We still lose with an aggregate score of 17-19. One measly kick. The Women's side redeemed themselves winning 15-3 and claiming the Elgon Cup with an aggregate score of 21-18.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Kenya to Face Uganda in Return Fixture
Kenya XV will face their Ugandan counterparts in the return leg of the Elgon Cup tomorrow. Kenya need to overturn a 14 point deficit to take the cup. The team is as below.
22. Kelvin Otieno Omiyo (Homeboyz), 21. Isaac Adimo (Quins), 20. Leslie Libasia (Quins), 19. Anthony Mutai (Quins), 18. Kevin Umbuge (Impala), 17.Duncan Mwangi (Nakuru), 16.
Curtis Lilako (KCB), 15. Chris Oduor (Quins), 14. Vincent Mose (Impala), 13. Dennis Muhanji (Quins), 12. Nick Barasa (Quins), 11. Tony Onyango (Strathmore), 10. Eden Agero (Quins), 9. Peter Mutai (KCB), 8. Lawrence Buyachi (Impala), 7. Brian Nyikuli (Quins), 6.Duncan Ekasi (Impala), 5. Ronnie Mwenesi (Nondies), 4. Wilson Kopondo (Quins), 3. Dennis Karani (Quins), 2. Sammy Warui (Nakuru), 1. Joel Ng’ang’a (Quins, CAPTAIN) Michael Otieno (HEAD COACH), Dominique Habimana (ASST. COACH), Wangila Simiyu (TEAM MANAGER), Chris Makachia (PHYSIO)
All the best in the match. At stake is also a further slide in our rankings.
22. Kelvin Otieno Omiyo (Homeboyz), 21. Isaac Adimo (Quins), 20. Leslie Libasia (Quins), 19. Anthony Mutai (Quins), 18. Kevin Umbuge (Impala), 17.Duncan Mwangi (Nakuru), 16.
Curtis Lilako (KCB), 15. Chris Oduor (Quins), 14. Vincent Mose (Impala), 13. Dennis Muhanji (Quins), 12. Nick Barasa (Quins), 11. Tony Onyango (Strathmore), 10. Eden Agero (Quins), 9. Peter Mutai (KCB), 8. Lawrence Buyachi (Impala), 7. Brian Nyikuli (Quins), 6.Duncan Ekasi (Impala), 5. Ronnie Mwenesi (Nondies), 4. Wilson Kopondo (Quins), 3. Dennis Karani (Quins), 2. Sammy Warui (Nakuru), 1. Joel Ng’ang’a (Quins, CAPTAIN) Michael Otieno (HEAD COACH), Dominique Habimana (ASST. COACH), Wangila Simiyu (TEAM MANAGER), Chris Makachia (PHYSIO)
All the best in the match. At stake is also a further slide in our rankings.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Mowen reveals frustration
A disappointed Ben Mowen felt Brumbies deserved something at altitude against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium but insisted they would take the positives out a 36-34 defeat.
The men from Canberra, coached by former Springbok World Cup-winning coach Jake White, were labelled outsiders in the rugby previews leading up to the match.
They arrived for the round nine fixture having not won in Pretoria since 2006 when coming away with a 21-27 scoreline.
A squad packed with players with little experience of touring in South Africawere notngiven much hope by punters placing online bets but they played with credit and the Australian side took two bonus points for their try-scoring effort and a narrow defeat.
Henry Speight, Jesse Mogg, Andrew Smith, Ian Prior and Anthony Hegart all went over for the Brumbies and the manner of the tight defeat made it all the more frustrating.
"A lot of positives come out of it," said Mowen, who left the field injured with a back/neck injury shortly after the start of the second half.
He added: "One or two things go our way and we're away. I was really happy with our attacking game."
Speight came close to winning the game for the Australian Conference leaders but dropped the ball over the try-line.
"We've got some work left on our defence," said Bulls captain and eighth-man Pierre Spies, who was grateful for fly-half Morne Steyn's 26-point haul.
The Brumbies stay at altitude for a game against the Lions at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on Friday, before returning to Australia for a May 5 fixture against the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium.
The men from Canberra, coached by former Springbok World Cup-winning coach Jake White, were labelled outsiders in the rugby previews leading up to the match.
