receive a salary. I played a lot of rugby in New Zealand and enjoyed it, but now I have a young family so I've got to make a living and save money. They look after their foreign players so well here you can really do that.

How do the Italian clubs manage it? "Most clubs have big major sponsors," he explains. "The team's jerseys are covered in sponsors' logos, sometimes up to 30 of them. Of course, soccer is the really big game in Italy but the Italians are passionate about any sport and many of them still follow rugby, especially in the local towns such as L'Aquila.

"It's hard in New Zealand to be a professional player. You think you should be enjoying a terrific standard of living but the costs are high. Here, it's so much easier to save money."

Manawatu drives for 80 minutes to reach the club's training ground from Rome. He travels with four pals who also live near the capital, taking it in turns to drive which makes it easier for all of them.

"I have a nice house in Rome and it's a wonderful city to live in. The first two years I spent in Italy I played for a second division club, Piacenza. That was a great place, too. I also played for Capitolina in Rome.

"All the clubs are family orientated and they treat you like their own. At L'Aquila we have another Kiwi plus a South African, Canadian, Argentinian, two English guys, and many local players. It's a good mix."

Manawatu insists the standard of the Italian Super 10 league merits much respect.

"The top squads here could compete in the Air New Zealand Cup. The bottom teams would be similar to the New Zealand second division sides.

So will the allure continue to attract myriad numbers of players from all over the world? Manawatu certainly believes so. "This trend will continue as long as there is money here.

Italy V England Hospitality


Six Nations Hospitality

Peter Bills: Manawatu on cloud nine in Italian bubble

His name won't strike a ready chord with you, but then, that won't surprise him. Tim Manawatu knows he doesn't exactly have a name as familiar as Dan Carter or Richie McCaw.

No matter, this young man's life has been transformed since he got to Italy on his rugby odyssey; there really is no other way to describe it.

Originally from Kaikoura, part of the Canterbury region on the south island, Manawatu took a leap into the unknown several years ago and has counted his blessings every day since.

"After everything is paid for by your club, you then receive a salary. I played a lot of rugby in New Zealand and enjoyed it, but now I have a young family so I've got to make a living and save money. They look after their foreign players so well here you can really do that.

How do the Italian clubs manage it? "Most clubs have big major sponsors," he explains. "The team's jerseys are covered in sponsors' logos, sometimes up to 30 of them. Of course, soccer is the really big game in Italy but the Italians are passionate about any sport and many of them still follow rugby, especially in the local towns such as L'Aquila.

"It's hard in New Zealand to be a professional player. You think you should be enjoying a terrific standard of living but the costs are high. Here, it's so much easier to save money."

Manawatu drives for 80 minutes to reach the club's training ground from Rome. He travels with four pals who also live near the capital, taking it in turns to drive which makes it easier for all of them.

"I have a nice house in Rome and it's a wonderful city to live in. The first two years I spent in Italy I played for a second division club, Piacenza. That was a great place, too. I also played for Capitolina in Rome.

"All the clubs are family orientated and they treat you like their own. At L'Aquila we have another Kiwi plus a South African, Canadian, Argentinian, two English guys, and many local players. It's a good mix."

Manawatu insists the standard of the Italian Super 10 league merits much respect.

"The top squads here could compete in the Air New Zealand Cup. The bottom teams would be similar to the New Zealand second division sides.

So will the allure continue to attract myriad numbers of players from all over the world? Manawatu certainly believes so. "This trend will continue as long as there is money here.

Italy V England Hospitality


Six Nations Hospitality

Local official will be on duty for Six Nations clash

ATHLONE-based rugby official Eddie Walsh has been selected to fill the role of Citing Commissioner at an upcoming high-profile RBS Six Nations Rugby Championship clash.

Walsh, who lives in Ballykeeran, Athlone, and is originally from Tullamore, Co Offaly, has been appointed to preside over the meeting of Wales and Italy at the 75,000 Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on March 20.

