Johnson names Borthwick as captain

On October 30, 2008 by

Steve Borthwick has been named England captain for the team’s autumn internationals. The Saracens lock, who is 29 years of age, was appointed by England manager Martin Johnson.

Borthwick led the national side during the New Zealand summer tour as a result of the absence of previous captain, Phil Vickery. Vickery is no longer one of the first names on the England team sheet, primarily as a result of injuries and the impressive form of Matt Stevens. As such, Johnson would have been somewhat foolish to name the Wasps prop as skipper.

However, the England manager was quick to recognise, and show appreciation for, the influence Vickery has had on the national team. Johnson publicly thanked the prop, who he played alongside during the successful World Cup campaign, for the work he has done with the team during his time as captain and continued to compare Steve Borthwick with the England legend.

Martin Johnson has made a sensible choice in picking Borthwick. He has experience as England captain and was first handed the honour during this year’s Six Nations fixture against Italy. He enjoyed ten successful years at Bath, winning the European Challenge Cup last season, but decided to join Saracens earlier this year.

The director of rugby at the club, Eddie Jones, believes that the player should be captain of the national side as a result of his hard-working, competitive nature. Jones believes that Borthwick is extremely

Hadden names uncapped pair in national squad

On October 23, 2008 by

Frank Hadden, the coach of the Scottish rugby union team, has surprisingly named a pair of uncapped players in the squad for the upcoming autumn Tests. Geoff Cross, who is a prop for Edinburgh, and Max Evans, who is a back for the Glasgow Warriors, have been included in the 31-man squad.

A further surprise came in the form of flanker, Scott Gray, who has only one cap, earned against Australia several years ago. Gray has impressed at openside during several of Northampton’s matches and this has not gone unnoticed by Frank Hadden, who believes that the player has

Leinster 41-11 Wasps

On October 22, 2008 by

Isn’t it time Shaun Edwards just took the slow train to Cardiff and didn’t come back? Rugby is not like football, where managers come and go like English summers, but as he cannot seem to instill any leadership (let alone the ability to catch a rugby ball) then surely he should resign. After two victories all season, Wasps fans deserve at least a coach who has his heart in the team!

Source : BBC Sport

Scott MacLeod fails drug test

On October 21, 2008 by

Scott MacLeod, the Scottish rugby union forward, has been suspended after a urine sample he provided was found to contain a higher than allowable level of testosterone.

The 29 year-old will now be unable to play or train with the national team and his club, the Scarlets, will also have to do without his services. MacLeod believes that he is innocent and has stated that his ‘B’ sample should now be tested.

A spokesman for the Scottish Rugby Union has confirmed that they have opened an investigation into the possible offence as part of their anti-doping regulatory process.

It is currently unclear how long this investigation will take but the suspension is a real blow for the Scottish player. The Scarlets dropped him from their team before Saturday’s match in the Heineken Cup, which they went on to lose.

It is now thought that he will miss the club’s final match at Stradey Park, scheduled for Friday night against Bristol in the EDF Energy Cup.

The club’s chief executive, Stuart Gallacher, released a statement about the situation, which confirmed that

Wilkinson set to miss Six Nations

On October 10, 2008 by

Just read that Jonny Wilkinson is injured yet again and will miss the whole of the six-nations tournament. Isn’t it time we just let him retire and enjoy the fruits of his hard work from 2003?

Source : BBC Sport