Best eyes upset win over Leinster
Hooker Rory Best insists Ulster have no interest in playing the role of “brave losers” in Saturday’s Heineken Cup final against Leinster.
Leinster are aiming for a record-breaking third title in four years, but Best says his side are “in a good place” to win their second crown.
“We are in this final to win it,” Best said. “It means more to all our players than any other game.
Ulster look ahead to their clash against holders Leinster in the Heineken Cup final
“It is not just about putting on a brave display, it is about winning.”
Leinster, with talisman Brian O’Driscoll and in-form full-back Rob Kearney declared fit to start, start short-priced favourites at Twickenham to become only the second team in Heineken Cup history, after Leicester in 2001-2002, to win back-to-back titles.
But having emerged from a group including the Tigers and Clermont Auvergne, won at Munster’s Thomond Park fortress in the quarter-finals, and come through an edgy semi-final against Edinburgh, Ulster are intent on seizing the opportunity to make their own history.
“This why we play rugby, for these massive games,” added Best. “You need to embrace every second of that because it doesn’t last forever. We have great belief when you look at the calibre of players in our squad. We fully deserve to be here. We are a good team and we just need to show that.”
While scrum-half Ruan Pienaar – one of four former Springboks in the Ulster side including skipper Johann Muller, number eight Pedrie Wannenburg and full-back Stefan Terblanche – and All Blacks prop John Afoa have all been influential, the local core of the Ulster side has evolved together.
Analysis
“Chris Henry hasn’t received anything like the attention he deserves. He is a hugely under-rated player and should be closer to the Ireland scene. Sean O’Brien is going to be very much occupied by Henry. Sean has not got the physical stature of Stephen Ferris, he is not the same wrecking ball. If he tries to out-Ferris Ferris, then he is going to lose the battle with Henry. (In the modern game you need a seven who is very clear in his role, who gets in the way of everything and puts their focus on the ball on the ground. It is difficult for Sean. Sometimes he is caught between two stools.”
The likes of Best, powerhouse flanker Stephen Ferris, wings Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy, centres Darren Cave and Paddy Wallace, prop Tom Court, lock Dan Tuohy and flanker Chris Henry have matured over the past three years under coach Brian McLaughlin, who was informed mid-season that he would be replaced by New Zealand Under-20s coach Mark Anscombe next year.
If Best alluded to the extra motivation Ulster’s players may carry to give their coach an appropriate send-off before he is moved aside to run the province’s academy – “this season has made us even closer as a team,” said the hooker – McLaughlin was keen to distance his position from the equation.
“This is all about Ulster Rugby showing how far we have travelled over the last three years,” he said. “I have no doubt these guys will go on that pitch and show everyone what a quality team they are.”
While Ulster have surpassed expectations already, Leinster have continued to garner plaudits for the manner in which they have reached their third final in four years.
History beckons for the Dubliners, who could join Toulouse as the only other side to win the Heineken Cup more than twice, and the only one to win it three times in the space of four years.
Coach Joe Schmidt acknowledged that with the injuries to O’Driscoll and Kearney and a variety of “bumps and bruises” afflicting several other players, preparations have been far from ideal.
The New Zealander was happy to acknowledge the threat Ulster pose to his multi-talented team. “The wins they have stacked up in this competition would be enough to make anyone concerned,” he said.
Brian O’Driscoll says Leinster must not hand penalty chances to Ulster kicker Ruan Pienaar
Ulster’s power at the breakdown, their defensive resilience and Pienaar’s goal-kicking prowess certainly make them formidable opponents.
But with fly-half Jonathan Sexton and O’Driscoll directing operations and game-breakers like Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the pack, Leinster’s greater experience of these occasions –
particular the manner of their astonishing comeback in last year’s final
– may provide the key to victory.
“The team that keeps their patience and keeps their cool should win,” added Schmidt. “The occasion can sometimes dominate the performance. It is important we stay very much grounded and process-orientated, and not get carried away with the occasion.”
With Twickenham sold out, it is expected to be the largest ever crowd for a Heineken Cup final, surpassing the 81,076 that witnessed the all-English final between Wasps and Leicester at the stadium in 2007.
Leo Cullen was on the losing side that day, but the Leinster captain now stands on the verge of being the first man to lift the Heineken Cup three times.
“When you experience success, it makes you a bit greedy for more, and you just want to experience those feelings again,” said the lock, at 34 the “junior” partner in the second row.
Alongside him on Saturday, 37-year-old All Black Brad Thorn will become the oldest player to feature in a Heineken Cup final, and could become the first in history to have World Cup, Super 15 and Heineken Cup winner on his CV.
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Huddersfield 12-32 Wigan
Wigan Warriors moved two points clear of Huddersfield Giants at the top of Super League following a hard-fought thriller at the Galpharm Stadium.
Jermaine McGillvary and Josh Charnley swapped tries before Sam Tomkins and Charnley again put Wigan ahead.
Greg Eden touched down for Giants after the break, but Wigan took control with a trio of tries from George Carmont [two] and Liam Farrell.