The Athlone official, who will be representing Buccaneers RFC, Connacht and the IRFU, was recently involved in a friendly match between Italy and Western Samoa in Ascoli, and is also pencilled in for a World Cup qualifier between Georgia and Spain in Tbilisi.Walsh, a regular appointment to Magners League and Heineken Cup games, becomes the first official from Connacht to officiate at a Six Nations match.

The Ballykeeran resident also has extensive experience of officiating at under-21 and A internationals, and acted as Citing Commissioner during the Leinster v Ulster Magners League match on St Stephen's Day.

Walsh said: "In rugby terms this is a huge appointment and obviously I'm delighted about it. It's a bit of a breakthrough for Connacht officials and will hopefully encourage fellow officials. I'm really looking forward to the game and it's fantastic to be involved at Six Nations level. The Millennium Stadium is one of the greatest stadiums in world sport, so it's great it's taking place there. But obviously I've a big job to do and will have to be fully concentrated throughout."

In rugby union, a citing commissioner is an independent official - appointed by the competition organiser, the union in which the match is taking place, or the International Rugby Board - who is responsible for citing players who commit foul play which is not detected by the match officials.

Teams may bring offences to the attention of the citing commissioner for review. The citing commissioner may cite a player even if the referee has already dealt with the issue (except where he has ordered a player from the field).

When there is no citing commissioner, the teams participating in the match have the right to cite players, but may only cite a player for an infringement which the match officials have not dealt with. A player who is cited is called to a hearing to show cause why he should not be treated as having been sent off for the alleged offence. The player is entitled to be represented. The hearing usually takes place before three independent persons nominated by the union or the competition organiser, and is generally convened within a week of the match in question. If the offence is proven, the panel issues a penalty, usually in the form of a suspension for a number of weeks.


Ireland V Wales Hospitality

Italy V England Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Hand of Henry has no impact on Six Nations: Lievremont

There will be no fallout when France hosts Six Nations titleholders Ireland despite their footballing counterparts' notorious World Cup clash, French coach Marc Lievremont said overnight.

The 41-year-old former France international flanker said the storm caused by Thierry Henry's infamous handball, which set up William Gallas's crucial goal in the World Cup play-off last November, will not be an issue when the French take on Ireland at the same Stade de France venue on February 13.

"Of course the Irish team the football one were entitled to be angry and as a nation as well," said Lievremont.

"They deserved fairer treatment. However, football is not the same sport as rugby union. Football does not share the same qualities or values as rugby."

Indeed Lievremont, who is seeking his first Six Nations title success in his third campaign, was left singularly unimpressed by the whole match which put France in the 2010 World Cup finals and broke Irish hearts.

"I along with the France rugby squad and the Samoans who they played later that week at the Stade de France sat in the stands watching," he said at Wednesday's Six Nations launch.

"I have to say that all of us to a man - and I speak for the Samoans as well - were extremely bored and just wanted it to finish."

France V Ireland Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Andy Robinson urges Scotland to bring chaos to Six Nations

Andy Robinson is a highly organised man – he would not otherwise have risen so far up the rugby ladder – but he wants his Scotland team to introduce a little old-fashioned chaos and confusion to the 2010 Six Nations. Wreaking havoc and making off with the spoils, now there is a game plan to gladden most Scots' hearts.

"We operate very well in chaos, in fact Scotland always thrive when there is chaos and confusion on the pitch," said Robinson, who will be masterminding his first Six Nations campaign as the Scots' coach.

"Scotland is a nation of instinctive and very passionate rugby players, and the team flourish when things happen at speed and the unexpected occurs.

"One of the reasons I put my hand up and applied for the job as national coach when Frank Hadden left was that I had been so impressed by what I had seen in Scotland."

"That came home again very forcibly to me on Monday morning when I attended Bill McLaren's funeral in Hawick and what an emotional, sad but also very inspiring day that was.

"That's an incredible store of rugby knowledge and excellence in that trio alone and later just about all the other Scottish greats were there at the funeral. Scotland have a very proud and distinctive rugby heritage, the great teams played in a certain way and we need to try to honour that."

