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O'Driscoll criticises De Villiers
O'Driscoll (left) believes De Villiers has brought the game into disreputebr /Brian O'Driscoll has added his voice to the criticism of Springboks coach Peter de Villiers over his stance on Schalk Burger's gouging offence.br /De Villiers initially denied Burger had done anything wrong in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.br /The flanker received an eight-week ban, and O'Driscoll said: "To hear the South Africa coach talk about gouging being part of the game was semi-repulsive.br /"I just find it appalling. I truly find it a disgrace," added the Lions centre.br /Burger was found guilty of "making contact with the face in the eye area" of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald.br /TV footage showed Burger's fingers making contact with Fitzgerald's eye inside the first minute of the match in Pretoria.br /De Villiers later issued an apology for defending Burger's actions and the South Africans will not be appealing against the player's suspension.br /But Ireland star O'Driscoll added: "When you think about a situation where a parent wonders about whether their child should play rugby or soccer, and you hear comments from a national team coach of that sort - and regardless of the apology he may have submitted - it's essentially bringing the game into disrepute.br /"We're trying to promote the game, and yet you hear comments like that."br /Fitzgerald was able to continue after treatment, but at the time Burger escaped with only a yellow card from French referee Christophe Berdos - a decision taken on the advice of New Zealand touch judge Bryce Lawrence, who spotted the offence.br /br /NTbr /After the match, De Villiers said he did not believe Burger should have been sent to the sin-binbr /But on Monday, he backed down, saying: "It was never my intention to suggest that I condone foul play.br /"That is the last thing I would ever do and I apologise for that impression."br /De Villiers went on to say that "eye-gouging is something that we as a team will never be part of".br /"The same applies to biting, head-butting, spear tackling or any other foul play that doesn't belong in the game," he added.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-5040676593174299912?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Wales centre Jamie Roberts had a big game for the Lions
The Lions launched a late fightback to beat the Royal XV and avoid what would have been their first defeat in the opening tour match since 1971.br /Two tries in quick succession, from Wilhelm Koch and Rayno Barnes, helped the hosts take a shock 18-3 lead.br /Tommy Bowe's converted try made it 18-10 at the break before a Ronan O'Gara penalty cut the lead to five.br /Bees Roux scored for the hosts but late tries from Lee Byrne, Alun Wyn Jones and O'Gara saw the Lions home.br /A sparse crowd at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenberg - the Super 14 final was taking place in nearby Pretoria - saw the Lions make a raft of mistakes and struggle to gel in the first hour.br /An embarrassing defeat was on the cards - for the first time in a Lions tour opener since losing 15-11 to the Queensland Reds in 1971 - to an equally scratch side made up of players from the third tier of South African rugby.br /It was not all bad for the Lions and Jamie Roberts and Lee Byrne both turned in fine performances despite the rocky display from the team as a unit, and in the end the Lions' greater fitness saw them run in three late tries to avoid faces as red as their shirts.br /O'Gara kicked a seventh-minute penalty to give the Lions the lead but Naas Olivier soon levelled with a penalty of his own.br /The Lions' attempts to get their game going were hampered by centre Keith Earls' inability to hang on to the ball.br /The 21-year-old was clearly struggling with nerves and when he dropped a high kick in his own 22 it gave the hosts great field position.br /br /They attacked from a ruck, great hands from Hanno Coetzee put Koch through a gap and the Royal XV captain had the pace and power to just make it to the line.br /It soon went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Barnes burst through the middle of a maul to add a second try.br /The maul, so rare a sight under the experimental laws (ELVs) that had been in effect for the past year, was making a welcome reappearance as Saturday's game was played under the definitive new laws which prohibit players from dragging down the maul, contrary to the system in use under the trial laws.br /Royal XV fly-half Olivier converted the first try and slotted a penalty in between the two tries to give the hosts an unexpected 18-3 lead with less than half an hour on the clock.br /As the Lions tried to get back on terms