Robinson crusade could turn Murrayfield into a lonely place for England | Autumn Internationals 2010

Andy Robinson would chop off both his arms and eat them in return for Scotland beating England tomorrow. He might not need to.

He has more than a fighting chance too, even if his team is rock bottom of the Six Nations table on zero points and an attack more constipated than England's.

Scotland have just lost to Italy, not scored a try in four of their last five games and their ace goal kicker Chris Paterson is injured.

They're staring at the Wooden Spoon and, in all probability, a humiliating whitewash if they lose this one as they finish up playing Ireland at Croke Park.

England's inability to score tries is well known but against Ireland they showed they can't stop them either.

So what do they do? Drop Lewis Moody, their best player this season, and again ignore Ben Foden, the one guy with the form to make something happen.

What is attack coach Brian Smith doing? He's supposed to be the left-field thinker on England's coaching staff.

Left-field? He's further right than Margaret Thatcher. England don't change their angles any more in the back line. There's no running off the ball, no change of direction. They don't even do simple switches any more.

His strategy must be to try and wear Scotland down for an hour and then send on Moody, Foden, Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes to raise the tempo through the roof.

Problem is I reckon England will be in a hole by then. I take Scotland, with their impressive back row, to be ahead after an hour.

And history shows Murrayfield after dark, with all the passion Scotland fans bring to this fixture, is no place to be chasing a game.

Never before have I gone into a rugby game between England and Scotland thinking that Scotland will win. This is the first time.

So how do England go about keeping the smirk off Robbo's face? They can start by kicking a million times better.

Play with more tempo and more ambition, look after the ball and actually back themselves to beat people. In short, show some courage.

One player did that in the last game, Jonny Wilkinson. How on earth he came in for criticism I just don't know. He was England's best back by a country mile.

People need to look either side of him. Riki Flutey went completely missing against Ireland, Danny Care was not much better. He takes three steps and passes with his shoulders closed to the opposition so he never pulls the fringes in.

I would play Shontayne Hape at inside-centre and instruct him to be within five metres of Jonny at all times.

Jonny would then have someone to draw the focus off him, a big presence to beat people, to provide a change of angle and who Jonny can offload to under pressure.

But England haven't done that. I can only think Johnno has given these players a final warning. Deliver now or it's adios. If he hasn't he'd better get a move on.

England V Samoa Hospitality

Autumn Internationals Hospitality

England's new captain will not change - Autumn Internationals

England's latest rugby captain Lewis Moody insisted on Friday he would not compromise his playing style despite his new-found responsibility.

The Leicester flanker was named as skipper for Saturday's Six Nations match against France in Paris after Steve Borthwick was ruled out with a knee injury.

Moody, known as 'Mad Dog', became the first Englishman to be sent off at Twickenham when he was dismissed against Samoa in 2005.

But the backrower, also renowned as one of the bravest players in the game, has vowed not to change his all-action style.

"It is just another game for me - for me it is all about playing," Moody told reporters at England's training base in Surrey.

"The most important part of being captain is playing the game. It is not going to change me in any way whatsoever.

"I am not going to talk more than I have done - I am just going to play the way I do and hope that is enough."

Moody has captained his club side Leicester on a handful of occasions but is adamant his inexperience in the role will not be a handicap at Stade de France.

Moody who has won 60 caps and played in two World Cup finals, including England's win over Australia in 2003, was dropped for last week's 15-15 draw with Scotland at Murrayfield.

A week later he finds himself captain as England attempt to derail France's hopes of a Grand Slam.

"It is part of professional sport, they make the decisions and as players we have to go with it. I couldn't be happier about it after last week," he added.

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Rugby sevens: Penalty solutions sought – Autumn Internationals

New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens will be seeking to meet with Hong Kong rugby sevens match officials after his side was hammered in the penalty count at last weekend's Adelaide tournament.

Tietjens has pored over a video compilation of the penalties awarded against his side at Adelaide and said he would take any concerns to a meeting with match officials before the tournament kicks off on Friday.

New Zealand had to settle for the second-tier Plate final in Australia after being knocked out of the Cup in the quarterfinals by an in-form Samoa.

Tietjens was baffled at a lopsided penalty count that saw New Zealand concede 22 and be awarded just four in their first four matches.

In the quarterfinal they were penalised six times to Samoa's none.

"The players are puzzled. We talk about discipline and it's still happening. We were getting smashed in the penalty count over there," Tietjens said.

"We're still working through it but there's no doubt the officiating was below average from a lot of perspectives.

"We want clarification on whether those rulings were right or wrong."

Samoa went on to win the final and cut New Zealand's lead in the world series to a slender two points with three stops remaining.

Tietjens said two dubious Samoan tries during their 24-19 extra-time quarterfinal triumph had undermined his under-strength side.

But there is no denying New Zealand's discipline was a contributing factor - particularly after Kurt Baker was yellow carded for dissent, to gift Samoa a man advantage in golden point overtime.

New Zealand also lost two players to the sin bin against Scotland and one in their final pool match against Argentina.

Leka Tupuola was also marched after the hooter in the Plate final against South Africa for a ruck infringement.

Despite losing to Samoa for the fourth time in the series, Tietjens was upbeat although he will miss the experience of two key performers.

Sherwin Stowers failed a fitness test on an ankle tweaked in Las Vegas while Lote Raikabula injured a bicep during training in Adelaide and remained sidelined.

"We're still going into Hong Kong with a lot of confidence," he said after naming the same squad as the one which fell short in Adelaide.

"I thought we performed pretty well, we had a tough draw and got the closest of anyone to Samoa."

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England line up summer tour Tests against Australia

England will head to Australia in June for two Tests against the Wallabies.

Martin Johnson's squad will face Australia in Perth on 12 June and in Sydney a week later.

England will also play the Australian Barbarians on 8 and 15 June before travelling to Napier in New Zealand to face the New Zealand Maori on 23 June.

"The tour presents all the players and coaches with a great opportunity to test themselves against some excellent teams," said Johnson.

"All five matches will be very tough and give us the opportunity to look at some players who may not have had the opportunity to play on this tour if it had been restricted to two Test matches.

"The games will be great occasions and to play the New Zealand Maori in their centenary year is a huge honour."

England will travel with a 44-man squad, with members of the Senior Elite Player programme supplemented by England Saxons players.

RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew said: "It will give England squad members an excellent opportunity of experiencing a full tour before they potentially get selected for the  Rugby World Cup.

"The squad will include players that would otherwise have travelled to Denver for the Churchill Cup with the England Saxons in May and June.

"It also gives a number of players the opportunity to step up into the Saxons squad via the Elite Player Pathway and they will benefit from the experience."

It is England's first five-match summer tour since South Africa in 2000.

In their most recent match against the Wallabies, at Twickenham last November, they were beaten 18-9.