Jeff Lima topped off the scoring for the visitors with a minute remaining.
Charnley could have extended his personal tally, missing four kicks, before Tomkins took over kicking duties.
Nathan Brown’s side, bolstered by the return of David Fa’alogo and Luke George, edged the reverse fixture against Wigan by four points on the season’s opening day and were only kept off top spot by the Warriors on points difference.
However Shaun Wane’s Wigan were on an eight-match winning streak in all competitions, and had scored 83 tries in 13 league games to also top the try chart.
What does this do to the table?
The build-up applied to this top-of-the-table fixture was justified by a high-octane start, and the hosts almost ran in a score in their first set.
Danny Brough’s chip was gathered by Scott Grix, and with the Wigan line out of position Leroy Cudjoe had the opportunity to put Jermaine McGillvary in but delayed the pass and the ball was knocked on.
In response Wigan broke through Charnley, and forced a drop out when Greg Eden was trapped in goal after Brett Finch’s kick and the Giants just about survived the ensuing set.
Giants missed a chance to go ahead when Brough pulled his penalty wide, but from the drop out, a flowing move engineered by Luke Robinson from right to left this time put McGillvary in for his sixth try of the season.
Wigan responded through Super League’s leading tryscorer Charnley, who finished off a sweeping move in collecting Darryl Goulding’s sweet offload, but missed the chance to level with the kick.
The game continued at a frenetic pace with both defences stretched, and it took a slippery run from Wigan full-back Tomkins, slicing through the Giants defence to add to the score.
Dale Ferguson failed to ground the ball for the Giants, and they were punished for profligacy when the swiftest of hands worked Charnley in for his second on the right just before the half-time hooter.
A string of tries at the beginning of the second period continued the fireworks in damp conditions.
Firstly Eden burst onto a Grix pass to level for Huddersfield, but then blotted his copybook when he spilled a Brett Finch kick that allowed Carmont to restore Wigan’s lead.
Wigan then took control when Farrell then bundled his way past Eden to score from close in and Sam Tomkins nailed the visitors’ first conversion to open up a 10-point gap.
Anthony Gelling’s knock-on spared the Giants further embarassment but only temporarily as soon after Carmont added to his and Wigan’s tally from Gareth Hock’s dart and step.
Eden saw a score ruled out by the video ref for a knock-on as he raced through with Tomkins to touch down, but Wigan capped off their dominance when prop Lima touched down from Finch’s pass.
POST-MATCH REACTION
Wigan coach Shaun Wane:
“I know Josh is not a normal kicker but he needs to kick them, if Pat Richards plays today, we score another 10 points. I was just concerned it was going to cost us. We will always score tries but we need to make sure we kick better than we did today.
“I thought we scored some great tries, we had to concentrate on our defence in the first half, but to score seven tries against a team like Huddersfield – I’m a great admirer of Nathan Brown and the way he coaches – and to keep them to two, I’m fairly satisfied with that.
“The main thing is we wanted to win game more than them. The character and desire made me very happy.”
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown said:
“The opposition were too good for us tonight, they are a very good team and in a couple of key facets of game were better than us. You’ve got to take your hat off to the opposition.
“I thought a lot of damage was done in the first half, when their kicking game was very good. They strangled us a bit with their ball control and field position.
“The pleasing thing is we still caused them a lot of trouble with minimum field position and not much possession. I thought David Fa’alogo was terrific and Greg Eden was as dangerous as Sam Tomkins in a well-beaten side. He’s a wonderfully talented kid and he should take some confidence out of the game.”
FRIDAY’S LINE UPS
Huddersfield:
Eden, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Chan, George, Brough, Grix, Crabtree, Robinson, Fa’alogo, Lawrence, Gilmour, Brown.
Replacements:
Faiumu, Patrick, Ferguson, Moore.
Wigan:
S. Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Gelling, Finch, Leuluai, Dudson, McIlorum, Mossop, Hansen, Hock, O’Loughlin.
Replacements:
Lima, Farrell, Tuson, Crosby.
Attendance:
10,123
Referee:
Ben Thaler (Wakefield)
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Mallinder signs new Saints deal
Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has signed a new contract with the club to extend his stay at Franklin’s Gardens until 2015.
Mallinder has won four trophies in his five-year spell in charge and reached the final of the Heineken Cup in 2011.
“It wasn’t a hard decision. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here at the Saints,” he told BBC Look East.
“Of course we’re disappointed over the last couple of years we couldn’t win something major.”
Jim Mallinder’s coaching career
- Age
– 46 - 2001-04
– Sale Sharks - 2004-07
– England Academy / England Saxons - 2007-present
– Northampton Saints - June 2007
– Takes up role at Saints just after the club were relegated from the Premiership - 2007-08
– Saints win promotion, remaining undefeated throughout the entire season - 2008-09
– Win the European Challenge Cup, beating French side Bourgoin 15-3 in the final - 2009-10
– Saints win their first major domestic trophy – the Anglo-Welsh Cup - 2009-10
– Finish second in Premiership but lose 21-19 against Saracens in semi-finals - 2010-11
– Reach the final of Heineken Cup but lose 23-22 against Leinster - Feb 2012
– - May 2012
– Signs new contract extension to remain at Franklin’s Gardens until 2015
He added: “But I think we’ve developed both on and off the pitch. The future’s very exciting.”