They arrived for the round nine fixture having not won in Pretoria since 2006 when coming away with a 21-27 scoreline.
A squad packed with players with little experience of touring in South Africawere notngiven much hope by punters placing online bets but they played with credit and the Australian side took two bonus points for their try-scoring effort and a narrow defeat.
Henry Speight, Jesse Mogg, Andrew Smith, Ian Prior and Anthony Hegart all went over for the Brumbies and the manner of the tight defeat made it all the more frustrating.
"A lot of positives come out of it," said Mowen, who left the field injured with a back/neck injury shortly after the start of the second half.
He added: "One or two things go our way and we're away. I was really happy with our attacking game."
Speight came close to winning the game for the Australian Conference leaders but dropped the ball over the try-line.
"We've got some work left on our defence," said Bulls captain and eighth-man Pierre Spies, who was grateful for fly-half Morne Steyn's 26-point haul.
The Brumbies stay at altitude for a game against the Lions at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on Friday, before returning to Australia for a May 5 fixture against the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Weekly Ramble
Let me try and get back into the stride. The previous post by Ruggerbug got me thinking? What accountability do we hold on our leaders? Are their grand plans just that or actual things they work towards. From his previous unsuccessful campaign to the current one that he won, the current chairman has always said he was going to restore fifteens rugby to glory and its rightful place in the hierarchy of local rugby. For one who has always espoused those illusions, the actions are totally counteractive and seem to point to the opposite. Do we really understand and care about fifteens rugby? From a sponsorless league to bloated fixtures. From more games needed to less games played. To what end?
Add to that a balance sheet that was in the black to one now deeply in the red. An asset halfway acquired to nothing to hold onto at all. An executive afraid of making the casting vote to break a deadlock in public while privately supporting one candidate over the other speaks volumes about mode of operation. I will work behind your back but not ready to stand and defend it. And finally a totally single sided disciplinary and appeals committee, brethren, how did that one sneak past us?
Then the most hyped up rugby tournament outside of South Africa, supposed to raise funds and build the image of the fifteens team, takes place after our most crucial matches! And after enduring a harrowing 40 hour journey, now the money comes rolling in. Or is none of that money for the fifteens? And as always, strangers now appear and take charge at the Union. But going by track records, this will not be another Safaricom Sevens fiasco. Speaking of which, has the audit report ever been made public? Or don't we care? All we want to do is play! Well one day, we may not even be able to do that playing!!
Return match this weekend against Uganda. In the past I have wailed and railed and it seems nothing will ever change. The National Rugby Coach in neither a strategist, nor a decision maker.Nor is he a planner or a developer. I have said it again and again. He is just a selector of a match day squad. No wait, we have national selectors, or don't we? The National Coach has got to play a major role in all rugby planning for the country. He needs to have major input in fixtures, national and international. He should have a say in player development, both junior and senior. And as far as rugby goes, his word should be last! Or have we no faith hin him?
Add to that a balance sheet that was in the black to one now deeply in the red. An asset halfway acquired to nothing to hold onto at all. An executive afraid of making the casting vote to break a deadlock in public while privately supporting one candidate over the other speaks volumes about mode of operation. I will work behind your back but not ready to stand and defend it. And finally a totally single sided disciplinary and appeals committee, brethren, how did that one sneak past us?
Then the most hyped up rugby tournament outside of South Africa, supposed to raise funds and build the image of the fifteens team, takes place after our most crucial matches! And after enduring a harrowing 40 hour journey, now the money comes rolling in. Or is none of that money for the fifteens? And as always, strangers now appear and take charge at the Union. But going by track records, this will not be another Safaricom Sevens fiasco. Speaking of which, has the audit report ever been made public? Or don't we care? All we want to do is play! Well one day, we may not even be able to do that playing!!
Return match this weekend against Uganda. In the past I have wailed and railed and it seems nothing will ever change. The National Rugby Coach in neither a strategist, nor a decision maker.Nor is he a planner or a developer. I have said it again and again. He is just a selector of a match day squad. No wait, we have national selectors, or don't we? The National Coach has got to play a major role in all rugby planning for the country. He needs to have major input in fixtures, national and international. He should have a say in player development, both junior and senior. And as far as rugby goes, his word should be last! Or have we no faith hin him?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Blast from the Past
Lifted from a KRU Press Release of June 10, 2011.