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England V Australia Hospitality

Australia reverse the roles to seal Grand Slam – Autumn Internationals

"When we play England, we are a team with small balls." So said a leading chronicler of Australia rugby a couple of hours before kick off on Grand Slam night in the City of Light, adding, in deeply pessimistic tones: "When we play them in the rain, we are a team with no balls at all." Whatever Marc Lièvremont's newly crowned Six Nations champions do or do not possess below the belt it is difficult to know for sure without looking, and no one wants to raise the subject with Sébastien Chabal – there was a whole lot of shrivelling going on during a wet-weather game that took Les Bleus to the point of emasculation.

To the point, but not past it. When the blood pressure eases and the nerve-endings are restored to their unravaged state, the Australia may look back on this victory as the moment when their pathological fear and loathing of Anglo-Saxon rugby that grimly functional mix of method, cohesion and discipline was finally overcome. They beat England, by the shortest of short necks, in conditions guaranteed to give them the heebie-jeebies. Should the two teams meet again at next year's World Cup in New Zealand, where the rain never stops, they will start the match knowing that victory is not quite an impossibility.

The fact that they prevailed against an England side playing their most dynamic rugby of the tournament Toby Flood and Ben Foden fully justified their promotions while dear old Mike Tindall made a significant contribution in keeping the destructive Mathieu Bastareaud under lock and key – will make them feel better still, although Lièvremont, their highly capable head coach, might usefully spend the next few weeks pondering the tactical paralysis that prevented his young playmakers, Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc, making the most of a magnificent scrummaging performance.

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England line up summer tour Tests against Australia

England will head to Australia in June for two Tests against the Wallabies.

Martin Johnson's squad will face Australia in Perth on 12 June and in Sydney a week later.

England will also play the Australian Barbarians on 8 and 15 June before travelling to Napier in New Zealand to face the New Zealand Maori on 23 June.

"The tour presents all the players and coaches with a great opportunity to test themselves against some excellent teams," said Johnson.

"All five matches will be very tough and give us the opportunity to look at some players who may not have had the opportunity to play on this tour if it had been restricted to two Test matches.

"The games will be great occasions and to play the New Zealand Maori in their centenary year is a huge honour."

England will travel with a 44-man squad, with members of the Senior Elite Player programme supplemented by England Saxons players.

RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew said: "It will give England squad members an excellent opportunity of experiencing a full tour before they potentially get selected for the Rugby World Cup.

"The squad will include players that would otherwise have travelled to Denver for the Churchill Cup with the England Saxons in May and June.

"It also gives a number of players the opportunity to step up into the Saxons squad via the Elite Player Pathway and they will benefit from the experience."

It is England's first five-match summer tour since South Africa in 2000.

In their most recent match against the Wallabies, at Twickenham last November, they were beaten 18-9.

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Danny Cipriani says he gets no sympathy in UK to is off to Australia | Autumn Internationals Hospitality

Depressed Danny: I get no sympathy here.. that's why I'm off to Australia

Cipriani kicked a hat-trick of penalties at Adams Park where long-time leaders Saracens were denied a single scoring chance.

He then left the field applauding those who had made the effort to see one of his last performances in English rugby.

After the game the talk was of a gifted young English player who has "no limitations to play unbelievably at fly-half".

But even then the man being hailed by Saracens boss Brendan Venter was not Cipriani, but his full-back Alex Goode.

It was all rather sad, particularly viewed against the backdrop of Cipriani's admission the "negativity" towards him plunged him into depression as he was overlooked by Martin Johnson.

"There has been so much negativity surrounding me, from coaches, pundits, all sorts of others. It's been depressing. I've never made any secret of the fact I want to have a career with England. I could have improved so much by now if I'd been given the chance. The best way to get away from all the negativity is to go to Melbourne."

For Cipriani not to acknowledge any fault on his own part in this sorry saga is both revealing and highly relevant.

Unquestionably he is a talent but he has been his own worst enemy. What a pity that more of those close to him chose not to point that out.

"My rugby has made me depressed and I have to get back to feeling good about myself and back to being called confident, not arrogant," he said. When I came through as an 18-year-old I could never have dreamt I'd feel so down about my rugby as I have been lately."

The governing body's director of elite rugby, Rob Andrew, conceded yesterday that no such agreement exists, but insisted England had received assurances from the player's advisers that his contract covered all training sessions and rest periods between Tests. However, his contract does not contain such detail.

Stade owner Max Guazzini is incensed by the rigid stance of England and the RFU, given that his club have an injury crisis and have released their player whenever they have been asked to do so. They have issued a written warning to Haskell for missing training, brought in independent legal advisers to verify his absence and have made threats about re-negotiating his contract.

Haskell spoke to Stade yesterday and is aware of the scale of their anger. But the RFU are determined to avoid this becoming a test case which opens the way for French clubs to either withdraw players or demand compensation for allowing them to fulfil England duties.

Haskell has been told that if he goes back to play for Stade, he will be banished from the squad and may struggle to fight his way back. As one source put it: 'They're going to hang him out to dry and if it means he's the sacrificial lamb, then so be it.'

Cipriani put his disillusionment to one side yesterday to kick Wasps back into the Premiership's top four against long-time leaders Saracens.

The visitors crashed to their third defeat in four league games and left Venter cursing their lack of intensity in a first-half dominated by a rejuvenated Wasps pack.

Cipriani put them ahead with a penalty in the second minute and added a second eight minutes later. Before half-time he had the chance to bury Saracens yet missed two chances. But he sealed the deal soon after the break.

England V New Zealand Hospitality

Autumn Internationals Hospitality

David Beckham 'can swing England's 2018 bid in South Africa'

David Beckham's presence in South Africa this summer could prove a decisive factor in helping England win the bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals, according to the head of this year’s tournament, Danny Jordaan.

The chief executive of South Africa 2010 said he expected Beckham to accept Fabio Capello’s offer to travel with the England squad, even though he has been ruled out through injury from playing.

“I think David Beckham will still come,” Jordaan said. “There is already an indication that he will be part of the team and also England is making a bid for 2018 and I’m sure that the bid team will use him during the World Cup. He’s an important factor.

Beckham is already a bid ambassador for 2018 and Jordaan added that he felt England had a “realistic” chance of being successful.

With just 80 days to go now until this year’s tournament kicks off in Johannesburg, Jordaan conceded that there would be fewer fans around 100,000 fewer attending than as originally estimated. He said that an assessment of how many supporters would travel was currently being carried out by the organisers with a report expected to be submitted next month ahead of a final drive to push ticket sales.

However Jordaan dismissed claims that security fears and the lack of infra-structure adequate transport links and accommodation had led to fans’ considering missing the event. Instead he blamed the cost a lack of spending money brought about by the economic crisis.

“We did our calculations in 2004-05 and then in 2008-09 we had a global economic crisis which reduced the amount of spare cash people had,” he said.

“So we are now making an assessment of what the impact of that will be. The original figure was that we expected 450,000 visitors and we have asked for a new assessment. We are probably now looking at around 350,000.”

So far 65,000 tickets for matches have been sold in the United Kingdom the highest figure is the 120,000 sold in the United States although Jordaan estimates there are around 2.5 million England supporters already living in South Africa.

“The major tasks have been complete, all the stadia are complete,” Jordaan said adding that the transport plans were being “fine-tuned”. He said: “We are playing matches, all the countries have chosen their base camps and the training pitches are being put in, everything will be fine.