Saints suffered heartbreak last weekend as they
lost 25-23 to Harlequins in a tight Premiership semi-final.
It was the third consecutive season that Mallinder’s men had fallen one step short of the Twickenham final.
“I don’t think I’ve quite got over it. I’m still waking up early and thinking ‘what if’,” he said.
“The important thing is that we learn from it and take the positives out of it. I’m very confident we can move forward.”
Mallinder took charge of the Saints in June 2007 when the club had just been relegated from the Premiership.
However, they made an immediate return to the top flight by remaining unbeaten in 2007-08.
More success quickly followed as they won the European Challenge Cup in 2008-09 and the Anglo-Welsh Cup the following season.
In 2010-11, Mallinder took the team to the Heineken Cup final, although the Saints lost a thrilling match against Leinster.
“You cannot overstate how important he has been to the rejuvenation of the team,” said Saints chairman Leon Barwell.
“Jim signing his new contract is terrific news for the club and underpins our aspirations for the future.
“As we see so often in sports across the world, having continuity of management is crucial in a club’s long-term success, and this is exactly what Jim brings to the Saints.
“He is a first-class coach, one of the best in England and a terrific guy to have at the club.”
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Salford v Bradford (Fri)
Salford bring in young hooker Gareth Owen for the injured Wayne Godwin.
Centre Sean Gleeson and utility man Chris Nero are both available, but prop Shannon McPherson (knee ligament) has failed to recover in time.
Bulls name an unchanged squad as Adrian Purtell and Brett Kearney are still unavailable and John Bateman completes his three match suspension.
Chev Walker and Tom Olbison, who were included against London Broncos but did not feature are retained.
SQUADS
Salford:
TBC
Bradford (from):
Addy, Ainscough, Burgess, Diskin, Elima, Gale, Hargreaves, Jeffries, Kear, Kopczak, Langley, L’Estrange, Lulia, Manuokafoa, Olbison, Platt, Pryce, Walker, Whitehead.
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Leeds to try out different venues
Leeds Carnegie have announced plans to follow the example of
and take some of their home fixtures to different grounds.
The Championship side have seen a slump in attendances since their relegation from the Premiership.
“We need to build a bigger fanbase and we need to engage with the rugby union fraternity,” chief executive Gary Hetherington told
“We’ve already identified five clubs throughout the county to work with.”
As well as Headingley, Yorkshire play county matches
Hetherington confirmed that three of the club’s 14 home games next season will be played away from Headingley.
“It’ll be good for all parties. The team who host the game will keep all the income and we’ll have a good experience too,” he said.
Having failed to secure promotion back to the Premiership through the play-offs this season, Leeds embarked on an extensive and public review of the club.
“We do a review every year and it’s important that we’re honest in it and we come out with a clearer picture of what went wrong.
“We recognise a lot of people have an interest in this club and we’ve never been lacking in transparency but this is an attempt to communicate a little better,” Hetherington added.
The club, meanwhile, is to undertake a major overhaul of the squad and have begun that process by announcing that 19 players have not been retained.
Amongst those to leave are centre Scott Barrow, American international Mike MacDonald and ex-England international wing Michael Stephenson.
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Huddersfield v Wigan (Fri)
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown has forward David Fa’alogo back from injury and is expected to give hooker Scott Moore a first Super League appearance of his second spell at the club.
Winger Luke George has recovered from illness will replace Aaron Murphy in the 19-man squad.
Wigan have Darrell Goulding back after missing the Saints clash with a strain.
But Paul Prescott (knee ligaments) and Ben Flower (hamstring) are out for up to six weeks each through injury.
VIEWS FROM THE TRAINING GROUND
Wigan coach Shaun Wane told BBC Radio Manchester:
“I love the way Nathan Brown coaches his teams. They’re very skilful and they’ve got some quality players.
“I was asked to name some of their best players, but you can go through 11 or 12 players that are major threats in their team.
“We played them at the start of the year and we got beaten mentally. We weren’t prepared for that game and that can never happen again.
“We’re going there to make sure we avenge that game.”
SQUADS
Huddersfield:
TBC
Wigan (from):
Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Finch, Leuluai, McIlorum, Mossop, Hansen, Hock, O’Loughlin, Lima, Farrell, Tuson, Lauaki, Dudson, Gelling, Hughes, Crosby.
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Williams ‘deserves’ good send-off
Openside flanker Martyn Williams deserves a better career send-off than he experienced for Cardiff Blues, according to Sam Warburton.
Flanker Williams, 36, will win his 100th Wales cap against the Barbarians on Saturday, 2 June.
