NH SNIPPETS!

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

from sportal.co.nz...

* Former All Blacks, Chiefs and Waikato five-eighths David Hill was in the thick of the action as Bristol maintained its lead in the English premiership with a 10-6 win over defending champion Sale. In a game of poor quality, Hill kicked a penalty goal during the first half which saw a 3-3 halftime score and then he converted the only try of the game, which was scored by No.8 Daniel Ward-Smith.It was Sale's fifth loss in its last six games.

* Former Canterbury three-quarter Joe Maddock played a key role in Bath's 30-19 win over Wasps. He scored two of three tries for the side which lifted itself from the bottom three of the competition.

* In a bottom of the table clash, last-placed Worcester beat second last Northampton 10-9. However, Worcester is still six points behind Northampton. Former All Blacks and Blues first five-eighths Carlos Spencer landed three penalty goals for Northampton but missed one late shot that could have provided the win.

* Harlequins improved its position to eighth with a 42-15 win over Newcastle. Former All Blacks and Crusaders first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens kicked two conversions, two penalty goals and a dropped goal for a 13-point haul.

* In the Celtic League, the Cardiff Blues beat the Llanelli Scarlets 29-10. The game was played in quagmire conditions at Cardiff Arms Park but the home team attempted to run the ball throughout. Former All Blacks fullback Ben Blair landed three conversions and a penalty goal for the Blues.

*  Brian Ashton, England's new coach, made his mark as on Tuesday by recalling World Cup-winner Jason Robinson 15 months after the fullback's international retirement & naming Phil Vickery as England's captain. Martin Corry has been dumped from this role but is still in the squad while four new caps, including the former British rugby league captain Andy Farrell are included too.

         Cheers,
             Baz 

 

[Gwynn]

And Wilko is injured again, selected for Englands 6 nations squad, but then ruled out due to injury if my memory serves me correctly.

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

*  France coach Bernard Laporte has picked four newcomers  in his 40-man squad for next month's Six Nations tournament. Centre Romain Cabannes and hooker Benoit August, who play for champions Biarritz, and Clermont prop Laurent Emmanuelli and fullback Anthony Floch were the uncapped players named.

                   Cheers,
                       Baz 

[England Jim]

And Tana is leaving France with an 8 from 9 record and his pockets full of Froggie dollars.

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

Is that wins, tries or new handbags, Jim?   Baz 

[England Jim]

world class Irish rugby players 

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

*  Paul Steinmetz, the former Hurricanes and Wellington five-eighths, turned goalkicker for his Ulster side in Celtic League action at the weekend.

*  While second-placed Ulster went down to Justin Marshall's fourth equal Ospreys 22-29, 17 of Ulster's points came from Steinmetz's boot. He landed five penalty goals and a conversion.

*   Ospreys have a share of fourth with Cardiff Blues who were soundly beaten 3-22 by Glasgow, with the Blues' only points coming from fullback Ben Blair who landed a penalty goal.

*    Leinster leads the league with 42 points, Ulster 40, Edinburgh 34, Blues and Ospreys 33.

*    In the English Premiership games, former Waikato and Chiefs first five-eighths Glen Jackson played a key role in Saracens beating London Irish 19-8.

*    He kicked four penalty goals and a conversion of the side's penalty try while Riki Flutey, the former Wellington and Hurricanes utility landed a penalty goal for the Exiles.

*    Saracens have moved to fifth place on the ladder while London Irish is ninth.

*    Former All Black and Chiefs five-eighths David Hill was absent due to illness as Bristol beat Northampton 14-8.

*    Former Samoa wing Brian Lima scored an 80m intercept try to give Bristol a key break in the game. Bristol is second in the premiership one point behind Leicester which has played one more game.

*    Carlos Spencer landed a penalty goal for Northampton which is second to last, in 11th on the ladder and only four points clear of bottom-placed Worcester.

*    Harlequins' winning run was halted by Bath 31-23 with Joe Maddock scoring a try for Bath. However, Harlequins remains in seventh, one place ahead of Bath.

                                Cheers,
                                   Baz 

[England Jim]

Aaron Mauger to join perenial high achievers Leicester Tigers after the world cup - two and a half year deal... current Leicester centers include fellow NZer Daryl Gibson and England occasional Ollie Smith.  The bad news is the ball has to get past uncle-Fester lookalike Andy Goode at fly-half first. 

[EREHWON WARRIORS]

* Italy coach Pierre Berbizier will step down from his post when his contract expires at the end of the World Cup in France.

* England coach Brian Ashton has warned that his touring party to South Africa could be a lesser force to be reckoned with should Wasps and Leicester reach the Heineken Cup final.  What's new?

* New Zealand, South Africa in U19 final 
The Baby Blacks will play the Bay Boks in the final of the International Rugby Board's Under-19 World Championship being played in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

* England's Rugby World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson has announced his retirement from all rugby. The 28-year-old forward has been suffering ongoing neck trouble but took a heavy blow during his last game for Northampton, the 17-8 Heineken Cup defeat to Biarritz on January 21

* Mike Tindall underwent surgery on Saturday to have a pin inserted into the lower third of the tibia in his right leg following the fracture suffered against Newcastle Falcons on Friday.

* French Federation President Bernard Lapasset is optimistic he can broker peace talks between the IRB Chairman Syd Millar and French clubs' boss Serge Blanco when the three convene at IRB headquarters in Dublin on Monday.

                                      Cheers,
                                        Baz