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES START TAKING EFFECT AT KRU
After a satisfactory performance by a Kenya team against visiting South Africa provincial side Ford Pumas on Wednesday, early signs are that intentions by the Kenya Rugby Union to revamp the 15 aside sport, both in performance and administration, are well founded and on course.
Immediate benefits of KRU's contacts with Ford Pumas are already rolling in; and they include:
(i)Pumas agreement to provide personnel to develop our national team's "Front Five". Our technically efficient visitors have said they will assist, on a continual basis, to train our players in this department.
(ii)Three [3] talented players, ages between 20-23, will be taken under the wings of Ford Pumas and play professional rugby in South Africa. The Ford Pumas will undertake to always release them, and ONLY, for national duty.
(iii)The Kenya v Ford Pumas fixture to be an annual one, henceforth.
(iv)KRU is looking for ways of participating at the annual Mpumalanga under 19
competition which is also an annual fixture. The Pumas beat a Kenya Select XV 48-22 on Wednesday, a clash between Kenya and the tourists at the RFUEA ground on Saturday, 4pm is expected to be a thrillingclimax to the tour. You will remember, last year Kenya had lost to Ford Pumas 101-7.
In the backdrop of this tour activity is the KRU's implementation of promised concrete measures to change the way it has operated in the last few years. The aim is to bring on efficiency in the way of running the union in order to raise the playing standards under the theme of "More Rugby, Quality Rugby", with serious focus on the player.
Last week, the Board of the KRU unanimously passed to make administration changes at its secretariat. Incumbent KRU General Manager was given leave pending staff restructuring. His duties are being performed by Barbara Kokonya on temporary capacity.
Deloitte Touché, providers of audit, consulting, financial and tax advisory, are currently assisting the KRU to solve critical business issues by providing a unique blend of operational and advisory skills including Human Resource Deployment.
The post of the KRU General Manager will, as soon as possible, be advertised for competitive filling. Instructively, Deloitte Touché are the advisors on governance of the IRB [International Rugby Board] and we are grateful to the Deloitte Kenya office for the invaluable assistance.
Governance changes at the KRU will continue being implemented during this "off-season" period to enable a fresh start in the coming one. The recent IRB Sevens world circuit and our high profile Bamburi Super Series competition have come to a close. It was important to wait for the conclusion of those events before re-structuring was done. The new season, including the top draw Safaricom Sevens in November, should find improved administration well in place.
Meanwhile, work has started in the formation of the approved sub-unions of Western Kenya, Coast and Kenyan Universities. In fact, Mr Oscar Oyowo, the KRU sub-committee chairman on the formation of Western Kenya Union, has given assurance elsewhere, that the sub-union will have been constituted, and up-and-running, after about 30 days from today.
Western Kenya, Coast and the University of Nairobi teams will take part in next season's top rugby league, the Kenya Cup.
Yours Sincerely
Mwangi Muthee
Chairman KRU.
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES START TAKING EFFECT AT KRU
After a satisfactory performance by a Kenya team against visiting South Africa provincial side Ford Pumas on Wednesday, early signs are that intentions by the Kenya Rugby Union to revamp the 15 aside sport, both in performance and administration, are well founded and on course.
Immediate benefits of KRU's contacts with Ford Pumas are already rolling in; and they include:
(i)Pumas agreement to provide personnel to develop our national team's "Front Five". Our technically efficient visitors have said they will assist, on a continual basis, to train our players in this department.
(ii)Three [3] talented players, ages between 20-23, will be taken under the wings of Ford Pumas and play professional rugby in South Africa. The Ford Pumas will undertake to always release them, and ONLY, for national duty.
(iii)The Kenya v Ford Pumas fixture to be an annual one, henceforth.
(iv)KRU is looking for ways of participating at the annual Mpumalanga under 19
competition which is also an annual fixture. The Pumas beat a Kenya Select XV 48-22 on Wednesday, a clash between Kenya and the tourists at the RFUEA ground on Saturday, 4pm is expected to be a thrillingclimax to the tour. You will remember, last year Kenya had lost to Ford Pumas 101-7.