Wales captain and Blues man Warburton said: “I was disappointed, to be honest, with the last game at the Blues when there was only about 3,000 there.
“And for a player like Martyn, you think he deserves a better send-off.”
Williams’ final game for the Blues came in the Pro12 League at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday, 22 April when
in front of an official 3,580 attendance.
WALES’ JUNE MATCHES
Saturday, 2 June:
Wales v Barbarians (Millennium Stadium, 14:00 BST)
Saturday, 9 June:
Australia v Wales (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane; 11:00 BST)
Tuesday, 12 June:
Brumbies v Wales (Canberra Stadium, Canberra; 10:30 BST)
Saturday, 16 June:
Australia v Wales (Etihad Stadium, Melbourne; 11:00 BST)
Saturday, 23 June:
Australia v Wales (Aussie Stadium, Sydney; 06:00 BST)
That crowd figure and other disappointing support at the home of Cardiff City Football Club prompted the Blues to
for regular fixtures from next season.
But Warburton hopes Wales’ fans can at least turn up in enough numbers for the Barbarians visit to give Williams “his just reward”.
And the player who Williams helped nurture at the Blues also believes the former Pontypridd player would rue missing out on a century of Wales caps if the opportunity had not arisen.
“[It's] brilliant for him, yeah. He does really deserve that 100th cap and it would have haunted him for the rest of his life,” said Warburton.
“He might not admit that, but I think he’d desperately want it. So I’m really chuffed for him that he’s got that [coming].”
Williams was on the winning side when Wales met the Barbarians in 2011 as the
invitation club to a dramatic 31-28 win over his own nation.
That was Williams’ only match at that level since Wales’ November 2010 Tests and was followed by a 99th cap against Argentina in August 2011 as Wales completed their build-up for the 2011 World Cup.
He was left out of the tournament squad and failed to win favour for the 2012 Six Nations in which Warburton’s injury paved the way for Osprey Justin Tipuric to make his mark.
Martyn Williams leaves the Blues against a backdrop of empty seats
When Tipuric was also injured during the Six Nations, Scarlet Aaron Shingler made his debut at openside having built his reputation elsewhere in the back-five.
Those openside preferences have left Williams on the sidelines for their last 13 Tests.
Earlier in his career he was overlooked in favour of Brett Sinkinson, a New Zealander who won 20 caps while playing for Neath.
Sinkinson won 15 of those caps before being ruled ineligible for Wales amid the Grannygate scandal that broke in 2000, and five more after he later qualified for Wales on residency grounds.
If, as is likely, facing the Barbarians is Williams’ Test swan song, he will bow out against long-time Wales team-mates
Shane Williams, Stephen Jones and Duncan Jones.
However, former Cardiff RFC and Pontypridd flanker Williams is also on standby for the Australia series.
With only seven days in between facing the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium and taking on the Wallabies, Wales send a 15-strong advance party down under to acclimatise for the tour opener in Brisbane.
Warburton is expected to be among the advance guard as he continues to recover from the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the latter stages of Wales’ 2012 Six Nations Grand Slam campaign.
Wales squad for June Tests:
FORWARDS:
Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues).
BACKS:
Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Aled Brew (Biarritz), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Will Harries (Newport Gwent Dragons), James Hook (Ospreys), George North (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets).
Barbarians squad:
BACKS:
Isa Nacewa (Fiji), Mils Muliaina (New Zealand), Ian Balshaw (England), Cedric Heymans (France), Shane Williams (Wales), Paul Sackey (England), Sailosi Tagicakibau (Samoa), Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu (Samoa), Mike Tindall (England), Damien Traille (France), Felipe Contepomi (Argentine), Stephen Donald (New Zealand), Stephen Jones (Wales), Rory Lawson (Scotland), Jerome Fillol (France).
FORWARDS:
Schalk Brits (South Africa), Benoit August (France), John Smit (South Africa), Aled de Malmanche (New Zealand), John Afoa (New Zealand), Duncan Jones (Wales), B J Botha (South Africa), Neemia Tialata (New Zealand), Jerome Thion (France), Mick O’Driscoll (Ireland), Anton van Zyl (South Africa), Pelu Taele (Samoa), Raphael Lakafia (France), Antoine Burban (France), Akupusi Qera (Fiji), John Beattie (Scotland), Pedrie Wannenburg (South Africa), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Argentine).
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Powell queries Broncos ‘away day’
London Broncos coach Rob Powell says playing games away from the Twickenham Stoop erodes their home advantage.
The Super League side played at Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road earlier this month and face Hull FC at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium on Sunday.
He told
“It’s an away day. It’s good we take the game to new places but we have to travel the morning of the game.
“It takes away a bit of our advantage from a performance perspective.”
He added: “It’s good we showcase ourselves in Kent, where there are good things going on with the Medway Dragons, but it is another away day.”
The game in Gillingham will be the Broncos’ second game to be staged away from their usual south-west London base.
Broncos centre Tony Clubb, who hails from Gravesend, believes that playing a Super League game in his home county can win the sport new fans.