Typically, Robinson has been hard at work on the first part of the formula. "Making that happen is down partly to a state of mind but you also need to be exceptionally fit and that is something we have been working on since the autumn.

"Luckily we have two excellent conditioning teams at the Edinburgh and Glasgow sides and Scotland have been working very closely with them. It takes a big commitment from the players but they are all prepared to put the work in.

"Fitness and staying power can help bring consistency. Scotland haven't scored back-to-back wins in the Six Nations since 2001 and even that is misleading because one of those games was the September match against Ireland after foot and mouth disrupted the tournament in the winter.

"You have to go back to Scotland's last Championship winning year in 1999 to get genuine back-to-back wins. That is the first big hurdle we need to clear," said Robinson, whose team open their Six Nations campaign by taking on France at Murrayfield on Sunday week.

"I actually thought in terms of quality of performance we did back up against the Pumas, we were creative and dangerous in attack but we didn't take our chances and eventually lost. We have to take that next step."

Scotland V France Hospitality

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O’Driscoll has eyes on repeat Grand Slam showing

The belief that hallmarked Ireland’s progress through 2009, their year of great rugby triumph, was underlined yesterday as Brian O’Driscoll willingly contemplated the holiest of Holy Grails.

Back-to-back Grand Slams in the Six Nations championship.

It was a measure of the growing conviction within this Irish squad that the idea alone was not dismissed out of hand. O’Driscoll, speaking at the launch of the 2010 Six Nations in London, said: “Back-to-back Grand Slams? That is all new ground to me. You would have to ask someone who has done it what it feels like. I just go with the flow. But we won’t look at things any differently and we won’t treat it any differently.”

Ireland’s captain demonstrated the calmest of personas yesterday in confronting a battery of media cameras, microphones and notebooks. He offered an image of a man increasingly at peace with himself and there is little doubt that the achievements of 2009 have left a deeply satisfying feeling within the soul of O’Driscoll.

“I enjoyed all the trappings that came with it (the Grand Slam success). The winning itself, the celebrations; small things such as the general feeling in the country. If we can do that again, why not? It’s much better than not doing it again.

It was clear that the topic of the French is already looming large in Irish minds. O’Driscoll’s side meets them on the second weekend of the championship and it is a game that might be crucial in determining the eventual winners.

“We are not that good a side that we can look ahead to certain matches and take others lightly. If we are in any way off the mark against Italy (on Saturday week at Croke Park), it will be a very long, difficult afternoon.”

Yet having said, even Kidney was prepared to look as far as Paris and February 13. “It will be daunting. But that is the reason you get into sport, these are the challenges you want to face.

“Our last trips to Paris have been quite difficult — as an understatement — because France are one of the benchmarks of world rugby. Last year, they beat New Zealand in New Zealand and South Africa at home so they are one of the standard bearers for world rugby. They continually achieve and they have done very well in this tournament in the even years.

“France are less dependent on injuries because they have such a big pool of playing talent.”

O’Driscoll was quick to remind his audience that Ireland have won in France just once in the last 38 years. Typically, he did not mention that it was his own hat-trick that propelled the Irish to that rarest of victories.

But he warned: “The margins between success and failure are so tiny.”

Alas, if only expectations in Ireland were as small. “The Irish people don’t do middle ground. They are either at the very top or the bottom. But it’s definitely a nicer feeling at the top so you want to stay there as long as you can,” he added.

France V Ireland Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Steve Borthwick retained as England captain

Steve Borthwick will be England's captain going into the RBS Six Nations.

The Saracens lock has been skipper in every game since Martin Johnson took over as England manager in 2008.

Johnson initially named his Six Nations squad without a captain but has now decided on Borthwick, despite criticism of the player's performances.

England, who open their Six Nations campaign against Wales at Twickenham on 6 February, are expected to name their side on Tuesday, 2 February.

England, who are currently in Portugal to begin their Six Nations preparations, have won only six of their 14 matches since Borthwick was appointed captain.

Yet Johnson has decided to stick with Borthwick for the time being, although he may make a change during the tournament.

Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths says the retention of Borthwick is a good move, describing the 30-year-old as an "absolutely outstanding character and an outstanding captain for England".

"Within the club there is a general sense of bewilderment with the criticism that Steve sometimes gets at international level," Griffiths told BBC Radio 5 live.

"He is massively admired, not only on the field where his form has been brilliant this year, where the number of contributions during a game is far greater than any other member of the team, but also away from the field.

"But as England's results improve, and we all hope they will, he will start to be properly appreciated at international level."

Meanwhile, England blind-side flanker James Haskell is waiting for the results of a scan on a knee injury he sustained at the weekend while playing for club side Stade Francais.

Five players have been called up as injury cover, with Worcester loose-head prop Matt Mullan and Leicester tight-head Dan Cole replacing Andrew Sheridan and Julian White respectively.

At least one of the 22-year-old front-rowers, who have been selected ahead of the more experienced David Flatman and Duncan Bell, are likely be named in the match-day squad for the opening game against Wales.

Wasps loose-head Tim Payne and Bath tight-head David Wilson are the other props in the squad.

Wasps number eight Dan Ward-Smith and Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw are cover for Tom Croft and Joe Worsley respectively, while scrum-half Ben Youngs fills in for Leicester team-mate Harry Ellis.

Ireland V Wales Hospitality

England V Ireland Hospitality

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Six Nations Hospitality

Wales sweats over Lee Byrne ban for England game

WALES are waiting to see if Lee Byrne will be banned for the Six Nations rugby opener with England after the Lions full-back was hit with a misconduct charge.

Byrne and the Ospreys will appear before a European Rugby Cup Ltd disciplinary hearing in Dublin tomorrow to answer Leicester complaints following the weekend’s 16th man fiasco at the Liberty Stadium.

The English giants upped the ante in the big Heineken Cup row by revealing they have appointed Manchester United’s lawyers to deal with their case and their demand for a replay.

Leading sports law specialists Brabners Chaffe Street, who are headed up by famed Old Trafford director Maurice Watkins, have been brought on board as a result of their expertise in dealing with a number of high profile cases down the years. Among disciplinary hearings Watkins has fought are those involving Eric Cantona and his infamous kung-fu kick, Roy Keane over controversial comments made in his autobiography and Swansea City mascot Cyril the Swan, who was charged by the FA of Wales for entering the pitch without authority.

Watkins’ company have also acted at the highest level for the Professional Rugby Players’ Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Games Council for England.

Byrne, who appeared briefly as a 16th Ospreys player on the pitch during his team’s 17-12 victory over Leicester, was informed yesterday he must attend the disciplinary hearing in Ireland.

It spells potentially bad news for Wales coach Warren Gatland, with the mouth-watering Six Nations opener with England just nine days away.

There is a possibility Byrne could be banned from the Twickenham showdown and further Six Nations matches.

Gatland is desperate to get his first choice full-back back in his starting XV after Byrne missed the entire autumn campaign with injury.

The Ospreys, who have also been charged with misconduct, will be left sweating on a possible fine, or worse – a points deduction.

“There is a potential for a conflict of interest if there is anything less than a full, open and thorough investigation and hearing of the matter.”

“A fine would not do it as far as we are concerned. The only fair thing is for the game to be replayed.”

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Martin Johnson cagey over Six Nations but hails his strongest England

A tight defence is an essential tool of modern Test rugby and the give-em-nowt attitude is proving contagious. If this year's Six Nations is anything like as flat and predictable as the management-speak which suffocated the launch at London's Hurlingham Club, it could be a grey old championship, lacking not only Bill McLaren's presence but the pilot light of sporting romance on which the event traditionally relies.

There were notable exceptions – Italy's Nick Mallett can hold forth entertainingly on most subjects in almost as many languages – but the days of rash predictions and ambitious statements of intent are gone. Even Wales's Warren Gatland stuck to his recent pledge to say nothingremotely provocative, blaming the assembled media for prompting this grim state of affairs. When it started raining at the precise moment the national captains were led outside for their photocall, it simply mirrored the lack of sparkling insight indoors.