“We want to present it as an African World Cup. The continent of Africa has supported us and there were huge celebrations when we were awarded the event. In many of the countries they understand the importance of a successful World Cup in South Africa because the world is not only going to judge South Africa but the whole of Africa.

“It will help Africa for the world to look at Africa through different eyes not as just one big block where everyone is blamed for everything on every corner of the continent and also to show that Africa can deliver on its promises, can perform and host the biggest event on the earth. If we can do that successfully then the world will have to re-examine the way in which calculations, opinions are made.”

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England coaching team to remain unchanged for summer tour of Australia and New Zealand

England's coaching team is expected to remain intact until after the summer tour of Australia and New Zealand, despite a record of just eight wins from 19 games under Martin Johnson's tenure.

It is understood that a full review by the Rugby Football Union looking at the performance of Johnson, the England manager, and his coaching team of John Wells, Mike Ford, Brian Smith and Graham Rowntree will not take place until July, despite widespread frustration at the team's performance during the Six Nations Championship.

By that time England will have completed a five-match trip to Australia and New Zealand, their longest tour since the excursion to South Africa 10 years ago.

Johnson's position is understood to be safe, while a significant upturn in performance and results for England, who will be taking a massive squad of 44 players on tour, would also be likely to secure the positions of his coaching team until after the World Cup in 2011. If the tour was deemed a failure, however, some changes are expected.

England will play two Tests against Australia, in Perth on June 12 and Sydney on June 19, and three midweek games, two against the Australian Barbarians, on June 8 in Perth and June 15 in Gosford, and the New Zealand Maori on June 23 in Napier.

Armitage's replacement, Ben Foden, scored the only try of the night and made a widely-acclaimed first start for England.

"I was disappointed in myself," Armitage said. "I haven't been playing well. Fair play, Foden has been putting his hand up for a while and he deserved his chance and he took it.

"That is disappointing for me but I am really happy for him because I think it is about time they gave him a shot and he played really well.

"It is just going to make me a stronger player and I want to get back into that England squad. Maybe I was taking it for granted and I wasn't working as hard as I promised myself I would once I had the shirt.

"Now that I am back at London Irish, I know where I need to go to get back into the squad and work on the stuff that wasn't firing during the Six Nations."

Wasps lock Simon Shaw is expected to be out of action for three weeks after damaging his right shoulder during the first half in Paris.

Shaw has injured his A/C joint, the same injury he sustained in his left shoulder during the match against Ireland, which forced him to miss the Calcutta Cup game in Edinburgh.

Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy, 31, is likely to finish his career at Leicester after agreeing in principle to a new three-year contract.

Leinster are hopeful that their centres Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy, who were both injured in Ireland's 23-20 defeat by Scotland, will be available for their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Clermont Auvergne on April 9. O'Driscoll has a knee problem, while D'Arcy injured his groin.

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England on verge of something special | Autumn Internationals 2010

Scrum-half Danny Care believes England are ready to produce "something really special" in their Calcutta Cup match against Scotland on Saturday.

Martin Johnson's side have been dogged by an inability to finish try-scoring chances but will be looking to avoid a third straight defeat at Murrayfield.

"And when it does click I think it will be something really special. Hopefully we can do that this weekend."

England have failed to score a try in either of their previous two Calcutta Cup matches at Murrayfield, but the Harlequins number nine is adamant that will change on Saturday.

"We have shown glimpses of how good we can be. We have just lacked a clinical edge in finishing off the tries," he continued.

And the 23-year-old was quick to defend half-back partner Jonny Wilkinson, who has come under criticism in recent weeks.

"I think Jonny and I are improving every week. He is obviously the best 10 I have ever worked with. It is great to have him outside you," stated Care.

"Ireland were very good at getting over the ball and slowing it down. It is frustrating when you are playing against players like that because you want the ball on a plate and you have to dig for it a bit.

The RFU has not moved from the line that Haskell, an England regular during the RBS Six Nations Championship, must remain with them during the second break in Six Nations action. It insists that his club contract allows the union his services in an England squad period, but Max Guazzini, the Stade president, said he could be in breach of contract if he does not return.

Guazzini is in no mood to back down. This week he has brought in a legal officer to witness Haskell’s absence from two training sessions in the run-up to Saturday’s game with Toulouse at the Stade de France. The player’s image has been widely used in pre-match publicity and Guazzini is by no means alone in believing the RFU’s attitude to be inflexible, although attempts could resume today to find a compromise.

But Stade receive no compensation when he is away, unlike English clubs, whose umbrella body, Premier Rugby, struck an eight-year deal with the RFU in 2008 over player release. French clubs were asked by the RFU to sign a letter of intent that covered, broadly, release periods but which they do not believe would stand up in court. Guazzini, in any case, did not sign it.

"This week we have worked a lot on our contact skills and our ruck drills and hopefully we can take that into the game and get some quick ball."

England full-back Delon Armitage was more succinct.

"We've got players whose strength is coming from deep and beating players and we haven't used them. We've talked about it but we haven't done it," said Armitage.

"We can't keep saying we're going to use it. There's no better time than right now to do it."

England V South Africa Hospitality

Autumn Internationals Hospitality

Martin Johnson resists England coaching changes in Autumn Internationals

The England manager, Martin Johnson, will resist any attempt to get him to change his coaching staff as part of a Rugby Football Union review of the international season. England won three of their eight Tests and finished third in the Autumn Internationals, which they have not won since 2003.

Johnson will this morning meet the RFU's elite rugby director, Rob Andrew, to discuss the season and plot a way forward, with the 2011 World Cup 17 months away. The manager's position is not under threat but he will come under pressure from some at the RFU to review the structure and make-up of his coaching team.

Since 2004 England have won four of 24 matches against the three major southern hemisphere nations, have beaten Ireland once, and have lost more matches than they have won against France and Wales in the Six Nations.

Since 2003, in 26 away Tests against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Wales, France, Scotland and Argentina, they have won three times twice in Paris and once at Murrayfield.

The former England prop Jeff Probyn has led calls for a coaching shake-up, arguing that Johnson has decisions to make because of a poor Six Nations campaign. If that meant Johnson letting go some of his friends, Probyn said, he should do so.

But because Johnson is in such a strong position, he will have the coaching team he wants and he will not be browbeaten into making changes he does not want. Andrew, who recommended two years ago that Johnson be appointed team manager, despite his lack of experience in coaching, will in the coming weeks have to justify his own department's performance. England lost out to Ireland in the Under-20 Six Nations and only one Premiership side has made the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.

England's away record in the last six years may be poor but they did not concede a try away from Twickenham in this Six Nations and they have conceded only two in five championship matches on the road under Johnson, a record no other side can match. However, after being the top try-scorers in last season's tournament, with 16, they managed to score only six in this year's tournament.

When the RFU signed an agreement regarding the management of elite players with Premier Rugby two years ago, it said the time for excuses was over. The clubs have since delivered everything that was asked of them but the national side has yet to show the benefit in terms of results, something Andrew will be asked by his employers to explain.