“I hope so,” the 24-year-old told BBC Radio Kent. “I’m really looking forward to playing at Gillingham.
“They say rugby league is a northern sport but we’ve got the London Skolars and the Dragons.
“I hope it can inspire kids to come and play. It’s a fast sport, high impact and an all-round great game to watch.”
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English exiles target Euro glory
Iain Balshaw aims to preserve Biarritz’s proud European record and deny fellow World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson a European trophy for Toulon in Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup final.
Biarritz, who finished ninth in the Top 14, need to win to qualify for the Heineken Cup for a 13th straight year.
But a star-studded Toulon are desperate to win a first trophy in 20 years.
“It is not the Heineken Cup final but it is a huge match for us,” ex-England full-back Balshaw, 33, told BBC Sport.
“It could be a gateway for us to get into the Heineken Cup next season. To miss out on that would be very disappointing. Everyone wants to win a piece of silverware, especially after the season we’ve had in the Top 14.”
Biarritz, without figureheads like Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili on World Cup duty with France, won only one of their first 10 league matches and were bottom of the table at one stage.
A run of six victories in their last eight games belatedly lifted them out of the drop zone to a ninth-placed finish but, for a club crowned French champions three times in the last decade, struggling at the bottom was something of a shock.
Balshaw is one of nine internationals in Biarritz’s side, including six from France
“It is not going to solve everything if we win on Friday [at The Stoop], or paper over the cracks,” said Balshaw, who will spend a fourth year in Biarritz next season.
“Everyone has been disappointed with the way the season has gone. We don’t want to make excuses about players being away during the World Cup, but it does make a difference. But that is in the past now, we are fully focused on winning a trophy.
“We know it is going to be tough with the calibre of players they have got, but we have put some performances together over the last five or six weeks and we know when we get our own game right, we can compete with every team.”
Having lost two Heineken Cup finals –
and
– Biarritz are desperate to put a European trophy in their cabinet and extend their participation in the elite tournament.
But Toulon have their own motivation. Two years ago, they too suffered the misery of
to Cardiff Blues in front of 49,000 partisan fans in Marseille’s Stade Velodrome.
They have finished third in the regular Top 14 season and will face Racing Metro in the play-offs, with Toulouse awaiting the winners in the semi-finals.
As well as Wilkinson, a stellar cast includes former Australia centre Matt Giteau, ex-Springboks number eight Joe van Niekerk, All Blacks prop Carl Hayman, and four French internationals, including Mathieu Bastareaud and Alexis Palisson.
But the player who has shone brightest of all lately is former London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage, who has been named the
after his first year on the Cote d’Azur.
Armitage won the last of his five England caps in the 2010 Six Nations but, despite his outstanding form, he missed out on a place in
England’s tour squad to South Africa.
“I’m not ripping my hair out over it for the simple reason that all my energies are devoted to helping Toulon,” said the 26-year-old. “The set-up here is fantastic and the fans are brilliant; more like a football club. I have no regrets about moving here.”
Also starting on Friday will be former Saracens lock Kris Chesney, and 20-stone-plus Wales prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts, while the replacements include former Bristol back-rower Joe El Abd and lock Dean Schofield, who won the
Challenge Cup with Sale in 2005.
Wilkinson, as one of the beneficiaries of colourful president Mourad Boudjellal’s time in charge, is under more pressure than most to bring some return on the millions of euros shelled out in pursuit of success.
Wales prop Gethin Jenkins and England internationals Andrew Sheridan, Delon Armitage and Nick Kennedy are among those swelling the ranks next season.
“The French Championship-winning team of 1992 is still revered here in Toulon. The date of the final, and the players, are all recalled with huge affection,” said Wilkinson, who played in three Challenge Cup semi-final defeats with Newcastle, as well as Toulon’s final defeat two years ago.
“It would be nice at this stage of my career to help deliver a title to Toulon and be remembered in the same way. If you want to make your mark as a team you have to be the best, otherwise it simply doesn’t count.”
TEAM LINE-UPS:
Biarritz:
I Balshaw, T Ngwenya, J-P Barraque, D Traille, D Haylett-Petty; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; Y Watremez, A Heguy, E Van Staden, J Thion, P Taele, W Lauret, B Guyot, I Harinordoquy (capt).
Reps:
B August, S Marconnet, F Gomez-Kodela, E Lund, T Gray, M Bosch, C Gimenez, I Bolakoro.
Toulon:
B Lapeyre, A Palisson, M Bastareaud, M Giteau, D Smith; J Wilkinson, S Tillous-Borde; E Lewis-Roberts, S Bruno, C Hayman, C Samson, K Chesney, P Gunther, S Armitage, J van Niekerk (capt).
Reps:
J-C Orioli, L Emmanuelli, D Kubriashvili, J El Abd, G Messina, D Schofield, F Cibray, J Suta.
Referee:
Wayne Barnes (England)
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Dates set for Challenge Cup semis
Wigan Warriors will meet Leeds Rhinos in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup –
a repeat of last year’s final.