In the backdrop of this tour activity is the KRU's implementation of promised concrete measures to change the way it has operated in the last few years. The aim is to bring on efficiency in the way of running the union in order to raise the playing standards under the theme of "More Rugby, Quality Rugby", with serious focus on the player.
Last week, the Board of the KRU unanimously passed to make administration changes at its secretariat. Incumbent KRU General Manager was given leave pending staff restructuring. His duties are being performed by Barbara Kokonya on temporary capacity.
Deloitte Touché, providers of audit, consulting, financial and tax advisory, are currently assisting the KRU to solve critical business issues by providing a unique blend of operational and advisory skills including Human Resource Deployment.
The post of the KRU General Manager will, as soon as possible, be advertised for competitive filling. Instructively, Deloitte Touché are the advisors on governance of the IRB [International Rugby Board] and we are grateful to the Deloitte Kenya office for the invaluable assistance.
Governance changes at the KRU will continue being implemented during this "off-season" period to enable a fresh start in the coming one. The recent IRB Sevens world circuit and our high profile Bamburi Super Series competition have come to a close. It was important to wait for the conclusion of those events before re-structuring was done. The new season, including the top draw Safaricom Sevens in November, should find improved administration well in place.
Meanwhile, work has started in the formation of the approved sub-unions of Western Kenya, Coast and Kenyan Universities. In fact, Mr Oscar Oyowo, the KRU sub-committee chairman on the formation of Western Kenya Union, has given assurance elsewhere, that the sub-union will have been constituted, and up-and-running, after about 30 days from today.
Western Kenya, Coast and the University of Nairobi teams will take part in next season's top rugby league, the Kenya Cup.
Yours Sincerely
Mwangi Muthee
Chairman KRU.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Weekly Ramble
I remember when I first installed the counter, I waited for the first hit. I then thought of ways to build visitors to the site. I joined blog aggregators. I looked for tips on how to improve traffic. I posted on comments on other blogs. I did all manner of things. But in the end I still had to write, or else it all did not matter. The more I wrote the more I realised why writing is an occupation on its own. You need a clear mind and a focus to keep at it. To keep it interesting, you needed variety. And writing in various ways was not my strength. I write straight from the heart. Hence my several appeals for guest writers. Some took up the challenge, and I am eternally grateful to Ruggerbug, Back2Basics, JustaFan and just as much to Women's Rugby and Guestblogger. But I think in the end they felt as I did. The blog readers and commentators also kept me going. And for a while all my articles were prompted by comments to prior posts. But those soon dried up as well. And it got more difficult.
This made me wonder, are blogs a passing fad? What is their pupose? It seems that they are mainly written with people with bones to grind, or issues to air. And once those diminish or reduce, what is the motivation? With Twitter now available, seems most of the bloggers went that way. And as if to lay credence, the biggest African Blog Aggregator went under. The biggest Kenyan one is now dead. There were days I had to do two or three posts in a day just to appear in the first 20 listings consistently. Now no more.
When I started, some bloggers writing on Rugby in Kenya stopped. Glad that I picked up the mantle? I don't know. I vaguely remember Seasons and Reasons, a lady supporter of the National team in the UK and a few others. They abruptly stopped as well. And now the proliferation of Rugby Blogs leaves me with the same feeling. I have done my time and maybe I need to let others carry on. My only concern is that no one asks the hard questions. It is all glossy and self serving. Has the Union improved in governance? Is it now fully transparent? Are things running smoothly? Was the transition from one chair to the next smooth? Have the old administrations programmes been shelved or improved on? Are the union books in a better financial position than they were two years ago? Nobody asks these questions any more, under the excuse that the only thing the players want is to play rugby. And under that guise all manner of ill is visited upon the rugby fraternity. If all the players want to do is play, it begs more questions than answers as if that is the message being sent out, it is not the one being received. But I digress. That was not mine for today.