The England second-row forward Simon Shaw, who left the field against France after 15 minutes with an injury to his right shoulder, will be out of action for three weeks. That will almost certainly rule him out of Wasps' Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Gloucester next month.

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Jeff Probyn calls for overhaul of England rugby team

England prop Jeff Probyn has called for an overhaul of Martin Johnson's coaching set-up and for Steve Borthwick to be stripped of the captaincy.

"I don't think it's time for Johnson to go - I think it's time for his coaches to go," Probyn told BBC Sport.

Probyn, who won 37 England caps between 1988 and 1993, wants sweeping changes after a campaign in which Johnson's side won only two of five games and were widely derided for playing unimaginative rugby, before improving in the 12-10 defeat by France on Saturday.

Johnson now has 18 months to get things right before the World Cup in New Zealand.

Despite Johnson's consistent efforts to defend them, Probyn lays the blame for England's lacklustre displays firmly at the door of back-up coaches John Wells, Brian Smith, Mike Ford and Graham Rowntree.

"There's nothing wrong with the players," he said. "They are playing week in week out with their clubs, playing a different style of rugby and an exciting style of rugby.

"Johnson has got to start making the decisions a manager has to make and if that means some of your friends have got to go, they've got to go."

Probyn said he would like to see Northampton coaches Jim Mallinder and Dorian West brought in to work alongside Johnson.

Former England coach Dick Best does not think the Rugby Football Union will make any changes to the coaching set-up so close to a World Cup, but wants Johnson's long-term successor to be identified and brought up through the ranks.

That will be followed by a tricky autumn series against Australia, Samoa, world champions South Africa and New Zealand.

As well as the coaching shake up, Probyn is calling for a change of captain, with flanker Lewis Moody having pointed the way forward to a more dynamic style of leadership against the French after taking the armband from the injured Borthwick.

"The unfortunate thing for Borthwick is that he's never played well as a captain.

"The tempo was better under Moody, there was none of this finger-wagging at referees and calling for yellow and red cards. That was a feature of Borthwick's captaincy, which is not the sort of thing you expect an England captain to do.

"I'd probably go for Moody in the short term until one of the other players holds up their hands."

The RFU will hold a review of the national team set-up in July, after Francis Baron steps down as chief executive.

Best, who was a coach on the 1993 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, says Baron's departure could open the door for the return of Sir Clive Woodward, England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach.

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England V South Africa Hospitality

Gareth Charles' predictions for Ireland V Scotland

A fortnight ago before the Wales V France game I said a familiar pattern was emerging to Wales' RBS Six Nations games in 2010. Well nothing much has changed has it?

So what can we expect this time round? Well, to celebrate Brian O'Driscoll's 100th cap for Ireland, the penultimate game in Croke Park before returning to a renovated Lansdowne Road, and with Ireland still in the hunt for a Triple Crown, what about...?

Wales give a parting gift of a 20-point start. Then Shane Williams will begin to shine in the second half and Wales will run in four unanswered tries to end real party-poopers! Wales have become almost predictable in their unpredictability.

Certainly, when the game breaks up late on and Wales' superior fitness levels come through, they are an extremely difficult team to defend against.

But what of the opening hour? Once again France were more than happy to stay out of rucks and mauls, stay off tackles, fan wide and pick off interceptions, leaving Wales too great a mountain to climb as happened in Twickenham and as almost happened against Scotland.

And if France were happy to sit back and let Wales force the pace, what price Ireland? It'll be a case of: "come on, show us what you've got".

Ireland were happy enough to let England have as much possession as they liked, especially with England's recycling seemingly organized by a sloth on tranquilisers!

There were 99 tackles made by Ireland, just one missed, but crucially three clear-cut chances created three tries scored - the kind of clinical finishing Wales would currently die for.

At Croke Park on Saturday there will be two extremely talented back lines but the confidence that comes from finishing and winning could be a telling factor.

Up front Wales are hoping the return of hooker Matthew Rees will stabilise the set piece, which unexpectedly creaked a little against France, and provide a launch-pad for another returnee, number eight Gareth Delve, to show the dynamism that has typified his performances for Gloucester this season.

Delve needs to be prominent to keep quiet possibly Ireland's most potent force - an outstanding back-row trio of Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip and David Wallace who dovetail together so superbly.

Unfortunately statistics show that if Scotland beat England at Murrayfield (unlikely but not impossible) Wales, who went into the first Saturday of the Six Nations hoping for a Grand Slam, could be going into the last Saturday fighting to avoid a Wooden Spoon.

When you're inches away from greatness but inches away from gloom, Croke Park is not exactly the ideal place to be going.

Ireland V Scotland Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Stuart Barnes's Big Game:France V England

Robinson, the former England head coach, has yet to secure a victory in this year’s competition while England under Johnson are yet to come anywhere near answering the critics with a performance of any imagination or intelligence. So, yes, Ireland and Wales could be the best game of rugby this weekend but this one should have the drama.

Telfer made his assertion based on the opinion that England is no longer much of a team. Johnson can dismiss former players and journalists as having "an agenda" but it is more telling coming from the man who coached him on the successful 1997 Lions tour of South Africa. He cannot snarl and say "what do you know?" because Telfer knows an awful lot and is surely one of the more respected rugby thinkers in Johnson’s eyes.

They were not bad at home to France but were easily beaten and, true, they played close to their limit against Wales and but for injuries would have surely won in Cardiff. Then they went further than even an inept England and lost in Rome with the Scottish forwards banging around one-dimensionally on the Italian line, giving a passable imitation of all the failings Robinson displayed as England’s head man.

They beat Australia, but Australia did everything in their powers to inflict defeat upon themselves. Australia beat themselves before Argentina, who England beat in a desperately dull game that autumn, won in Edinburgh. The theory that Scotland should beat England is difficult to justify.

What is tantalising, however, is the other side of the coin. The argument that England should beat Scotland is an equally unjustifiable assertion because away from home Johnson’s team cannot be banked to win anywhere but in Rome.

The old vices are back with a vengeance. Possession is not a problem but, as in the bad old day’s pre-Clive Woodward, the lions’ share of it was insufficient at home to Ireland. England win ball but it is so slow and static that the backs do not know how to use it. When they do produce quicker service, the back line is far too deep, far too regimented and far too unimaginative.

The quest for a team shape has left them forgetting the importance of having an individual with the ability to break a defensive pattern. England have a great deal to prove but the management, even more than the players, are in the firing line. If the players lack belief or the players are simply the wrong ones, the problem begins and will not be solved until the management is fixed. England’s management will not be changed but they may still be running out of time with the fans.

Defeat in Rome was a desperate disappointment for England but it probably makes life tougher for them. Scotland are not that good a team but they have enough about them to respond to the panic induced by that awful loss to Italy.

Robinson’s role is to channel that desperation. If he achieves that, England are in for a fight. The Scottish scrum is improved and the back row is a proper unit. The Scotland coach will fancy taking advantage of Johnson’s decision to select the hard-tackling Joe Worsley and omit a genuine openside flanker in Lewis Moody to compete with the burgeoning John Barclay. Scotland will not wilt in the set-piece and could outflank England at the breakdown. If they do, the Scottish half backs know what to do.