The Rugby Football League have confirmed the tie will be played at Galpharm Stadium, in Huddersfield, on Saturday, 14 July.
In the other semi-final, Warrington will take on Huddersfield in a repeat of the 2009 final at the City of Salford Stadium on Sunday, 15 July.
Both games will kick-off at 17:30 BST and will be shown live on BBC Two.
Wigan beat rivals St Helens on Saturday
to progress to the last four, while
Rhinos overcame Leigh on Friday night.
Warrington, who lifted the cup in 2009 and 2010, ended Catalan Dragons’ 100% home record on Sunday
to reach the semi-finals, with the
Giants scoring nine tries in a crushing win against London Broncos.
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Falcons sign up scrum-half Lawson
Newcastle Falcons have signed Scotland international scrum-half Rory Lawson on a two-year contract.
The 31-year-old, who has been at Gloucester since 2006, has played 30 times for his country, captaining them on five occasions.
Lawson is the club’s third signing this week following the capture of second rows
and
He played 151 times for the Cherry and Whites but was destined to leave after they signed
Newcastle stand to be relegated from the Premiership this season after finishing bottom of the table earlier this month.
But they could yet be reprieved depending on what happens in the Championship play-off final.
If Cornish Pirates win the two-legged decider Falcons will be safe as they have not applied to join the top flight, but London Welsh could be promoted if they win and if their business model passes the necessary Premiership-standards audit.
But the north easterners will be led by
incoming director of rugby Dean Richards
from next season and Lawson, the grandson of the late BBC rugby commentator Bill McLaren, is relishing the prospect of joining them.
“Newcastle’s form towards the end of the season was strong and there is a lot we can build upon for next year to move the club forward,” he said.
“Having met with (owner) Semore Kurdi, it is clear that the Falcons have significant resource and intent to build a successful club in the north east, and the appointment of Dean Richards can only enhance that.”
Lawson added: “I want to thank the supporters at Gloucester for their fantastic support over the last six seasons. I greatly enjoyed my time at Gloucester and look forward to turning out for the Barbarians at Kingsholm at the end of the month.”
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Webb to exit but Leuluai plays on
Leeds Rhinos have announced that full-back Brent Webb is to leave the club at the end of the season but prop Kylie Leuluai is to play on.
Webb, 31, joined the club from New Zealand Warriors in 2006,
but turned down the offer of a new one-year deal.
Leuluai, meanwhile, has had a change of heart after previously suggesting
this would be his final season.
“We were pleased to speak to him and agree a new deal,” the club’s chief executive Gary Hetherington said.
“Leeds fans have always loved their prop forwards, especially those who set the tone for the team with their actions on the field, and Kylie is certainly in that company.”
Hetherington believes Kiwi international Webb is looking for a two-year deal with another Super League side.
“We are not in a position to offer him that and therefore we have granted him permission to speak to other clubs about next season and beyond,” he added.
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Welsh eye permanent Oxford move
Premiership promotion hopefuls London Welsh say they hope to play their home games at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium next season if they go up.
The Exiles will learn next week if their application to join English rugby’s top flight has been approved.
If it has, then victory over the Cornish Pirates in a two-legged final, will see London Welsh promoted.
“We are very excited about the prospect,” London Welsh chairman Bleddyn Phillips told BBC Radio Oxford.
The Championship club travel to Penzance on 23 May for the first leg of their play-off and then host the Pirates the following Wednesday – at the Kassam Stadium.
Welsh stated last week that they would move their home games away from Old Deer Park in Richmond
if promoted because it is too small to meet the Premiership’s minimum capacity standard of 10,000.
Premiership clubs with football landlords
London Irish – Reading (Madejski Stadium)
Sale – Stockport County (Edgeley Park)
Saracens – Watford (Vicarage Road)
Wasps – Wycombe W (Adams Park)
A number of venues had been mooted as solutions but the Kassam Stadium, which can hold 12,500, has now emerged as the favourite.
“We’ve had positive discussions with the owners of the Kassam Stadium and Oxford United,” added Phillips.
“There is an audit process ongoing by the RFU and we hope the Kass meets their criteria.
“We haven’t heard anything to the contrary but we are hopeful all the boxes have been ticked and we can take our place in the Premiership – providing we beat the Cornish Pirates.
“We have other options but we are very seriously looking at the Kassam.”
Phillips believes the move could be mutually beneficial for both clubs, although the owner of the ground Firoz Kassam would also need to approve the move.
Welsh would not be the first Premiership side to ground share with a football club nor would they be the first traditionally London-based outfit to take tenancy outside the capital’s boundaries.
Premiership Champions Saracens, London Irish and Wasps have all moved their home fixtures to football grounds away from London in order to try expand their businesses and fan bases.
“It is a great opportunity to bring top-flight rugby to Oxford, and another top-flight sport to the community,” Phillips continued.
“But we won’t forget our fan base in south west London and will make sure they can get there.
“I’ve had direct conversations with [Oxford United chairman] Kelvin Thomas that have been very constructive.