they elected not to kick for goal when awarded penalties and after kicking into the corner once more they finally scored their first try of the tour.br /They failed to maul their way over from the line-out but fed the ball into midfield and Bowe popped up to take O'Gara's inside pass and motor over under the posts.br /Ireland fly-half O'Gara slotted the conversion and despite a difficult opening 40 minutes, the Lions went in only eight points adrift at the break.br /O'Gara trimmed the gap with a penalty two minutes after the restart and with Olivier then missing for the hosts, the Lions approached the last 20 minutes trailing by five points.br /By now the tourists had taken charge but despite coming close to scoring several times, with Shane Williams even dropping the ball as he tried to spin over the line, they could not quite breach the hosts' defence.br /And the Royal XV made them pay when they mounted a rare attack and Roux's converted score gave them what looked like being a decisive 25-13 lead.br /With time running out Byrne showed fine footballing skills to score a superb solo try and give the tourists some hope, and O'Gara's conversion and a subsequent penalty cut the gap to two points with seven minutes to play.br /By now the momentum had swung firmly in favour of the Lions and first Wyn Jones and then O'Gara went over for converted tries to ensure the Lions got the tour under way with the result, if not the performance, they wanted.br /Royal Highveld XV: Russell Jeacocks (Leopards); Egon Seconds (Griquas), Deon van Rensburg (Leopards), Hanno Coetzee (Griquas), Bjorn Basson (Griquas); Naas Olivier (Griquas), Sarel Pretorius (Griquas); Albertus Buckle (Griquas), Rayno Barnes (Griquas), Bees Roux (Griquas), Rudi Mathee (Leopards), Jacques Lombard (Griquas), Wilhelm Koch (Leopards, capt), Devon Raubenheimer (Griquas), Jonathan Makoena (Griquas).Replacements: Pellow van der Westhuizen (Leopards), Stef Roberts (Griquas), Rynard Landman (Leopards), RW Kember (Leopards), Jacques Coetzee (Pumas), Riaan Viljoen (Griquas), Jovan Bowles (Bulldogs).br /Lions: Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), David Wallace (Munster/Ireland).Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England).br /Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa).br /Assistant referees: Craig Joubert and Mark Lawrence (both South Africa).div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-1543112655194304269?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Henson should not tour - Ospreys
Gavin Henson made his Wales debut against Japan in 2003br /Ospreys coach Sean Holley has advised Wales against picking Gavin Henson for their summer tour to north America.br /The Wales centre was sidelined for eight weeks after damaging ankle ligaments in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat to Gloucester in March.br /Henson had a slim hope of being a late call-up for this summer's Lions tour to South Africa if he impressed for Wales.br /But Holley said: "The Wales tour might come a bit early as he would not have played for six or eight weeks."br /The 27-year-old admitted his season was over after his injury curse struck again in that 17-0 EDF Energy last four defeat at the Ricoh Arena.br /But double Grand Slam winner Henson is expected to recover from injury before Wales' two-Test summer tour to play Canada in Toronto on 30 May and United States in Chicago on 6 June.br /Lions coach Ian McGeechan, whose side begin their three-Test showdown with the world champions in Durban on 20 June, would have watched Henson's progress in north America with great interest.br /Henson pulls up with an ankle injurybr /And if the Ospreys star - who admits he would be a "liability" on a Lions tour - recovered well from his injury, a call-up to play the Springboks would have been a distinct possibility.br /But Henson's club coach Holley said a summer tour "might be a difficult ask" for the 31-times capped international.br /"It could be a risk," said Holley.br /Henson has suffered an injury-ravaged season and missed the autumn series because of an Achilles problem then missed the start of Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam defence with a calf injury.br /Holley has also ruled Henson out of playing any part in the Ospreys' remaining Magners League games.br /br /They face Newport Gwent Dragons at the Liberty Stadium on 30 April followed by a home clash with Glasgow and a trip to Heineken Cup champions Munster.br /Holley said: "Gavin's injury is obviously a difficult one because it's on his foot and his ankle, but he's making progress.br /"He's working hard with the medical team.br /"I'm not sure he's going to make it to one of the remaining games, which is disappointing, but I'm sure now we'll look forward to getting him right pre-season."div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-8862638266395793350?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Ospreys suffer Thomas injury blow