Chris Cusiter has the defensive capacity to rattle Danny Care, while Dan Parks has the advantage over Wilkinson in the distance and accuracy of his tactical kicking. Should Scotland establish a platform and maintain position it is hard to see where England’s tries will come from.

Whatever the quality of the individuals involved the conservatism that has emanated from the management will not make it easy for England to cast off their shackles and play, like high-class professionals, what is in front of them.

France V England Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

It’s time for the excuses to end for Wales - Six Nations Rugby 2010

WALES have talked the talk... today let’s see if they are good enough to walk the walk.

The Welsh camp’s spin machine has been in full flow during the build-up to the big Millennium Stadiums how down with Triple Crown-chasing Ireland.

No surprise really, because it’s the job of Warren Gatland to convince his players they are better than their results during this Six Nations suggest.

Judging by the comments emanating from Martyn Williams and his team, the coach’s efforts are paying off so he must be doing something right.

Lest people forget, Wales lost to England, struggled to pip Scotland and were beaten by France by half-time.

They are a lowly fourth in the table and out of contention for the championship. This from a team that entered the tournament believing a third European title in six years was very much on the cards.

It might have gone wrong on the pitch, continuing the downward spiral which began after last year’s Six Nations opener with Scotland at Murrayfield, but you wouldn’t realise it from the comments of Gatland and company.

France coach Marc Lievremont could claim he knew his players would be in for a hard time of it during the second half at the Millennium Stadium because they were practically nodding off in their armchairs by half-time, so dominant had they been.

Last year’s Grand Slam kings have the personnel, in the shape of Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, to take Wales to the cleaners.

Ireland have become the sort of consistent force Wales crave to be. And ironically, it has happened since Gatland put down the shoots for their surge towards the top of European rugby while in charge of the men in green at the turn of the decade.

With Wales, on the other hand, it seems to be everything or nothing. Since the Five Nations became Six with the admission of Italy 10 years ago, Wales have twice lifted the title but, on the other eight occasions, their best finishing position was fourth.

On paper, the back five of Ireland’s pack will be too strong for their opposite numbers. The Irish back row of Ferris, Heaslip and Wallace is beautifully balanced and extremely physical at the breakdown.

Even if they didn’t win the ball, the Irish duo put the Red Rose lineout, which had the better of Wales last month, under severe pressure, with the knock-on effect drawing crucial mistakes from the likes of Jonny Wilkinson.

Captain Ryan Jones also sits today out with a calf problem, while Gatland resisted recalling – he admitted considering it – the shamed Andy Powell following the player’s barmy drink-drive escapade down the M4 in a golf buggy.

For Wales to have a hope, they need every player to perform at their absolute limit. Most notably, the forwards have to lift their game under the captaincy of stand-in leader Martyn Williams.

The Lions hooker has only made two substitute appearances for the Scarlets since Wales’ 33-12 thrashing against Australia last November at the Millennium Stadium because of a groin problem.

Gatland’s quite justifiable reasoning is that it is better to see how much time Rees lasts rather than send him on too early.

But it goes against everything Wales have said this season, namely that players have to be fully fit and prove themselves in matches to be considered.

That was the excuse they used not to pick Dwayne Peel at scrum-half. But it didn’t seem to worry Gatland when it came to putting Mike Phillips amongst the replacements against France, so it appears to be a case of a face fitting.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations rugby 2010 : France V Italy Hospitality

In theory, this should be a simple assignment for Les Bleus, seemingly on an inexorable path towards the title and a potential Grand Slam, but Italy would love to inflict one of the great upsets in the championships history.

France are aware more than anyone else of their own reputation for inconsistency, and no doubt coach Marc Lievremont would have been showing replays of their last 40 minutes of test rugby, when Wales came within a whisker of winning at Millennium Stadium.

That game will remind the Tricolours of their own mortality, and while their final match with England will decide the championship, they will want to make a statement at the expense of an Italian team that will arrive in Paris with some belief, after downing Scotland in Rome.

Italy will try to make it awkward for their opponents, and in more thorough analysis it can be revealed that they have hardly been whipping boys this tournament, with the exception of their first half of rugby against Ireland.

They may still be struggling with their attack, but defensively they have the third best defence by points scored in the tournament, and have let in only four tries – with only France (three conceded) having the better record.

But where they have looked better is that it appears Coach Nick Mallet has dropped the “damage control limitation” game plan, and is actually encouraging his team to win. Furthermore, they are embracing their natural awkwardness, proving in this tournament, as they did against the Tri Nations power last year; that they are a difficult team to play against.

Their only victory came in 1997 when Massimo Giovanelli led Italy to a remarkable 40-32 win at the Stade Lesdiguieres in Grenoble, France. The incomparable Diego Dominguez converted all four Italian tries that day and kicked a further four penalties. The best efforts of a strong French team, led by Fabien Pelous came to nothing as they became the first and only team to lose to the Italians.

France has named a strong side, although they continue to be hamstrung by injuries. But despite this, they have a level of depth which shows that perhaps Lievremont’s selection policies were in fact the act of an inspired genius.

Only two changes have been made after their 26-20 win over Wales, with David Marty coming into the side forcing Mathieu Bastareaud to the bench.

Castres winger Marc Andreu takes over for Julien Malzieu of Clermont, while Biarritz number nine Dimitri Yachvili makes his return to the national side, coming in on the bench to replace the injured Frederic Michalak.

France V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

John backs Scotland to cause upset in Six Nations Rugby

Scotland head coach Eamon John insists their RBS 6 Nations clash with England on Friday is a winnable game.

John’s young team have already experienced a breakthrough year, becoming the first Scottish Under 20s side not to lose to France when they managed an 8-8 draw in the opening game.

And Scotland have made just one change to the starting lineup that broke another record against Italy – becoming the first Scottish Under 20 side to win away – scrum-half Alex Black replaces Kris Hamilton.

But John insists he has picked a team to win the match and backed his players to cause an upset and avenge last season’s 20-6 defeat.

He said: “We make the selection according to the opposition. We wanted to start quickly against Italy which is why we went with Kris but from an English point of view we need a bit more physicality at the start.

“England will be smarting over their Ireland result and have had a mixed campaign with a variety of players available at different times in the competition but when they have their top players on the field like they did against Wales they ran in five second-half tries.

“Any team in any sport is always beatable. It’s up to us to get it right.

“We respect England who will have players with under-20 World Cup final experience – but we’re going to go out there to do a job on them and make life uncomfortable in Glasgow.”

SCOTLAND: Tom Brown, Oliver Grove, Jonny Kennedy, Alex Dunbar, Dougie Fife, Alex Blair, Alex Black, Nicky Little, Alun Walker, Colin Phillips, Matthew Reid, Robert Harley, Michael Maltman, Stuart McInally, David Denton

Replacements: Lindsey Gibson, George Hunter, Aaron Hall, Callum Stidston-Nott, Kris Hamilton, Matthew Scott, James Johnstone

Scotland V England Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Wales rugby coach salutes O'Driscoll landmark – Six Nations Rugby

Wales coach Warren Gatland knows better than most the qualities that will have taken Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll to a century of caps for his country when the two sides meet in the Six Nations rugby at Croke Park on Saturday.