Such is life, sadly, in a results-driven business of deflationary margins. England, for example, lost to Ireland and Wales by a combined total of nine points last season and, as Martin Johnson observed, "anyone who predicts who will win the title is a brave guy". Such people as Johnson, Declan Kidney and Andy Robinson did not get where they are today by confidently anticipating grand slam glory before a ­single ball has been kicked.

Nor did Johnson shed much further light on the issue of the England captaincy which, as things stand, is as clear as Severn estuary mud. Steve Borthwick will lead the side out against Wales on Saturday week but Johnson is declining to clarify what will happen beyond that. "Steve's our captain," was as far as he would go. "He does a tremendous job but if you're reliant on any one player it's a weakness. I'd like to think there are three or four guys with leadership qualities." As a distinguished former England captain himself, Johnson is keen to demystify the role but is in ­danger of doing the precise opposite.

Johnson also repeated his belief that this is "the strongest England squad we've had in my time here". That is not quite the same as predicting a first English title since 2003 but it remains the view within the red rose camp that a record of two injury-hit defeats in three autumn series games masked a greater sense of collective purpose. If England can beat Wales, by hook or by crook, they will fancy being at least competitive in Rome and Edinburgh. In that event, the last two games against Ireland and France would assume a very different hue.

As Gatland correctly identified England must first put together a pack capable of seizing next week's game by the scruff. "I am happy with our experience in the front five," said Gatland, optimistic that his Lions front-rowers Adam Jones and Matthew Rees, only recently back from shoulder and groin injuries respectively, will be on parade. "The next couple of weeks [leading into the England game] are pretty critical for us. Games are won up front, and it is important that our tight five fronts up. We're just hoping it will be the catalyst for our season as it was two years ago."

France, conversely, are hoping to avoid what their coach, Marc Lièvremont, called the "catastrophe" of their heavy defeat at Twickenham 12 months ago. As with Ireland and Wales they have the advantage of three home games this year; three of their fixtures will also be evening affairs, including a Friday night date against Wales in Cardiff on 26 February. Scotland will be their opening opponents in Edinburgh and Robinson, about to embark on his first Six Nations campaign since he ceased to be England's head coach in 2006, is already relishing the challenge ahead, calling on his players "to inspire a nation".

The pre-tournament favourites, though, continue to be Ireland, seeking to add to the long-awaited grand slam they secured last year. "You just hope it's going to be your time again," said Brian O'Driscoll, entering his eighth Six Nations as Ireland's captain and reluctant to look beyond his side's opening fixture against Italy at Croke Park. "We're owed nothing in this Six Nations. You don't retain anything. You give it back and then you try and win it again. We need to start from scratch. It will be the same attitude we've had for the past 10 years. You try and build into a competition, you don't win it in the first couple of weeks. That's how you lose it."

Ireland V Wales Hospitality

England V Ireland Hospitality

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France V Ireland Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Brian O'Driscoll: 'Winning the Grand Slam has only lifted my ambitions'

After ending his country's 61-year wait for Six Nations glory, the Ireland captain is hungrier than ever. As this year's hostilities loom, Chris Hewett hears him launch the opening exchanges.

The Six Nations Championship found itself deep in phoney war territory yesterday. A week and a half shy of the opening match, there was a nervous edge to the formal tournament launch in London, with the England manager, Martin Johnson, and his two principal rivals from the British mainland, Warren Gatland of Wales and Andy Robinson of Scotland, shadow-boxing their way around the big issues. Marc Lièvremont of France sounded bold enough – "There are green lights everywhere," he pronounced, "so this could be our year" – but no one could quite decide whether he was being serious.

It was left to two men from opposite ends of the Six Nations spectrum to serve up the most nourishing food for thought: a phlegmatic Nick Mallett, coach of Italy, and an equally philosophical Brian O'Driscoll, captain of Ireland. Their teams will set the ball rolling in Dublin on Saturday week, and while the world and his maiden aunt expect the home side, reigning champions and 2009 Grand Slammers, to lay waste to the reluctant holders of the wooden spoon, both men appeared at ease in the face of contrasting pressures.