“Clearly from the football club’s point of view we would be able to share costs and build links in the community.”
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Wing Cuthbert to stay with Blues
Alex Cuthbert has agreed to stay in Wales after he signed a new one-year deal with the Cardiff Blues.
Wales’s Grand Slam-winning wing had been linked with a lucrative move
to French clubs Toulon and Racing Metro.
The 22-year-old burst on to the Test scene during Wales’ Grand Slam campaign, having begun the season on a Blues development contract.
“I am very pleased to be re-signing for another year and I can now look forward to… next season,” Cuthbert said.
“I had a few offers outside of Wales and having gone through all the options thoroughly with family and friends, I came to the conclusion that the best option was to stay at the Blues, showing my loyalty to the region, coaches and the fans.”
The 6ft 6in, 16st wing made his Wales debut off the bench in last December’s international against Australia.
Cuthbert then filled the berth vacated by retired wing great Shane Williams for Wales’s 2012 Six Nations campaign, scoring tries against Scotland, Italy and then France in the Grand Slam decider.
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“Playing for Wales was a huge part of my decision to stay with the Blues”
Alex Cuthbert
Wales and Blues wing
He has won six caps so far and is in the squad for June internationals against the Barbarians and a three-Test tour of Australia.
“Playing for Wales was a huge part of my decision to stay with the Blues and playing for the region regularly will hopefully strengthen my chances of keeping my place in the Wales team,” Cuthbert added.
“Obviously with
Phil [Davies] taking over as head coach
it’s exciting times for the region as well. I know Phil from my time with the Wales Sevens where he was involved.
“He’s a great coach, I’ve heard he’s very well organised and puts good structures in place which I know will benefit the club next season.
“I’m also very excited that the Blues are
I’m yet to play there in front of a full crowd so hopefully we can do that next season.
“I’ve watched a few games down there and the atmosphere is unbelievable and if we maintain good crowds that will help us no end on the pitch.”
The Blues had stated they had made the winger a six-figure offer to stay and play his rugby in Wales.
Cuthbert’s decision to stay – at least for another year – does buck the trend of players leaving Wales, with 10 players already departed amid Welsh regional rugby’s on-going financial problems.
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AUDIO: St Helens making progress
Half-back Lance Hohaia tells BBC Radio Merseyside that St Helens have made “some good steps in the right direction” over recent weeks, despite their Challenge Cup exit to Wigan last weekend.
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Visser secures Scotland call up
Tim Visser says he is “honoured” to be named one of five uncapped players named in the 28-man Scotland squad for the tour of Australasia.
Edinburgh’s Dutch winger will become eligible for Scotland on 12 June on the grounds of three years residency since his arrival from Newcastle Falcons.
Glasgow Warriors forwards Ryan Grant, Rob Harley and Tom Ryder are hoping for their first caps.
Edinburgh back Tom Brown will also travel with the party.
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“I would love to represent Scotland”
Tim Visser
Edinburgh winger
Visser was relishing the prospect of playing for the side coached by Andy Robinson, who brought him to Edinburgh in 2009.
“Having lived here for such a long time now, I’ve got to know the country and the people very well and I feel very much part of the country,” said the 24-year-old.
“I feel really at home here and the people have been great.
“I would love to represent Scotland.”
Visser, who was the Pro12 players’ player of the year and this season’s leading try scorer, will be unable to face Australia on 5 June.
However, he will be eligible in time to feature against Fiji on 16 June and Samoa a week later.
Ryder is one of the uncapped players to travel with the Scotland squad
The winger will be an especially welcome addition to Robinson’s options among the backs as Lee Jones and Rory Lamont will be absent from the tour through injury, while Chris Paterson and Simon Danielli have retired.
Number eight Dave Denton and back-row Kelly Brown are also missing through injury, lock Jim Hamilton is suspended, while veteran prop Allan Jacobsen has been rested.
That has given an opportunity to Brown, Grant, Harley and Ryder to stake their place in the starting XV, while Warriors prop Jon Welsh, like Edinburgh centre Matt Scott, is included after making his maiden Scotland appearance during the Six Nations.
The Scots finished that competition with the Wooden Spoon and will be seeking to arrest the worst run since 1998 after seven successive losses.
Robinson said Tests in Australasia would be “tough” but believed his players would rise to the occasion.
“We’ll be playing against three attack-minded teams on their own turf,” he added.
“But it’s an important opportunity to start the rebuilding process after a disappointing Six Nations.
“One quarter of the squad has yet to start an international, but we’ve seen from the manner in which Edinburgh and Glasgow have finished the domestic season that there’s confidence that we will be looking to build on.”
Robinson will be joined on tour by assistant coach Scott Johnson, but Matt Taylor, who has agreed to join as defence coach, will continue his duties with Super Rugby Queensland Reds and is not part of Scotland’s touring party.
Johnson and Taylor replace Gregor Townsend and Graham Steadman, whose contracts were not renewed after the Six Nations.
