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The 42
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Risk or rest? Northampton and Bordeaux's approach contrasts Leinster's
ONE INTERESTING ASPECT of the build-up to today's Champions Cup decider in Cardiff [KO 2.45pm, RTÉ/Premier Sports] was that both finalists went nearly full-strength last weekend. They resisted the temptation to rest key men a week out from the final, negating the risk of injury. Of course, the risk on the flipside is that players might not be as sharp and battle-hardened if they rest up. As they continue to fight on two fronts, Bordeaux had an important 34-29 win over Castres in the Top 14 last weekend, and most of their available big guns were involved. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, and Maxime Lucu were in the starting XV, while Guido Petti, Yoram Moefana, and Pete Samu were among the replacements used. Bordeaux did the same before their Champions Cup semi-final win against Toulouse, going strong with their selection in a Top 14 clash with La Rochelle the previous weekend. Northampton took on Saracens in the Premiership last weekend and despite being well down the table and much out of the running for the play-offs, the Saints started all of their star men. Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman, Henry Pollock, Alex Coles, Josh Kemeny and captain Fraser Dingwall were all in the starting XV as Northampton beat Saracens 28-24, coming back from 7-24 down. There were injury concerns arising from the game, with hooker Curtis Langdon and fullback James Ramm both replaced in the first half before locks Temo Mayanavanua and Alex Coles suffered knocks in the second, but Saints were happy to keep match sharpness. 'I think there's the risk of those knocks, but there's the risk of not playing and not being up to speed, so I feel like we've benefited from that,' said skipper Dingwall on BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast on Wednesday. Northampton captain Fraser Dingwall. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO And happily for Saints, they named all of Langdon, Ramm, Mayanavanua, and Coles in their starting XV for today's final. It remains to be seen exactly how fit they all are, but it was good news yesterday. Advertisement The English side also went strong with selection the weekend before their big Champions Cup semi-final win away to Leinster, starting all their front-line players in a 48-31 Premiership victory over Bristol. It was a win that Northampton felt gave them momentum and sharpness for the Leinster clash. Of course, Northampton's build-up to the semi-final was in contrast to Leinster's. Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber opted not to start any of their front-liners in Leinster's two URC games against Ulster and the Scarlets before the semi-final. The same was true before Leinster's huge Round of 16 and quarter-final wins against Harlequins and Glasgow. None of the front-liners went on the URC tour of South Africa that preceded those Champions Cup knock-out games, but they looked sharp in those wins over Quins and Glasgow. This is nothing new for Leinster. They generally don't play their front-line players in the URC the weekend before their biggest Champions Cup games. Yet as they review the defeat to Northampton, Leinster will surely wonder whether they should have kept more rhythm in their first-choice players by giving them a start in either the Ulster or Scarlets game. Northampton head coach Sam Vesty certainly felt the Irish side weren't as precise as usual in the semi-final. 'Leinster? They didn't play for two weeks prior to playing us and there's lots of balls on the floor, the hands aren't quite as sharp as you want them to be,' Vesty told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly. 'You know, hindsight is brilliant, you can say whatever you want in hindsight.' Jacques Nienaber and Leo Cullen. Tom Honan / INPHO Tom Honan / INPHO / INPHO Vesty expanded on why Northampton didn't hold back with their selection a week before the Champions Cup semi-final or final. 'To go and play rugby and play sharp, fast, skillful, move-the-ball rugby, which is what we're trying to do, you have to do it,' said Sam Vesty. 