"I gave him his first cap, and it was an honour for me to be involved with him with the Lions last year to see how he has developed," Gatland said on Wednesday. "I was incredibly impressed with his leadership and his understanding of the game.

"He was one of the main reasons Jamie Roberts ended up having such a good tour.

"He deserves all the accolades, and I will be one of the first to stand up in the coaching box on Saturday and clap him," Gatland, whose time in charge of the two Celtic nations was separated by a successful spell as coach of English giants Wasps.

"I am absolutely delighted for him and proud I have had an association with him," Gatland added.

O'Driscoll, who a match after prop John Hayes became the first player to win 100 Ireland caps, becomes only the 13th player in rugby union history to notch up a hundred Tests' worth of national service, has enjoyed a glittering career.

The Leinster legend has captained Ireland on 63 occasions and last year led his country to their first Grand Slam since 1948 while winning the European Cup with his provincial side.

But the match that made world rugby sit-up and take notice of his singular talent was in 2000 when O'Driscoll, just two months after his 21st birthday, scored a hat-trick of tries against a France side featuring Emile Ntamack and Abdel Benazzi as Ireland enjoyed a rare victory in Paris.

"That is my greatest memory of Brian - the hat-trick of tries he scored when Ireland beat France in Paris for the first time in 27 years," said Gatland, whose opinion was soon endorsed by one of rugby union's most gifted centres.

"I remember the French great Philippe Sella coming into the changing room to congratulate him afterwards and saying it was one of the most impressive centre performances he had ever seen."

And Wales flanker Martyn Williams, the visiting captain this weekend in place of the injured Ryan Jones, said the passing of the years had done little to dim fellow Lion O'Driscoll's ability.

"Brian is without doubt the best player in the northern hemisphere over the last decade, and probably one of the greatest ever," said Williams. "For me, there is nothing he can't do.

"A lot of players maybe are really good defenders and have great passing skills, but he's got the complete package.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Wales coach Warren Gatland breaks cover over warthog jibe in Ireland

Warren Gatland will tomorrow depart from routine and host Wales's final media conference before Saturday's Six Nations match against Ireland at Croke Park, after finding himself the subject of personal attacks in Irish newspapers.

Gatland, who was sacked by Ireland in 2001 after three years in charge, was described by Vincent Hogan of the Irish Independent as being "as rational as a menopausal warthog" and accused of harbouring a "toxic personal agenda" against Irish rugby. The former Ireland second-row Neil Francis called him "puerile" and said the New Zealander could be out of a job in the summer.

This is the third time Gatland has prepared Wales to face Ireland. The only other time he has presented a media conference the day before a game, a task he usually leaves to his assistants, was before the fixture in Cardiff last year when he had caused a furore by suggesting his players disliked the Irish more than any other side in the Six Nations.

"I, like the rest of the Wales coaching staff and players, have broad shoulders and we are more than capable of rising above this kind of self-perpetuating attempt at controversy," said Gatland. "We should treat this with the disdain in which it is offered and I urge true Welsh and Irish rugby fans not to let anything that has been written affect the respect and friendship they share for each other. It does not deserve to impact on what will be a great weekend."

Gatland has been complimentary to Ireland this week – in the last two years he has not been afraid to provoke a response. Wales were chasing the title then but two defeats in three matches this year have left them needing a win to avoid going into the last weekend as candidates for the wooden spoon.

"We know it is going to be tough against Ireland," said Gatland. "We need to be more clinical. There will be a lot of emotion about, with Brian O'Driscoll winning his 100th cap, but it is exciting and I am looking forward to it. We need to improve our decision-making, not putting ourselves under pressure by playing too much rugby from the start. We should not be afraid to go into half-time at 3-3 or 6-6 because, as the game breaks up in the second half, we will create chances. We are in great shape physically and we are strong at the end of games. We must just stop giving away soft points.

"We do not want to be conservative. We want to play expansive rugby but we just have to be a bit smarter. It would be easy to revert to a tighter game plan but it is harder to go the other way and suddenly become expansive, as England have found. They have been unsuccessful when playing a wider game because they have no experience of it. Attack is costing us at the moment but it will come."

The Gloucester chairman, Tom Walkinshaw, and his fellow shareholder Martin St Quinton have pumped more than £2.5m into the club after it posted a loss of nearly £670,000 in the last financial year, compared with a £209,000 profit a year before.

"Trading has been poor and we needed to do something about it," said Walkinshaw. "We have no idea how the economy will perform in the next year and we now have some clear headroom."

Ireland V Wales Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

The former England skipper writes for The Northern Echo during the RBS 6 Nations.

England now have a couple of weeks to regroup and prepare for the mustwin game against France at Stade de France.

The destiny of the championship is, to some extent, still in their own hands. If England can beat both Scotland and France in their final two games then points difference could be crucial.

Ireland’s ability to score tries, three to be precise, was a shining example for England, if ever they needed one, of where they are falling short.

Jonny Wilkinson will always be able to keep the score ticking over with his boot, however the indents that penalties make need to be supported by the greater blows inflicted by tries.

Indeed, Wilkinson was the best of England’s backs on Saturday and their performance was benefited by the introduction of the lively Ben Foden in the second half.

It was good to see a player in an England jersey whose first instinct was to attack and his incisive play should be rewarded with a greater opportunity against Scotland.

I presume his replacement Paul Hodgson was brought on to shore up the defence, but unfortunately that never happened. Care seemed to have grown into the game by the time he was taken off but perhaps his industrious afternoon in muddy conditions had caught up with him.

While England are now looking at another twoweek hiatus, I’ve strapped the lycra back on for the penultimate stage of the Dallaglio Cycle Slam. A tricky 410km ride from Twickenham to Fishguard via Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium will set up the final leg, but there is a lot of pedalling to be done before I can even begin to think about the finish line.

In total I’m cycling 2,800km from Rome to Murrayfield, taking in Paris, Twickenham, Cardiff and Dublin along the way.

A crazy idea I know, however it’s all in aid of Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation, so well worth the physical challenge.

Follow my progress on www.dallagliocycleslam.com I’ll look ahead to the game with Scotland in next week’s column.

England will have to bounce back quickly to keep their championship hopes alive but one thing’s for sure, the fat lady hasn’t sung just yet.

France V England Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Murphy flavour of the Irish month – Six Nations Rugby

IT says much about the transformation of Geordan Murphy’s international fortunes that he’s keeping Lions Test star Rob Kearney out of the Ireland team to face Wales this weekend.

Despite being recognised as one of the most naturally talented players in British rugby, the Leicester full-back was frequently overlooked by O’Sullivan, who tended to prefer the more prosaic qualities of the solid yet far from spectacular Girvan Dempsey.

When Kearney was ruled out of last month’s game against England with a knee problem, it was Murphy who Kidney turned to.

That was despite the fact he’d only made one start for the Tigers after a five-month layoff with a shoulder injury.