Jonathan Thomas will be sidelined for at least three monthsbr /Jonathan Thomas has been ruled out for the season after suffering a recurrence of his long-standing groin problem.br /The 26-year-old Wales back-row misses the Ospreys' Heineken Cup quarter-final and their Magners League run-in.br /"I saw a specialist and he said the only way to cure it is to have at least three months' rest, so that rules me out until next season really," he said.br /"Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed with that, but the time had come where I've had the problem so long."br /The groin problem has wrecked Thomas' season, ruling him out of Wales' autumn Test series and most of their Six Nations campaign.br /Thomas returned for the lacklustre 20-15 win in Italy and was an unused replacement on the final weekend when Ireland won in Cardiff to claim their first Grand Slam in 61 years.br /The injury has also robbed the line-out leader of any realistic hope of gaining selection for the end-of-season Lions tour to South Africa.br /"It's been a shocker of a season for myself in terms of injury," Thomas added.br /"So I'm quite realistic that I need to get the rest in if I want to come back next season."div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-3938691835937317644?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Henson backed for Wales call-up
Gavin Henson has not started for Wales in almost a yearbr /Ex-captain Gwyn Jones says he expects Gavin Henson, James Hook, Dwayne Peel and Mark Jones to come into Wales' side to face Italy in Rome on 14 March.br /But he told the BBC's Scrum V programme that changes will be less widespread than if Wales had beaten France.br /"[Wales coach Warren Gatland] said he was looking to make quite a few changes but he may have to revise that [after the 21-16 loss in Paris]," said Jones.br /The ex-flanker says Gatland has a major back-row headache over Jonathan Thomas.br /"Thomas [who is just back from injury] is a good player, how [Gatland] figures four into three [with Martyn Williams, Andy Powell and Ryan Jones in Wales' back row]... he can have that headache," Jones told Scrum V.br /"I think that [fly-half] Hook may play, Peel at nine, I think [wing] Mark Jones comes in and [centre] Henson will start.br /606: DEBATEbr /a class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A48075762" __eventidglow536334973="70"Use the passing skills of Henson and Peel to add some variety to our game, bring JT in to freshen up the back row and Rhys Thomas as another ball carrier/abr /JB 1973"He [Gatland] wants to see Henson, but perhaps not with Jamie Roberts - I think that Tom Shanklin was our best player on Friday."br /A calf injury kept Henson out of the wins over Scotland and England, but he came off the bench in Paris, his first appearance for Wales in nearly a year.br /Wales have never lost against a northern hemisphere side when Henson has started, and he partnered Shanklin to the Grand Slam in 2005 and 2008.br /But Jamie Roberts has made a huge impression over the past year, and Gatland has twice tried to pair the Cardiff Blues centre with Henson, only to be denied by injuries to the latter.br /"Henson needs game time and I think he must play for the Ospreys [against Leinster] this week," former Wales captain and fly-half Jonathan Davies told Scrum V.br /Scrum V analysis: Where did it go wrong for Wales?br /"Whether [Gatland] brings Hook and Henson in [against Italy] I'm not sure, but he can't make a lot of changes with a small squad. I'd start with Jamie Roberts again."br /Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop and Blues flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor are the only players that the Welsh management have confirmed have been released to the Welsh regions for this weekend's Magners League action.br /Peel will go back to Sale and Gareth Cooper - who has been suffering with a knee injury - remains with Gloucester, while there are no new worries over injuries or citations.br /Scrum-half Martin Roberts, who has been with the squad on an unofficial basis, has returned to the Scarlets.br /Former Wales captain and fly-half Phil Bennett cited a lack of game time for some of Wales' squad as a major concern.br /Williams worries over selectionbr /"How much rugby has Hook had over the past few weeks?" Bennett said on Scrum V.br /"He only had a few minutes in Murrayfield, he didn't get on against England and he came on in the second half against France.br /"A lot of players have not had the game time and that's proving costly for Wales.br /"I'll be interested to see the make-up of the side, I can't see him [Gatland] making more than three or four changes."br /*Wales are set to name their team to face Italy on Tuesday, 10 March at approximately 1300 GMTbr /Wales squad:br /Forwards (16): Gethin Jenkins, John Yapp, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Ryan Jones (capt), Jonathan Thomas, Dafydd Jones, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Robin Sowden-Taylor.br /Backs (13): Mike Phillips, Gareth Cooper, Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Gavin Henson, Andrew Bishop, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Mark Jones, Lee Byrne.