'It comes with the risks, but we'll back our squad to go with whoever the 15 are that take the field and the eight on the bench that we've had a good training week, and we've got lots of good rugby under our belt.' The depth of Leinster's squad and the number of international players they have are the envy of many other clubs, but those things haven't resulted in a trophy since 2021. Of course, Leinster will look to put that right in the URC next month. Cullen is a coach who does his best to consider the long-term workload of his frontline Leinster players, most of whom play lots of minutes at the highest level of the game for Ireland. When he opted to rest front-liners in those weeks before the Northampton game, Cullen may have been considering the fact that many of them will go on an arduous Lions tour when their club season ends. That's on top of busy autumn and Six Nations campaigns for Ireland. Leinster's leading players often flag how well managed they are as a big positive. Perhaps Leinster will continue with their policy of giving key men chances to rest ahead of huge games. But they must at least consider whether their approach is getting the best results possible. For now, Leinster must watch on as Northampton and Bordeaux do battle today. NORTHAMPTON: George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall (captain), Rory Hutchinson, James Ramm; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Emmanuel Iyogun, Curtis Langdon, Trevor Davison; Temo Mayanavanua, Tom Lockett; Alex Coles, Josh Kemeny, Henry Pollock. Replacements: Craig Wright, Tarek Haffar, Elliot Millar-Mills, Ed Prowse, Angus Scott-Young, Tom James, Tom Litchfield, Ollie Sleightholme. BORDEAUX: Romain Buros; Damian Penaud, Nicolas Depoortere, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu (captain); Jefferson Poirot, Maxime Lamothe, Sipili Falatea; Adam Coleman, Cyril Cazeaux; Mahamadou Diaby, Guido Petti, Pete Samu. Replacements: Connor Sa, Ugo Boniface, Ben Tameifuna, Pierre Bochaton, Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, Marko Gazzotti, Arthur Retiere, Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Referee: Nika Amashukeli [Georgia].
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harlequins sign Ireland forward Wafer from Leinster
Harlequins have signed Ireland forward Aoife Wafer for the 2025-26 Premiership Women's Rugby season. Wafer, who was recently named the 2025 Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship, will join the club from Leinster after this year's World Cup, which will be held in England between 22 August and 27 September. "I think there comes a stage where you have to test yourself week in and week out against the best in the world," the 22-year-old told BBC Sport. "I can't wait to get involved into because they're just brave, physical and entertaining." Wafer, considered one of the best back-rowers in the world, will be joining an already stacked Harlequins roster which includes Scotland number eight Jade Konkel and Wales flanker Alex Callendar. But Wafer says the calibre of her new team-mates was one of most attractive aspects of the move. "This team is absolutely star-studded, especially in the back row," she added. "I just can't wait to get in and learn from them and kind of try tease a few things out of their brain and make my game better as well. Hopefully I'll be able to help them too." Ireland's Wafer wins player of Women's Six Nations Wafer and Hogan among world's best - King Conversations with the Harlequins head coach Ross Chisolm have centred around her playing six and eight. "You look at the modern-day rugby player and people can play across a number of positions," said Chisolm. "Aoife is a high-quality player; she could probably play predominantly more six and eight but it could give us a nice balance to go 'I think today we need this and tomorrow we need that' it's going to be competitive. "She is in my opinion right up there on the world stage of quality of player, the exciting thing is I still think there is room for growth. "Aoife is 22 years-old, it's crazy to think that she's able to output that ability at that age." Wafer announced her new club in a protective brace as a precaution following a minor leg injury at the end of the Six Nations. Her fitness has become increasingly significant for Ireland following injuries to back rowers Dorothy Wall and Erin King, who will both miss the World Cup. Wafer joked "it feels like the back row jerseys is cursed". "We'll really miss the girls," she said. "The physicality and the energy they bring on the field is something you just you can't get, they're key players for us. But I think it gives an opportunity to other people to really stand up and try kind of fight for a spot. "We've plenty of other players who haven't quite got the chance to get to step up into that back row, so I think it'd be interesting come to the World Cup. But yeah, we'll definitely miss the girls." Ireland face Japan in their World Cup Pool C opener on 24 August before games against Spain on 31 August and holders New Zealand on 7 September. Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
British and Irish Lions fixtures for tour of Australia