He responded with a fine display in the 20-16 victory at Twickenham and has kept his place for Saturday’s Croke Park clash, even though Kearney is now available again, with the Lions ace having to make do with a spot on the bench.

“Rob looked fantastic in training and I thought if he was fit and he was picked I couldn’t have any gripes because he was the guy in possession of the shirt when he got injured.

“I think that’s the way sport is. It generally goes back. So I’m really pleased to be in. I’ve been happy with the way I’m playing.

“I was thrown into the England match with not a lot of game-time, but it went OK and I went and played again for Leicester at the weekend and I was happy with how that went.

“I think I’ve still got a little more to go, but I’m really enjoying it, that’s the main thing, especially having been on the outside for so long. It’s nice to be back involved.”

Asked whether his confidence had been sapped by the previous Ireland regime, he replied: “I don’t know.

“When I picked up my shoulder injury in September I was worried about my place in the squad.

“I fully expect to see Rob on the field this weekend, he’s too good of a player to not be out there. He’s world class.

“But I’ve got to try and play as well as I can and let management make those decisions.

“I’ve always said I want to play in a green shirt and I want to do my best. If I’m an asset then hopefully I’ll get picked. I’ve just got to keep trying to do as well as I can.

“Everyone’s been saying they’re not playing that well , but some of the tries they’ve scored have been some of the best you’ll see in the Six Nations.

“They’re dangerous across the board and when they get to play they have great players like Shane Williams who can score a try from absolutely nothing.

“They’ll probably try and raise that again and they’ve got no fears coming to Croke Park. It’s going to be a very tough match.”

Ireland V Scotland Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Yes, we importance impersonate dynamite – we’re looking forward to welcoming John McEnroe to Calderstones Park.

Yes, we importance impersonate dynamite – we’re looking forward to welcoming John McEnroe to Calderstones Park.

IT’S not only a sensational coup due to the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament, it’s esteemed news now the whole city.

Living legend John McEnroe is appellation to Calderstones Park in June, to grace this year’s five-day event – again we can’t wait.

Tournament inspiration Anders Borg, who has delivered time and case again being launching the competition in 2002, deserves enormous assurance for once also pulling a giant rabbit out of the hat.

Two years ago, he brought five-times Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg to the city – although he was unable to play due to a late injury, Borg still attended and delighted the crowds by giving a live interview on court.

Now his great obsolete green is on the path – the three-times Wimbledon champion who really shook hike the game when he burst onto the scene and has since also reached the dawning in his support career, through a commentator.

At his peak, McEnroe was untouchable on the tennis court – and as he is without ringer grease the commentary booth, delivering unique savvy also finger-on-the-pulse comments without fear or favour.

Just as he gave it his all while he was playing – at times, admittedly, he gave a little immoderately much and his behaviour did not always provide the best example whereas the leafy – McEnroe leaves nothing out when he is commentating. Unlike therefrom many poles apart former sportsmen and women, who perhaps look at the media whereas an obvious choice adjacent retirement, McEnroe treats his viewers further listeners with love – by doing the job properly and professionally.

He’s a man with attitude and integrity – a fellow who, perhaps, through those reasons, could uninterrupted be regarded as a spiritual Scouser!

And, at 51, he’s still dominion pretty good shape. He’ll indeed moonlit up Calderstones Park in the summer – also we look forward to giving him the warmest of welcomes.



Corporate Hospitality Group is proudly presenting Wimbledon Hospitality on a very competative pricess.

Roger Draper devoir pay for Davis Cup tennis failure, says chit Petchey

Roger Draper devoir pay for Davis Cup tennis failure, says chit Petchey
Mark Petchey, once the head of men's training at the Lawn Tennis Association, and Andy Murray's former coach, has argued that Roger Draper charge not be allowed to continue as the LTA's chief executive meeting the systematic, expensive "failure" of his rainbow for the sport.

If Draper does not resign, Petchey believes the LTA's council must remove him; otherwise the governing body will keep on to waste millions of pounds.

On the bit that one baffled bookmaker offered odds on Cliff Richard replacing John Lloyd as Davis Cup captain, Petchey told The Daily Telegraph that the disaster in Lithuania, which endow Britain one more defeat away from being in the ship division with the likes of Andorra, San Marino and Moldova, was "a sad indictment" of the dismal, "shockingly bad" state of British tennis after Draper's four years at the LTA.
evident is Petchey's opinion that Draper has dissipated outrageous amounts of money on employing "world-class" coaches, who nurture to competence world-class salaries, also on expanded the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton juice south-west London, while not putting enough funds notice serendipitous grassroots tennis.

Though Lloyd's up is in doubt proximate he became the peerless British captain to lose five consecutive Davis Cup ties, Petchey said the the nod in Lithuania was not the fault of Lloyd or the players, and if anyone deserved to lose his job it was Draper.

"I can't memorialize a more embarrassing crisis for British tennis. I'm forcible there will hold office scapegoats, but you shouldn't just go and trouble the players and the captain seeing this goes exceedingly bounteous than that. This is about the structure of British tennis, about the vision at the LTA. Losing to Lithuania was a sad indictment of station British tennis is now," Petchey said.

"Either Draper has to resign, or the council accredit to perform off their hands, do their jobs and force him out. Unfortunately, I terrifically much doubt whether Draper commit resign, so it's commotion to take the council to work out far-reaching about this.

"Draper has failed now the chief executive, his full-dress vision for British tennis has failed; he's not a leader. He has exhausted an extraordinary amount of central over the past few years, millions and millions of pounds, besides where has it got us? Nowhere. I postulate we're power a worse position with men's tennis than we were when Draper took over."

On Monday, Draper suggested that "ripping it all up" at the LTA would perfect untold extinguish to British tennis. Petchey disagreed with that view. "It would be additional hopeless due to Draper to see surface his plight and stay for another three oldness. Why manage on mind this if we're bit nowhere?"

In 2008, Draper was given a five-year extension, taking him through to 2013. "That was a terrible big idea of turmoil by the LTA. What had he achieved guidance his first couple of years to deserve five more second childhood? undoubted would be high-priced to sack Draper and pay him off, but that would still be better than for him to carry on in the job.

"It's not thanks to if this was a one-off terrible weekend for British tennis. I bring no receptivity character what has happened, but this result only vindicates what I have brainchild for a desire time. British tennis has been shockingly bad for a crave time. The results on the men's angle have been terrible. Draper's vision has failed, and slick charge stage consequences for that slip. I can't look at how he can carry on whereas the chief executive.

"About the different good job that present of this is that people will see the light also think over that Draper's vision has failed."

Petchey said that, if Murray won this summer's Wimbledon, and millions of young suddenly took an alter in tennis, Draper's LTA would not have the facilities sway found to make the superlatively of embodied. "Draper's fancy has been to bear in 'world-class' this further 'world-class' that, but what British tennis has chief is a greater emphasis on facilities and grassroots tennis. All the cash could deem been most better had it. We're never reaction to get back all the millions Draper has wasted.