In my slumber the blog crossed 100,000 visitors. No mean feat as I remember watching the counter hit 10, then 100, then 1000 and 10000 and that was all so long ago. Though it feels like forever, it has been worth it, every single count, every single day. And I thank you, our readers/visitors. For your loyalty, and for your encouragement when I needed it. But now at this turning point, I will have to search within myself, find renewed energy and see how to keep up the faith.
Do have a good weekend and do enjoy your rugby. Will see if I can give my thoughts on the Elgon Cup tomorrow.
Lam wants winning return
Pat Lam has vowed there will be no backing down from his under-performing Blues players when they face the Highlanders in the rugby league live online clash at Dunedin on Friday night.
Lam's men will be aiming to snap a four-game winless run at the end of what has been an emotionally-charged week in which the coach revealed he had been subjected to racist abuse by disenchanted fans.
The omens do not look good - the Blues went through the entire Super 14 without beating the Sharks once and have lost the last seven games against their opponents, something punters who bet on rugby league will take note of.
Lam says key to victory is combating the southerners' noted intensity at the breakdown and has demanded his players front up.
"You have to be lower, you have to be physical and you have to get into it," he said on Wednesday.
Hadleigh Parkes has been named at fullback and Lam said the 24-year-old deserved the No 15 shirt.
"One of the things that's impressed us is that he is a 100 per cent man," he added.
Lam also revealed he had handed the captaincy to loose forward Luke Braid, in the absence of hooker Keven Mealamu, after first consulting senior players Tony Woodcock and Ali Williams.
Blues: Hadleigh Parkes, George Moala, Rene Ranger, Ma'a Nonu, Benson Stanley, Gareth Anscombe, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saili, Luke Braid (capt), Chris Lowrey, Filo Paulo, Ali Williams, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tony Woodcock. Res: James Parsons, Tevita Mailau, Liaki Moli, Dan Braid, Piri Weepu, Michael Hobbs, David Raikuna.
Highlanders v Blues, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
19:35 local, 07:35 GMT, 08:35 BST
Lam's men will be aiming to snap a four-game winless run at the end of what has been an emotionally-charged week in which the coach revealed he had been subjected to racist abuse by disenchanted fans.
The omens do not look good - the Blues went through the entire Super 14 without beating the Sharks once and have lost the last seven games against their opponents, something punters who bet on rugby league will take note of.
Lam says key to victory is combating the southerners' noted intensity at the breakdown and has demanded his players front up.
"You have to be lower, you have to be physical and you have to get into it," he said on Wednesday.
Hadleigh Parkes has been named at fullback and Lam said the 24-year-old deserved the No 15 shirt.
"One of the things that's impressed us is that he is a 100 per cent man," he added.
Lam also revealed he had handed the captaincy to loose forward Luke Braid, in the absence of hooker Keven Mealamu, after first consulting senior players Tony Woodcock and Ali Williams.
Blues: Hadleigh Parkes, George Moala, Rene Ranger, Ma'a Nonu, Benson Stanley, Gareth Anscombe, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saili, Luke Braid (capt), Chris Lowrey, Filo Paulo, Ali Williams, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tony Woodcock. Res: James Parsons, Tevita Mailau, Liaki Moli, Dan Braid, Piri Weepu, Michael Hobbs, David Raikuna.
Highlanders v Blues, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
19:35 local, 07:35 GMT, 08:35 BST
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Roach eyeing Ponting scalp
Kemar Roach has promised he will "keep coming" for principal target Ricky Ponting as West Indies attempt to level the three-match Test series against Australia at Port of Spain.
The two famously first clashed in 2009 when 21-year-old top-flight newcomer Roach forced Aussie legend Ponting to retire hurt with a badly bruised elbow during a Test match at the WACA. It brought about a clamour from the world's top bowlers to target the combative Tasmanian with the short ball.
They renewed hostilities in the first Test of the Baggy Greens' tour of the Caribbean when Roach claimed the prize wicket of Ponting, arguably the most uncompromising player of his generation, with an unstoppable delivery in the first innings in Trinidad.
Punters who bet on Australian cricket backed the visitors to succeed and they certainly began well, ending day one of the second Test at Port of Spain on 208-5, having won the toss and deciding to bat.