The British and Irish Lions will play three Tests during their tour of Australia this summer. The Lions will play a warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin on 20 June before leaving for Australia. Head coach Andy Farrell's side will then face five tour matches before the three-match Test series against the Wallabies begins in Brisbane on 19 July. Friday, 20 June - Lions v Argentina, Dublin (Aviva Stadium) Saturday, 28 June - Lions v Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium) Wednesday, 2 July - Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium) Saturday, 5 July - Lions v NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium) Wednesday, 9 July - Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium) Saturday, 12 July - Lions v Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) Saturday, 19 July - Lions v Australia, first Test, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium) Tuesday, 22 July - Lions v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) Saturday, 26 July - Lions v Australia, second Test, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG) Saturday, 2 August - Lions v Australia, third Test, Sydney (Accor Stadium) All matches kick off at 11:00 BST apart from the game in Dublin which starts at 20:00 BST Lions talking points - Irish record, Doris injury & Prendergast out Why the Lions are a team that transcends sport As well as all the latest news and views, the BBC Sport website and app will bring you live text coverage, match reports and features from the tour. Rugby union correspondent Chris Jones will lead the BBC team in Australia, providing news updates, interviews and analysis on BBC Radio 5 Live and the Rugby Union Weekly podcast. There will also be further coverage from the teams in BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland. You can follow the latest news by signing up to our British and Irish Lions news feed on the BBC Sport website and app. Northampton flanker Henry Pollock's meteoric rise this season earned him a place in the 38-man squad announced live at London's O2 in May. Pollock, 20, only made his England debut in March, scoring two tries against Wales in Cardiff, and has continued to make his mark with a series of blockbusting displays. England and Saracens captain Maro Itoje, a Test regular in the 2017 and 2021 series, will lead the squad for the first time. Ireland are best represented with 15 players, England supply 13 and Scotland eight. Scrum-half Tomos Williams and flanker Jac Morgan are the only two Wales players included. Leinster have 12 players in the squad, the most of any club side. Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith are the three fly-halves. Scotland's Toulouse full-back Blair Kinghorn is the only player based in France to feature among the 38. 'Best day of my life' - Pollock on Lions call The 38 players heading to Australia with the Lions 12 from Leinster, two from Wales - the Lions squad in numbers Farrell's coaching team draws most heavily on the Ireland set-up he has left on secondment to lead the Lions. Simon Easterby, who served as Ireland's interim head coach for this year's Six Nations, is joined by attack specialist Andrew Goodman and scrum coach John Fogarty, while Lions great Johnny Sexton, who started all three Tests of the 2013 series win over Australia, is an assistant coach. Scotland forwards coach John Dalziel and England senior coach Richard Wigglesworth are also included. It is the first time since 2001, when New Zealander Graham Henry took a break from his job with Wales to lead the Lions in Australia, that there is no Welshman among the Lions coaches. Wigglesworth and Dalziel confirmed in Lions coaching team The Lions' first tour was to Australia in 1888 but the touring party pre-dated the Wallabies so they played club and regional sides. They returned the following year before visiting again in 1904, 1908, 1930, 1950, 1959 and 1966, when they also toured New Zealand. It was not until 1989 when they next travelled to only Australia, beating the Wallabies 2-1. On their next tour in 2001, England speedster Jason Robinson scored a stunning early try in the third minute as the Lions won the first Test 29-13 at the Gabba. They led at half-time in the second, only for Australia to recover and force a decider. The hosts would claim a famous 29-23 win to take the series 2-1 and lift the Tom Richards Trophy in Sydney. The Lions would avenge that defeat on their most recent visit, winning 2-1 in 2013. Welshman George North scored one of the greatest tries in Lions history to hand the visitors a narrow 23-21 victory in the opening Test before Australia won by a point to level the series in the second. North came to the fore again in the decider with an iconic hit on Israel Folau before lifting and carrying the Australia winger several metres back. The Lions cruised to a 41-16 win in Sydney and reclaimed the Tom Richards Trophy. Blair Swannell: The man who played for the Lions and Australia
The 42
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Leinster will be toughest test yet for Northampton's 'cocky' rising star Henry Pollock