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-4226262067314806677?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Spencer looks set to leave Saints
Spencer remained at the club despite relegation in 2007br /Former All Black fly-half Carlos Spencer is leaving Northampton Saints, BBC Radio Northampton understands.br /The 33-year-old is believed to be frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities at Franklin's Gardens.br /Spencer has lost the Saints number 10 shirt to rugby league convert Stephen Myler this season and has only started eight games out of a possible 21.br /He has a year left on his contract but an agreement appears to have been made for him to leave.br /The New Zealander joined the club in 2005 but was recently reduced to playing for the Saints second team in a friendly against Henley Hawks on 19 January.br /He was then left out of the Saints European Challenge Cup tie against Toulon five days later.br /The fly-half, who played 35 times for his country scoring 291 points, is probably the Saints's biggest ever signing and remained at the club despite relegation to National One in 2007.br /It is thought Spencer will join another Guinness Premiership club despite offers to play his rugby in France.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-1607861893063396508?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Phillips targets return for Wales
Mike Phillips is aiming to regain his place in the Wales team after recovering from a knee injury.br /The Ospreys scrum-half, 26, came on for the last 30 minutes of the region's 30-24 loss to the Dragons on Friday.br /He has been out since damaging cruciate knee ligaments in the EDF Energy Cup win over Saracens in March.br /"It's a goal of mine to get back into the [Wales] squad and do what I did last year and hopefully repeat the performance I put in," said Phillips.br /The former Scarlet played a key role in the Grand Slam campaign and was short-listed as one of the six best players in the Six Nations.br /br /But his joy was short-lived and he admits he has had a tough time on the sidelines, missing Wales' summer tour to South Africa and the recent autumn series.br /"One week I was beating France and winning the Grand Slam and the following week was the injury," said Phillips, who has won 33 caps.br /"Going from such a high to a low was very hard to take on board and it's been a very slow process.br /"It's been a tough road but I'm at the end now and I'm really looking forward to being back playing."br /Phillips came through his run-out against the Dragons largely unscathed, despite taking a minor knock.br /"Personally for me, I'm delighted to be back on the field," he told BBC Sport Wales.br /"It's all about having time on the field and it's going to be a bit of a process and I'm not putting too much pressure on myself.br /"I took a bit of contact [on Friday], but the knee felt fine afterwards and I was initially pleased to come through it."div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-3522428266505678848?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Dallaglio urges England patience
Scrum-half Danny Care, 21, is part of an inexperienced England teambr /Lawrence Dallaglio says the current England team must be given time to develop into champions - just like the 2003 World Cup-winning side were.br /Dallaglio led England to a then-record home defeat by South Africa in 1997, but eight members of that team went on to triumph in Sydney six years later.br /"People have very short memories," Dallaglio told BBC Sport.br /"England will get better and they will win, but people need to recognise that it won't happen overnight."br /England have been lambasted following their 42-6 demolition by South Africa last Saturday.br /But former England captain Dallaglio sees parallels with 1997, when a young side under the charge of new coach Clive Woodward were beaten 29-11 by the Springboks at Twickenham.br /"Some of the team that lost in 1997 went on and won the World Cup in 2003," he said.br /"In fact it took me two or three attempts before I eventually beat South Africa and the same with Australia.br /"It might take six months, it might take 12 months, it might take longer for this side