"Unusually, I'm in the position of being judged on performance, not results," said Mallett. "Traditionally, the Italians support only winning teams, and in football, it's still the case that a coach can be chucked out after three or four defeats. Yet it seems the sporting public there is finding that the values of rugby – its unselfishness, its dignity, its sportsmanship, the huge courage of its players – are things than can be adhered to in life. Last November, we had 80,000 people in the San Siro in Milan for our match with the All Blacks, and it was one of the great spectacles of the year. There were three police wagons there. When Bari play Napoli at football, there are more police than spectators.

"So the interest is building and I can say that, while the Italian team has had its disappointments, there has been no falling off of enthusiasm among the players. If they had taken a negative attitude, they would have opted out of the Six Nations a long time ago. They are a positive, ambitious group who are keen to improve, and while an opening fixture against Ireland is asking a lot of us – we gave them trouble in Dublin two years ago, but that Irish side wasn't as happy or organised or well-structured as this one – I expect us to be competitive."

O'Driscoll, the nearest thing to a great player in the European game, expects something similar. "We know Italy are capable of claiming a scalp," he agreed. "They may not be in a position yet to win four or five games in succession, but a one-off is far from beyond them. It's why we cannot afford to look beyond this opening game. Certainly, I'll approach the tournament the way

Having celebrated his 31st birthday last week, O'Driscoll has little choice but to accept the elder statesman role. He is, however, a benign ruler of all he surveys. "There are younger guys who don't really know about the 10 years of struggle some of us experienced in getting where we are now, but I don't want to burden them with it," he remarked. "It's better for them to go with the flow of the mentality as it is now, which is what I'm doing.

"I'm enjoying living in the moment, rather than looking too far ahead or putting a date on when I'll finally stop playing. It's a simplistic approach, but I'm basically cracking on from here. I certainly don't want to be caught up in any thinking about the next World Cup, which is 18 months away. In international rugby, that's a long, long time."

Ireland V Wales Hospitality

England V Ireland Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Wales rugby seek forward edge against England

Wales seem certain to target England's novice front row as they try to dominate the scrum when the teams meet for next week's Six Nations opener at Twickenham.

Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, is on course to select an all-British and Irish Lions front row of Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees and Adam Jones.

The Test-hardened trio could find themselves up against an inexperienced combination of Tim Payne, Dylan Hartley and possibly the uncapped Dan Cole, with injuries currently depriving England of Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan among others.

"We will target certain areas, depending on who they pick up front," Gatland said at the Six Nations media launch in London on Wednesday.

"I am happy with our experience in the front five. Games are won up front, and it is important that our tight five fronts up," the New Zealander, himself a former hooker, added.

Wales are aiming for only their second victory at Twickenham in 22 years but the return of Jones is an undoubted boost to their hopes of making a winning start to this season's Six Nations.

The 28-year-old was in fine form for the Lions during last year's tour of South Africa before a shoulder injury in the second Test cut short his participation.

Jones missed all four of Wales's Tests in November as a result but looked back to somewhere near his best during the Ospreys' European Cup victory over English champions Leicester last weekend.

"It is good to have Adam back," said Wales captain Ryan Jones.

"You cannot win Test matches without a set-piece, and Adam brings a certain stability to our scrum."

Meanwhile Gatland was relishing the prospect of playing England at their headquarters ground.

"It is a great game to be starting with," said the former Ireland coach.

"I just hope it will be the catalyst it was two years ago, which gave us the confidence and momentum for the rest of the championship.

"Both teams are very similar, and whoever wins will go in with a bit of confidence for the rest of the championship.

"The two sides will be desperate to win and both sides realise how important it is to win the first game.

"But the pleasing thing, both against Australia and New Zealand, was our territory and possession increased from the previous year.

"We had them under pressure," Gatland insisted.

Ireland V Wales Hospitality

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Six Nations Hospitality