"If Murray wins Wimbledon, and that gets millions of kids curious about tennis, we won't be effectual to moor them as we don't consider the facilities. At the moment, the LTA are just best-selling lip-service to improving facilities and grassroots tennis. We need to be sorting out the clubs, besides giving kids more opportunities to play tennis locally. The native Tennis nucleus is the emperor's new clothes. I suppose everyone sees that, don't they?"

This week, the LTA is conducting a review note what happened consequence Vilnius. Petchey does not think why. "All this talk about having a review, if they rest assured world-class people sway place, wherefore why earn you need a explain? It's befitting PR-speak. If Lloyd is replaced, the LTA should envisage Murray about Lloyd's replacement, as Murray's is the opinion that matters. If you crave Murray to want to show pull the Davis Cup, you have to talk to him and impinge him."

Corporate Hospitality Group is proudly presenting Wimbledon Hospitality on a very competative pricess.

New boy of France unfazed by first start – Six Nations Rugby 2010

New boy of France Marc Andreu says he is unfazed by making his first international start as his country go for a Grand Slam against Italy in their Six Nations rugby clash in Paris this Sunday.

The Castres winger is the surprise name in Marc Lievremont's starting line-up following his debut for Les Bleus against Wales in Cardiff two weeks ago.

 "I now have to stay focused and continue to train well this weekend to be at the top of my game on Sunday.

Andreu made his bow for the France team in a three-minute cameo appearance as a substitute against Wales a fortnight ago.

"That was a first step. I'm now in the starting line-up against a fine Italy side that are having a great tournament.

"For my first start, I'm going to try and perform well so I can stay in this squad that is packed full of top players."

"This does not bother me at all. On the contrary. It should be seen as a strength and not as a weakness. I have always been small and it has never posed me any problems. I'll play to my qualities to beat my opponents," Andreu said.

That has been shown this season as the winger has become a key part of the Castres team, the surprise leaders of the Top 14 league, starting 20 times and scoring five tries in all competitions.

Born in the town of Frejus on the Cote d'Azur, Andreu grew up in southwest France in a small town outside Bordeaux.

But the pacey winger could well have been lining up for another French national team alongside Thierry Henry and Yoann Gourcuff: he spent his early teenage years concentrating on his football and played in the same youth team as Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh.

He took up rugby seriously at the age of 15 and later signed for Toulon in 2002.

In his seven-year spell with the southern club, Andreu became known for his lightning speed and mazy running with the ball, winning call-ups to France's Sevens and university sides.

Now Andreu is fulfilling a long-time dream in turning out for the full national team against the Italians.

"All kids who start playing rugby dream of one day playing for the French team and even one day appearing in the Six Nations," he said.

Italy have a wretched record in the tournament, having notched up only their seventh-ever win in ten years against Scotland a fortnight ago.

Yet Andreu is refusing to underestimate the threat they pose.

"We'll have to take the Italians very seriously after they beat Scotland. They played well against England and Ireland so we must be very careful," he said.

France V Italy Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Six Nations Rugby 2010 : Scotland V England Hospitality

Scotland will target this game as their “championship” having not won a single match in 2010.  While their final game against Ireland will be intense, to beat their oldest enemy would put them in the winner’s circle, but more importantly, will scuttle any hopes England have of winning the Six Nations rugby 2010.

Andy Robinson and his side will want to again take steps forward.  They were on the right path, being competitive against France and dominating Wales for most of the game.  But the loss to Italy in Rome was damaging coming into this game for two key reasons.

Again the spectre of being unable to score tries reared its head, with the Italians keeping their try line intact.  But worse still is that England will in all their glorified pragmatism know that they need not do anything particular intricate to beat a Scottish side that is slowly growing, but still seemingly missing the necessary munitions needed to win them a test match.

Still, while England march up North with a stronger record in this tournament, and with a stronger looking match day squad, this is far from a guarantee of any success.  Far more impressive English sides than Martin Johnson’s current hybrid have come to Murrayfield and lost.  

Much of Scotland’s ability to succeed in what is only their second and final home game in 2010 will come down to belief.  Any confidence they had carefully built up since Robinson came on board would have evaporated with their loss to the Azzurri.

But they can compete, and will need to heed their coach’s call to be ruthless against England.  Scotland’s two domestic sides, both who are in the top four of the Magners League, showed that Scottish rugby is stronger than their mediocre recent international record suggests.  

Captain Chris Cusiter himself said that the creating and hard work is being done by the team, it is just a case of being more clinical to finish moves - and by association matches - off.

Crucial to their hopes will be their Glasgow spine, with their entire back row and numbers 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the backline all being Warriors.  These combinations should ensure a little more cohesiveness on the field, and that could be the difference between the two sides.

Certainly the Scottish pack is strong enough to resist anything the English throw at them.

For England, they have made only two changes, bringing in Wasps flanker Joe Worsley and Tigers second rower Louis Deacon.  

With their backline retained from their loss against Ireland, it is now or never for what is England’s front line three quarter division.  A loss here, coupled with another directionless display from their on-field tacticians, should increase the cadence – and rightly so – for Johnson to look elsewhere for men to wear the red rose.

England does have the superior record overall against the teams, including winning nine of the last 12.  But since 2006 the ledger stands at 2 wins apiece.  

Scotland V England Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality

Lee Byrne warns Ireland that Wales will end their Triple Crown hopes

Wales full back Lee Byrne is gunning for Ireland and second place in the RBS Six Nations 2010.

The 29-year-old has been stunned by his country's bad luck in the championship, narrow losses to England and France just one score away from being victories.

But Byrne insists Wales can go to Croke Park this Saturday  and upset the Irish in their bid for a Triple Crown.

'We've got nothing to fear there,' said Byrne.

'It's been a very  odd year for us - both matches we lost we could have won and the match we won, we should have lost.

'The one thing about us is our fitness - we have some strong in the last 20 minutes of every match we have played.

'All we need to do now is start a bit stronger. Ireland are a very good side! but then again so are we.'

Victory in their final two games - against Ireland and Italy - will mean they cannot be overhauled by Scotland, Ireland or Italy with England having already lost a game as well.

'Second place is our goal now and that would be great given the start we had.'

Byrne himself has had a Six Nations in the spotlight. Initially suspended because of the 'subgate' fiasco when he became the 16th player on the pitch for Ospreys in the Heineken Cup against Leicester, he was able to play when the ban was lifted at the last minute.

Then he was accused of deliberately falling over under pressure when chasing a ball against Scotland, resulting in the Scot being sin binned and the penalty from which the Welsh drew level seconds from time.

They went on to grab an injury-time try through Shane Williams to beat the 13 men in blue.

Byrne, who had earlier scored a try, insisted he WAS tripped by Godman and that his opponent got what he deserved.     

The former Bridgend union and league player has joined up with RBS RugbyForce promoting the sport at grassroots level.

He said: 'I came through the grassroots system so it means a lot to me to put something back.  I'm happy to get involved with this because it means so much to so many people - including me.

'My days at Bridgend were really enjoyable and I made a lot of friends - I try and get back there whenever I can.

'RBS RugbyForce is spreading the word and the more people involved in the game the better for it - and the Wales team of course!'

Ireland V Wales Hospitality

Six Nations Hospitality