to succeed.br /ENGLAND V S AFRICA, 29/11/97 (2003 World Cup winners in caps)br /br /Matt Perry (aged 20)br /John Bentley (31)br /Nick Greenstock (24)br /WILL GREENWOOD (25)br /David Rees (23)br /MIKE CATT (26)br /MATT DAWSON (25)br /JASON LEONARD (29)br /Richard Cockerill (26)br /Darren Garforth (31)br /Garath Archer (22)br /DANNY GREWCOCK (25)br /RICHARD HILL (24)br /NEIL BACK (27)br /LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO (25)br /"But we have to be patient and stick with the players we've got. There will be some casualties along the way and there will be one or two players who emerge and prove a great success.br /"But we have to stick with these players and we'll get there in the end. There's absolutely no doubt about that."br /Dallaglio, 36, said he thought South Africa were "the best post World Cup-winning side I've seen for a long time" and "certainly better than England after 2003".br /And he backed England manager Martin Johnson, who succeeded him as skipper of the national side in 1999, to get things right.br /"I think people expect Martin Johnson to change things overnight," the former England number eight said.br /"I have no doubt that England will change and improve - it just won't happen straight away.br /"England will get better and they will win, but very few things in life are instantly successful.br /"Long-term success doesn't generally happen in the space of two or three matches, particularly when you're playing three of the best teams in the world.br /"The schedule we've had this autumn has been pretty brutal, but in the next six months, England will know a lot more as a team.br /"For most of these guys, it's the first time they would have played against southern hemisphere teams.br /"There were changes for the first game against the Pacific Islanders - there was a new number nine, 10, 11, 12 and 15 and a new coach.br /606: DEBATEbr /a class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A44146343?s_fromedit=1amp;s_type=15amp;s_sport=rugby_union"Is Dallaglio right? Are there parallels between England in 1997 and now?/abr /"When you make that many changes against the three best teams in the world it's always going to be very difficult. People have to be realistic."br /Dallaglio, who is now an associate director at Wasps after retiring from playing at the end of last season, says it "was not a huge surprise" that former team-mate Danny Cipriani has been dropped from the side to face New Zealand.br /But he was not expecting another member of the Wasps side, open-side flanker Tom Rees, to be jettisoned.br /"If I left Twickenham with anything on Saturday, it was that Tom Rees was one of the few positives for England," he admitted.br /br /Tom Rees was one of the few positives for England last Saturdaybr /Lawrence Dallagliobr /"But the coaches maybe want to have a look at Michael Lipman and I suppose if you want to have a look at these players, now is the time to do it.br /"Unless several players go out and play outstandingly well on Saturday, all the places in next season's Six Nations are up for grabs."br /And Dallaglio backed England skipper Steve Borthwick, who has come in for personal criticism following England's heavy defeats by Australia and South Africa in the last couple of weeks.br /"Steve Borthwick is a very intense rugby player who is very passionate about what he does," he said.br /"Had Martin Johnson gone for somebody a bit younger and results had gone the same way, what would that have done for that player's confidence?br /"Borthwick has been around long enough to be able to take whatever happens to him on the chin and move on. He's an experienced player and I think he's a super rugby player.br /"Everybody should get behind the captain and not undermine him or question whether he was the right appointment."div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-968724717177857008?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Borthwick to stay England captain
Borthwick has been in fine form since his move to Saracensbr /England manager Martin Johnson has named Saracens lock Steve Borthwick as captain for the autumn internationals.br /The 29-year-old retains the role he was given for the ill-fated summer tour of New Zealand, when previous skipper Phil Vickery was unavailable after injury.br /With the Wasps prop not certain to start given the form of Matt Stevens, Borthwick was the logical choice.br /He first led England in this year's Six Nations match in Italy, but his latest appointment is not for a fixed period.br /"Firstly, Irsquo;d like to thank Phil Vickery for everything he did for the team while he was captain," Johnson said of his World Cup-winning team-mate.br /"Like Phil, Steve is a good leader and always prepares thoroughly for all his matches at club and international level