Ponting, playing in his first Test since losing his ODI place, knows he is under pressure to perform ahead of the home Test matches against South Africa in November and there a number of cricket bets being placed regarding the veteran and his battle with his young opponent, who says he is ready to capitalise on any doubts.
The 23-year-old St Lucia-born star said: "Ricky Ponting's a great batsman, a legend of cricket. To get that wicket, on a difficult pitch, easy for batting, it's very good."
"I'll keep coming at him, that's my job, and I want to do it to the best of my ability," Roach added. "I say he's a challenge, I won't say I have the wood on him, he's a great batsman, I respect what he's done in cricket, but I have a job to do for my team. If that's to run at him, then I'm going to do it."
Monday, April 9, 2012
McCaw "progressing slowly"
Rugby previews:
Richie McCaw's admission that he is "progressing slowly" means he is unlikely to play for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby match against the Stormers at Rugby League Park in Christchurch on Saturday.
Hopes were high that the All Blacks superstar was closing in on a return to competitive rugby having not played since helping his country win the Webb Ellis trophy on home soil at the end of last year because of an ongoing foot injury.
Six months of rehabilitation have passed but the 103 Test veteran is still not able train with his Crusaders team-mates and is short of match sharpness.
"I've been progressing slowly," he told the Sunday Star-Times.
The 31-year-old said he would not be putting himself under pressure to name his comeback date because he was still not up to the required fitness levels, although reports have suggested he might have to wait another month before making his long-awaited return.
He added: "People ask when I'm going to be back and I'm reluctant to put time on it because I'm still not really 100 per cent sure.
"It's just a matter of progressing as you need to.
"From straight running to changing directions, I'm just doing that so hopefully before too long before I'll be back with boots on and training, getting match fit."
McCaw would not be drawn on suggestions he could move to Italy later this season to take up an option of playing abroad under his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union, which runs until 2015.
The Otago native said his priority was to get games under his belt but refused to rule out a future move.
"There's no doubt, it's nice to have that option," he added.
"If you're going to get through to the next world cup, then that's something that, if it means carrying on playing at the level I need to be at, could be quite important."
Those wanting to bet on rugby league would do well to keep track of these developments.
Richie McCaw's admission that he is "progressing slowly" means he is unlikely to play for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby match against the Stormers at Rugby League Park in Christchurch on Saturday.
Hopes were high that the All Blacks superstar was closing in on a return to competitive rugby having not played since helping his country win the Webb Ellis trophy on home soil at the end of last year because of an ongoing foot injury.
Six months of rehabilitation have passed but the 103 Test veteran is still not able train with his Crusaders team-mates and is short of match sharpness.
"I've been progressing slowly," he told the Sunday Star-Times.
The 31-year-old said he would not be putting himself under pressure to name his comeback date because he was still not up to the required fitness levels, although reports have suggested he might have to wait another month before making his long-awaited return.
He added: "People ask when I'm going to be back and I'm reluctant to put time on it because I'm still not really 100 per cent sure.
"It's just a matter of progressing as you need to.
"From straight running to changing directions, I'm just doing that so hopefully before too long before I'll be back with boots on and training, getting match fit."
McCaw would not be drawn on suggestions he could move to Italy later this season to take up an option of playing abroad under his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union, which runs until 2015.
The Otago native said his priority was to get games under his belt but refused to rule out a future move.
"There's no doubt, it's nice to have that option," he added.
"If you're going to get through to the next world cup, then that's something that, if it means carrying on playing at the level I need to be at, could be quite important."
Those wanting to bet on rugby league would do well to keep track of these developments.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Cave targets Heineken Cup success
Ulster centre Darren Cave hopes that if he impresses in the Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Munster he can force his way into the Ireland team.
The 25-year-old believes that if he, Paul Marshall, Dan Tuohy and Chris Henry play well in the game – where the rugby odds suggest they are outsiders - they can earn a place in Declan Kidney’s squad for the summer tour of New Zealand.
Ireland are scheduled to play three Tests against the All Blacks in June.
"There are times when it does slip into your head," said Cave when asked about an international call-up.
“But a lot of the players who have been on the fringes have sort of forgotten about it.