Scotland squad
Backs
: J Ansbro (London Irish), M Blair, T Brown (both Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), N De Luca (Edinburgh), M Evans (Castres), A Grove (Worcester Warriors), S Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), G Laidlaw (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Scarlets), M Scott (Edinburgh), T Visser (Edinburgh) and D Weir (Glasgow Warriors)
Forwards
: J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), G Cross, R Ford capt (both Edinburgh), R Grant, R Gray, D Hall, R Harley, A Kellock (all Glasgow Warriors), S Lawson (Gloucester), E Murray (Newcastle Falcons), R Rennie (Edinburgh), T Ryder (Glasgow Warriors), A Strokosch (Gloucester), R Vernon (Sale Sharks) and J Welsh (Glasgow Warriors).
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AUDIO: Wigan seeking Giants revenge
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Dirksen extends stay with Ospreys
Wing Hanno Dirksen has signed a new two-year deal to stay with the Pro12 finalists the Ospreys.
The 21-year-old, who has scored eight tries in 24 games, won the RaboDirect Pro12 try of the season award for his score against Edinburgh in Murrayfield in February in 2012.
“The Ospreys are the best team in Wales and I’m really happy to be a part of the organisation,” said Dirksen.
The South African will qualify for Wales at the end of 2012.
Dirksen arrived in Britain to study at Truro College on a scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year before transferring his studies to Neath Port Talbot College in September 2009.
He signed for Swansea in the Principality Premiership, ended the season as top try-scorer with 21 tries in 22 games and was voted the Young Player of the Year.
Those performances persuaded the Ospreys to sign him in January 2011.
“It’s great to be playing and training with top-class players, Wales internationals and Lions, it’s been an absolutely amazing year for me,” he said.
“It’s good to be finishing off the season with a final, we have worked hard to get there and now we have to make sure we don’t let anybody down.”
Steve Tandy, the Ospreys head coach, welcomed Dirksen’s decision to commit his future with the region.
“Hanno has enjoyed a great season and has really shown what a talent he is,” said Tandy.
Dirksen hails from Krugersdorp in the Gauteng province of South Africa and moved to the United States with his family in 2006 while still a teenager.
He represented the USA at age grade level and became the youngest player to represent the Eagles at senior level when he featured in the non-capped match against Munster in Connecticut in August 2008.
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Hohaia targets Super League crown
Lance Hohaia has said St Helens are fully focused on winning the Super League after being
knocked out of the Challenge Cup
by rivals Wigan.
Saints are sixth in the table and travel to champions Leeds on Monday.
Half-back Hohaia told
“In the last four or five weeks we’ve made some good steps in terms of our team performances.
“It’s disappointing to be out of the cup, but the Super League is up for grabs and there’s a long way to go.”
It has been a mixed campaign so far for St Helens, but one of their best performances and results came against the Rhinos in March.
Saints won 46-6
at Langtree Park, in their first match following the departure of coach Royce Simmons.
“We played them six or seven weeks ago and we did a really good job against them,” added the 29-year-old New Zealand international.
“I think it’s going to be a different story this time around. They’ll be ready for a battle, and losing to Wigan last weekend will put us in good stead for that.”
The Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat by Wigan on Saturday ended a run of five straight victories in all competitions for Mike Rush’s side.
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Pressure on for Oz
Fly-half Rhys Priestland says Wales will take on Australia in the summer under increasing pressure to take a southern hemisphere scalp.
Priestland, 25, faces fresh competition from
for the Wales number 10 jersey.
The 2012 Grand Slam-winner also faces Perpignan play-maker James Hook’s continued challenge.
“There is added pressure now because every time we go on the field, people expect us to win,” said Priestland.
“The nation wants a southern hemisphere scalp as well and, hopefully, we can get one before the autumn.”
Form dictates Biggar call – McBryde
Wales’ last win over one of the major southern hemisphere powers came in November 2008 when they beat the Wallabies 21-18 in Cardiff.
Warren Gatland’s side have since lost three times to the Wallabies and face them four more times this year.
Robbie Deans’ team beat Wales to
and followed up with a win in Cardiff in
They take on the Wallabies three times in June and host them again in November.
The Wallabies go into the games on 9, 16 and 23 June as reigning Tri-Nations champions.
Scarlets fly-half Priestland says
Wales’ Six Nations clean sweep
has led to optimism among fans that is reflected in the squad’s ambitions.
“As a squad we want a southern hemisphere scalp,” said Priestland.
“We know what to expect because they have world class players and some of the most skilful players in world rugby,” said Priestland.
“Any time you play against them, you have to be at your best otherwise they will cut you to pieces.
“We have an opportunity going down there, it will be tough.
“They have a few injuries and we have a few injuries so it’s a good time to play them.
“You have to be at your best and hopefully we prepare well and give ourselves the best possible chance to get a southern hemisphere scalp.”
Wales haven’t won a Test in Australia since 1969 and will play four games on tour, including a match against Super 15 outfit ACT Brumbies on Tuesday, 12 June.
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