and Irsquo;m looking forward to working with him.br /"I wonrsquo;t be giving Steve a specific amount of time in the job. I just want to support him as much as possible and I know he will enjoy all the responsibility and work that comes with being captain of England."br /My three games as England captain have been away from home so to lead the team out at Twickenham will be a special momentbr /Steve BorthwickBorthwick's last act after 10 years at Bath was to lead them to victory in the European Challenge Cup final last season before joining Saracens in the summer.br /His credentials for the England job have been frequently endorsed by Sarries director of rugby Eddie Jones, most recently after their EDF Energy Cup win over Northampton on Sunday.br /"He has done a marvellous job for us, just with his competitiveness," Jones said. "He is so serious about his rugby."br /Borthwick, who has won 39 caps since his debut in 2001, will lead out England for their opening autumn Test against the Pacific Islands a week on Saturday, 8 November.br /They then face southern hemisphere heavyweights Australia, South Africa and New Zealand on successive weekends.br /"My three games as England captain have been away from home so to lead the team out at Twickenham will be a special moment," he said.br /"But my overriding aim is to help England get off to a winning start.br /br /offamercia"I really enjoyed the week we had together in August and it showed what a good squad we have and that will hold us in good stead as we prepare for four very challenging games starting with the very tough Pacific Islanders.br /"The squad and the coaching team is excellent and I'm really looking forward to our preparation and the games over the next four weeks."br /One of Borthwick's former team-mates, Bath hooker Lee Mears, is one of several fitness concerns in the England squad who gathered at their Bagshot base on Sunday to begin preparations.br /Mears sustained a rib injury in Bath's win at Sale on Friday, while Newcastle centre Jamie Noon was carried off in a neck brace in their defeat by Wasps.br /If he's doing it in a club game, then you would worry about him in a Test matchbr /Sarries boss Eddie Jones on Dylan HartleyThere could be a further worry for Johnson as he waits to hear whether Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, likely to contest the starting role with Mears, is cited for a high tackle on Saracens scrum-half Moses Rauluni on Sunday.br /Sarries boss Jones was furious that Hartley, who has banned for six months for eye-gouging last season, escaped with only a lecture.br /"He took the head of the player away from the ball, and it is a serious misdemeanour," Jones observed.br /"He has tended to have a reputation off the ball. We are certainly not happy with it.br /"He seems like a good kid - he can play a bit - but you don't want to see players doing those sort of things. If he's doing it in a club game, then you would worry about him in a Test match."br /Jones's Northampton counterpart Jim Mallinder said he "didn't think it looked that bad, actually".br /"He is aggressive, but he's controlling himself and I think the referee probably made the right decision,' Mallinder added. "It wasn't the best challenge and he got penalised for it."div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-8111479770523465339?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div All Black Hamilton to join Tigers
Utility back Hamilton has won two New Zealand capsbr /New Zealand international Scott Hamilton join Leicester on a two-year deal in November.br /The 28-year-old, who can play on the wing or at full-back, will be reunited with his former Canterbury and Crusaders team-mate Aaron Mauger.br /"It's great to have Aaron over there," said Hamilton, who has won two caps.br /"He's captain there now and has a big say in the club, which has enjoyed some success, so I'm looking forward to contributing to their cause."br /Hamilton played two Tests for the All Blacks in 2006 against Argentina and South Africa.br /PcPete999He has also won three Super rugby titles, the Ranfurly Shield twice and the National Provincial Championship.br /Canterbury assistant coach John Haggart said Hamilton would be sorely missed.br /"Scott has been such a reliable and consistent performer for Canterbury and the Crusaders over the years that it's inevitable he will leave a huge hole," said Haggart.br /Leicester had also been linked with mercurial Fijian winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-6987497973387496528?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Chuter looking to play more games