“There is very much a feeling in the Ulster squad that there are players who have been unlucky with
Ireland and we feel the only way to change that is to go and win something. We’re trying to beat Munster this weekend and win this competition."
Cave has represented Ireland on just two occasions, against Canada and the USA in the 2009 Churchill Cup, but Keith Earls has been preferred ever since.
Earls has already won 30 caps and scored 12 tries but has been helped by Cave’s poor recent injury record.
Cave was only on the replacements bench for last year’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Northampton after suffering an ill-timed injury and earlier this year missed the entire Six Nations campaign when he had been backed to replace long-term injury victim Brian O’Driscoll.
Ulster reached the last eight of the Heineken Cup by finishing second in Pool 4 behind Clermont while Munster topped Pool 1, which also included Scarlets, Northampton and Castres.
The 25-year-old believes that if he, Paul Marshall, Dan Tuohy and Chris Henry play well in the game – where the rugby odds suggest they are outsiders - they can earn a place in Declan Kidney’s squad for the summer tour of New Zealand.
Ireland are scheduled to play three Tests against the All Blacks in June.
"There are times when it does slip into your head," said Cave when asked about an international call-up.
“But a lot of the players who have been on the fringes have sort of forgotten about it.
“There is very much a feeling in the Ulster squad that there are players who have been unlucky with
Ireland and we feel the only way to change that is to go and win something. We’re trying to beat Munster this weekend and win this competition."
Cave has represented Ireland on just two occasions, against Canada and the USA in the 2009 Churchill Cup, but Keith Earls has been preferred ever since.
Earls has already won 30 caps and scored 12 tries but has been helped by Cave’s poor recent injury record.
Cave was only on the replacements bench for last year’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Northampton after suffering an ill-timed injury and earlier this year missed the entire Six Nations campaign when he had been backed to replace long-term injury victim Brian O’Driscoll.
Ulster reached the last eight of the Heineken Cup by finishing second in Pool 4 behind Clermont while Munster topped Pool 1, which also included Scarlets, Northampton and Castres.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wyles keen to challenge on two fronts
Chris Wyles sees no reason why Saracens can’t seal a place
in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup for only the second time in the club’s
history.
Clermont Auvergne stand in last year’s Aviva Premiership
Grand Final winner’s way but Wyles insists confidence is high in the Sarries
camp, despite going into the game as outsiders in the rugby betting
and last weekend’s disappointing defeat to Harlequins.
Saracens missed out on the chance to go to the top of the Aviva Premiership table when they lost 24-19 to Quins in front of a world-record crowd for a club rugby union match of 83,761 at Wembley.
Wyles said: “We’ve quickly shifted our focus to this weekend. It was a hard loss to take, but at the end of the day we didn’t play well enough and Quins deserved their victory.
“It’s quite nice to be the last English team left in the competition and we just want to make sure we do as well as we can. I certainly think that our squad is strong enough to keep on challenging on two fronts.”
Clermont have one of the best squads in European rugby but have never made it beyond the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and have a reputation for being poor travellers.
The two sides met in the pool stages of the competition last year, when the French side won both matches.
Saracens welcome back centre Brad Barritt for the quarter-final after he was rested for the Harlequins game but former SouthAfrica skipper John Smit, who spent the 2007/08 season playing for Clermont, misses out through injury.
Saracens missed out on the chance to go to the top of the Aviva Premiership table when they lost 24-19 to Quins in front of a world-record crowd for a club rugby union match of 83,761 at Wembley.
Wyles said: “We’ve quickly shifted our focus to this weekend. It was a hard loss to take, but at the end of the day we didn’t play well enough and Quins deserved their victory.
“It’s quite nice to be the last English team left in the competition and we just want to make sure we do as well as we can. I certainly think that our squad is strong enough to keep on challenging on two fronts.”
Clermont have one of the best squads in European rugby but have never made it beyond the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and have a reputation for being poor travellers.
The two sides met in the pool stages of the competition last year, when the French side won both matches.
Saracens welcome back centre Brad Barritt for the quarter-final after he was rested for the Harlequins game but former SouthAfrica skipper John Smit, who spent the 2007/08 season playing for Clermont, misses out through injury.
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