THIS TIME LAST year Henry Pollock was on the fringes looking in. Northampton Saints came to Croke Park for a Champions Cup semi-final date with Leinster, but Pollock didn't need to pack his boots. The up-and-coming Northampton flanker would be taking the game in from the stands, meaning he could cut loose across a weekend he later described as 'a piss-up'. Twelves months on, he's coming back to the Dublin looking to leave his mark on the pitch as a blistering breakthrough season reaches it's toughest test yet. It's a challenge he won't shy away from. His former Saints teammate Courtney Lawes has, somewhat affectionately, described Pollock as 'a cocky little bastard.' The player himself seems to have revelled in the opportunity to ruffle a few feathers when brought into the senior England camp earlier this year. Young players are meant to tow the line and earn respect in these situations. Pollock went in determined to make his presence felt, ignoring the accepted rules of non-contact drills and going all-in while running as an 'opposition' player in training matches. That approach doesn't make you a popular figure in the dressing room. Pollock didn't care. 'I was annoying them in a good way,' Pollock told The Times. 'I relished them getting angry with me, or them losing their heads. This little kid was trying to take their position.' Pollock has been a confrontational presence in the Northampton team. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Pollock, who came through the Northampton Academy, had earned his place in that camp through a series of eye-catching performances in the Saints shirt. Having played just once in the Premiership last season, alongside a host of appearances in the Premiership Cup, the Championship (on loan at Bedford) and for the England U20s, this year he has been a key cog in the Saints machine, featuring 19 times – including five starts in the Champions Cup. Watch Northampton and it's hard to take your eyes of Pollock. He's fast, powerful and brash to a point that rubs some up the wrong way. He might well be the most exciting rising prospect in English rugby, but one recent headline called for 'Lairy Henry Pollock' to 'tone down his showboating antics'. Advertisement The moment in question came during Northampton's Champions Cup quarter-final defeat of Castres. After running through to score his second try, Pollock took his time before touching the ball down, inviting one more chasing Castres defender to make a desperate dive as he chalked in the score before flicking the ball toward the crowd. 20 years old and expressing himself on the big stage. Never change, Henry 🥶 — Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) April 13, 2025 That tendency to irritate is part of the Pollock package. Asked to describe himself on the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast this week, he answered 'I'd say quite loud. Bring a different energy to other players, whether that's good or bad energy depends on the person you're talking to.' So far, he's backed up the talk by walking the walk. The 6'2″, 105kg Northampton player comes from an athletic family. Pollock's mother ran ultra-marathons, his sister earned an athletics scholarship to the US running 400m hurdles while his father and brother are both scratch golfers. Pollock puts his own baseline fitness down to days running triathlons as a child. The frame is starting to catch up with the engine – last year Pollock was put through a strict weight-gaining programme to help condition him for the step up to senior rugby. His explosive power has been evident across a superb season which has been pock-marked with highlight reel moments, the standout being his stunning solo score against Sale Sharks in March. A step and two fends carries him past the first three defenders, his perfectly-executed chip and chase beats another and his speed pulls him clear of the final chasing trio. That was one of 11 tries for the flanker this season, including a brace for England on his Test debut against Wales. Pollock was disappointed earlier in the championship to be released to play for the England U20s against Ireland and France, feeling he was ready for a bigger stage. Cardiff was a nice welcome to senior international rugby but not a true test of what's needed to mix it with the big boys, with Wales already beaten when he was introduced for the final half hour. Leinster will provide the biggest challenge of his young career so far, the added spice coming in the fact the game arrives just days before Andy Farrell names his British and Lions squad in London next Thursday. Farrell will have the bulk of that selection pencilled in already but this weekend is the final chance to push yourself onto the plane. Pollock scored two tries on his England debut. Andrew Fosker / INPHO Andrew Fosker / INPHO / INPHO If Pollock can excel against the likes of Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier, then Farrell might just feel the one-Test rookie is ready for a summer series in Australia. Leinster will be wary of the spark Pollock carries, but more telling will be how he manages the uglier side of the contest. This was a three-point game when the teams met at the same point last