George Chuter still nurtures hopes of adding to his 21 England capsbr /Leicester Tigers hooker George Chuter wants to play more games this season but knows it will be tough to get in.br /"With a new head coach, your immediate target has got to be to impress him," Chuter told BBC Radio Leicester.br /"But I'm in the same position I was in last season with three hookers vying for two places".br /The 32-year-old also wants to push for a place in the England side after leading the Saxons to victory in the Churchill Cup this summer.br /Chuter said: "I've got go try and get as much rugby as I can and, hopefully, if I play well enough when I get the chance the international thing will take care of itself.br /"I'm not looking any further ahead than the first league game at Gloucester.br /"I want to be part of the new beginning al Leicester".br /The Tigers' pre-season continues when they take on the Ospreys this Saturday at Swansea's Liberty Stadium (1500 BST).div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-2176821345829170121?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Rugby union 'stuck in a ghetto'
The report said failing to award the 2011 event to Japan was a mistakebr /The 2015 Rugby World Cup must be awarded to a developing nation so the sport can break away from its "ghetto", according to a report.br /England and Wales may make a joint bid for the event, along with South Africa.br /"Rugby union is stuck in a ghetto," said consultant Quentin Smith, who is also chairman of Sale Sharks.br /"The first question for any decision made by the International Rugby Board (IRB) must be 'How does this push forward globalisation?'"br /Japan are also understood to be vying for the 2015 competition, having been pipped by New Zealand for the right to host the 2011 tournament.br /"Quite clearly that was a mistake - deciding to go to Japan would have opened up substantial new markets," added the report's co-author William Field, a partner at Spectrum Value Partners, a consultancy group whose work encompasses the sports industry.br /The report stated that the sport's world governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), was "unrepresentative and undemocratic" with too much power awarded to the eight foundation unions.br /"Over half of the world's 4m registered players are English and 97% of people watching last year's World Cup final came from foundation unions," said Field.br /"There is a deep, systemic problem within rugby, The perspective needs to shift to be more international. Globalisation needs to become the number one agenda item within rugbybr /"The first question in any decision made by the IRB must be 'How does this push forward globalisation?'br /"A cultural shift needs to take place. The World Cup is one of the biggest decisions the IRB has to make. It is important rugby makes the right decision next time."br /Earlier in July, Australian rugby chief John O'Neill said that smaller countries were being priced out of the opportunity to host the Rugby World Cup.br /The IRB wants pound;100m and pound;120m respectively from the hosts of the 2015 and 2019 events.br /"There are very few countries that could put their hands up for that sort of commitment," said O'Neill.br /"I'm not sure these can be sustained over the long haul without reducing the candidates down to France and England."br /The IRB will announce the host nations for the 2015 and 2019 World Cups next July.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-1832674498507469723?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Maroons target Origin series win
Greg Inglis destroyed the Blues in game twobr /Queensland will have to overcome a poor record at Sydney's Olympic Stadium to win a third consecutive State of Origin against New South Wales on Wednesday.br /The Maroons, who lost to the Blues in the series opener in Sydney, got back into contention with a 30-0 home win in game two.br /They have just one win and a draw from their past 13 games in Sydney.br /Queensland are unchanged, while NSW have called up Sydney Roosters pair Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce.br /Canberra's Joel Monaghan, the brother of Warrington half-back Michael, also comes in, while winger Steve Turner and prop Steve Simpson have been replaced by Jarryd Hayne and Ben Cross, who played in game one but were dropped for game two.br /The Blues are missing Peter Wallace, Greg Bird and Mark Gasnier through injury and are underdogs after being held scoreless by Queensland in Brisbane earlier this month for only the second time in 83 Origin encounters since 1980.br /It will be a special match for hooker Danny Buderus, who will lead NSW for a record 15th and final time before he moves to Super League side Leeds next season.br /But Queensland, who had Melbourne centre Greg Inglis in devastating form in the second game, believe they can claim victory in Sydney.br /"There is quite a bit of talk about the ground and the fact we don't have a great record there," said scrum-half Scott Prince.br /"But if you look at it, plenty of players in this team have won a lot of big games there, so it's not that big a deal.br /"We have a lot of guys from Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos who have won the last two Grand Finals there, so it isn't like it is a ground we hate coming to."div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-417445533508747707?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Peel adds to Wales injury worries
Dwayne Peel is the latest Wales injury scare ahead of the Grand Slam winners' bid to beat South Africa in June.br /The Scarlets' scrum-half has a shoulder injury that rules him out of Warren Gatland's 24-man training squad.br /With Gareth Cooper part of Gloucester's Guinness Premiership play-off push and Mike Phillips out, London Irish's Warren Fury, 22, comes in.br /Scarlets full-back Morgan Stoddart and Dragons scrum-half Andy Williams are also fresh faces since the Six Nations.br /Gatland said: "Andy Williams and Morgan Stoddart both have a chance to show the coaches what they have to offer and to book themselves a seat on the plane to South Africa.br /br /"Andy and Warren in particular are in with a good shout with two injuries in their position, to Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel, being a worry for us."br /Gatland remains hopeful Peel and ankle-injury victim Gavin Henson will be fit to take on the World Champions.br /Henson's regional team-mates Lee Byrne and Sonny Parker will also undergo fitness tests on knee injuries to determine whether or not they should be at the training camp.br /Wales will train in Wexford, Ireland for a week from next Monday. If Newport-Gwent Dragons are involved in a Heineken Cup qualification play-off, Williams and Rhys Thomas are likely to be released to their region.br /We have been given the opportunity to go on a pre-tour training camp thanks largely to the support of the four regions in Walesbr /Warren Gatlandbr /Gareth Delve joins Cooper as an absentee due to Gloucester commitments.br /Gatland said: "We have been given the opportunity to go on a pre-tour training camp thanks largely to the support of the coaches and management at each of the four regions in Wales.br /"This is not something that we will be able to do every year, because I would like to see our regions in contention for end of season honours.br /"But, with no European competition left at the end of a tough season and with Leinster runaway leaders of the Magners League, we have been able to negotiate a position which will hopefully be of benefit to everyone.br /"The regions have allowed us to take the players away for an intensive period of training in advance of our tour to South Africa and I would like to personally express my gratitude for their co-operation."br /Gatland will take his side to a training base in Wexford that specialises in Cryotherapy, which aids the body's recovery from exercise and allows more training.br /"This is our core group now, but there may also be one or two other names we add to the tour party injuries permitting and with a couple of players down in England not considered at the moment," added Gatland.br /Wales will announce their tour squad on May 14.br /Wales training squad:br /Backs: Morgan Stoddart, Lee Byrne, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Tom James, Sonny Parker, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Andy Williams, Warren Fury.Forwards: Duncan Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Alix Popham, Ryan Jones.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-7236017777608384426?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div Mortlock injury worry for Aussies
Mortlock has won 60 caps for his countryAustralian skipper Stirling Mortlock has been forced to sit out training to give the Wallabies a major injury scare ahead of the World Cup.br /The 30-year-old centre suffered what he described a recurrence of a disc problem but is confident of returning to training soon.br /"It is definitely a concern because he is such an influential player," said Australian coach John Connolly.br /"But the doctor thinks it will settle down as quickly as it came."br /The Wallabies open up their World Cup campaign against Japan in Lyon on 8 September.br /Meanwhile, Australia's management team say that Adam Ashley-Cooper (groin) and Guy Shepherdson (knee) are on track with their recoveries.br /Fly-half Berrick Barnes has been given the all-clear to resume training after recovering from a niggling groin injury that has sidelined him for the past three weeks.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/20441053-339684679670165413?l=www.better-poker.co.uk%2Fbetterbet-blog%2Frugby%2Fblog.htm'//div
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