season, Northampton summoning a late surge to make for a nervy finish, but a year down the road Leinster look a more complete team while Northampton – Premiership champions last year – have moved in the opposite direction. Phil Dowson's men have won just seven of their 15 league games but have looked closer to their old selves in recent weeks as a more recognisable matchday 23 has fallen into place. Northampton can still be a sharp attacking force – scorching Bristol for seven tries last weekend – and will need to be clinical and accurate against a Leinster side yet to conceded a single point in this year's knock-out stages. Pollock feels at his best when he's confrontational and he needs to bring an edge in his contact work and use his jackal threat tomorrow, with Northampton acknowledging they need to front up physically if they are to dent this Leinster machine. This is the stage on which Pollock feels he belongs. This is the time to show the world why.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'World class' Sing ready for Grand Slam decider
Red Roses full-back Emma Sing was not expecting a phone call from head coach John Mitchell while in a crochet class - a favourite activity in England's was Monday evening and day one of a week's preparation that ends with a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday was 24-year-old back has not played since the opening-round win over Italy, but was at peace being below world player of the year Ellie Kildunne in the pecking when she checked her phone to see a missed call from Mitchell, her mind quickly moved from crochet hooks to back three got in touch with Mitchell to find out Kildunne had a minor hamstring injury, so she would be starting the Grand Slam the team announcement, Mitchell described Sing as "world class" and said Saturday's match was an ideal chance to give Kildunne's deputy a proper workout before the Rugby World asked if France will target Sing in the air on BBC's Rugby Union Weekly, Mitchell was quick to respond: "Good luck if they do."Emma is a very hard tackle and outstanding in the air and doesn't need to be an Ellie Kildunne, she is Emma Sing who runs hard and straight and is elusive."She'll cut you open as well."Sing was first capped in 2022 and is known for being a reliable goal-kicker, amassing 288 points for Gloucester-Hartpury over the past two Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) her standout moments against Italy came with ball in hand, with three line-breaks and a try in the corner on her seventh cap showing a well-rounded game suited for international rugby."Emma has been the best full-back in the PWR and it gives us another chance to adapt and deal with the situation," he added. 'I know exactly what Aitchison can do' The Red Roses are on a 24-game winning streak and chasing a 15th successive win over France to secure a seventh Six Nations title and a fourth Grand Slam in a Bleues last travelled to Twickenham in 2023, where they scored 33 second-half points to narrowly miss out on an incredible last year's fixture, Mitchell's side remained clinical throughout to clinch a third successive Grand Slam with a 42-21 win in Holly Aitchison guided England to victory that day and was in pole position to retain the 10 shirt this campaign, but Mitchell has instead split the workload between his three back Helena Rowland, who is named on the bench on Saturday, made one start at fly-half against Italy, while Aitchison was picked to start at 10 in last Saturday's hammering of Zoe Harrison started the World Cup final in 2022 and advanced her case in victories over Wales and Ireland, with the 27-year-old picked to start the decider because of her tactical kicking game.A pragmatic approach is suited to knockout-style rugby and a strong performance could seal Harrison's spot in the 10 shirt, but for Mitchell it is not that simple."The end is the World Cup and I know exactly what Holly can do, so that equation is clear, but I don't know what Zoe Harrison can do or Helena Rowland," Mitchell added."It would be stupid of me to go into 2025 with an eventuality that we might need one of them because we don't have the other two."Saturday will be England's last chance to lift a trophy in the same setting as September's World Cup final."The occasion of playing here [Allianz Stadium] and it being a Grand Slam decider brings more of a buzz," Harrison told BBC Sport."The World Cup final will be here, so getting to play finals before that is good for us as it brings confidence." Line-ups England: Sing; Dow, Jones, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Feaunati, Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Burton, L Packer, Aitchison, Bourgeois; Grisez, M Menager, Vernier, Arbwy; Arbez, Bourdon; Brosseau, Bigot, Khalfaoui, M Feleu (capt), Fall-Raclot, Escudero, Champon, T Riffonneau, Mwayembe, Bernadou, Zago, Berthoumieu, Maka, Chambon, Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
