The
balance of power in World Rugby shifted on Saturday 6th
October with the Dragons beating Ulster in this bottom
of the table Magners League clash.
The whole game had a bit of a pre-season feel about it with a small crowd, cheerleaders and an early kick off. Ulster certainly played like it was pre-season and it was pretty depressing watching as they continually fell off tackles, forced passes, dropped passes and generally played like a group of players who had just been introduced to each other.
After bigging this team
up in Issue
67 the last two displays have been a real disappointment
to say the least. I'd penciled in 6 points for the three
games on the road and it looks like we’ll be lucky
to get one. However on the plus side at least we have
blooded quite a few Academy players and a few new combinations
have been tried. Also, in light of Ireland’s abysmal
World Cup performance and the subsequent success of England
and France, it might well be true that a severe beating
now and again can be good for the team - so long as the
ability to improve is there.
In the back three Danielli and Bart had games they’d rather forget but young McCrea continues to impress and drew lots of interest from the Dragons fans around us. Tommy is still struggling in the centre and Cave struggled to get into the game though he was unlucky to get tapped just short of the line.
O’Connor had an off day with his kicking out of hand and Marshall, despite passing crisply, didn’t bring any of the rest of his game.
Up front Wilson had a sound enough game in defence but McCullough lost it mid way through the first half and his binning was just plain stupidity. In the second row the impact of the old warrior Harrison has to be questioned, particularly if the pack is going backwards, Barker was solid if unspectacular. The front three had a quiet game and young Declan Fitzpatrick looked off the pace both in the set and loose.
It was good to see McMillan back, though his impact was negligible late in the game. Court did ok but Haslett, Campbell and Del Fava found it hard to get involved. Bryn brought on some reliability when he replaced Bart.
Hopefully the individual players have it within themselves to improve dramatically on the last two performances. Maybe the big match atmosphere at Strady may bring it out of them. If it doesn’t then next week’s game is going to be very hard to watch.
The FRU MotM goes unanimously to Roger Wilson.
Roger Wilson, last season's FRU Player of the Year, gets his second MotM nomination this season.
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Tom Court - The Interview!
The FRU asked Ulster's 'Irish Aussie' Tom Court some questions on Ulster, Ireland and The Pertemp Bees. Despite us calling him American, he answered them. (We fired our researcher later that day!)
Why Ulster? Why did you come to Ulster and not one of the other provinces?
I am irish-qualified through my grandparents (mother's side) and have dual citizenship (Australia/Ireland) therefore I am classed as a 'local' regardless of the accent. There was originally talk of possibly moving to one of the other provinces but in the end I was informed that the IRFU offered me a contract at Ulster as Allen Clarke was the forwards coach there and that he had a lot to offer as a coach.
What made you switch from shot-put to prop?
While I was still shot putting I was having
health problems such as high blood pressure, was weighing
in at around 140kg and just didn't feel healthy. I missed
out on selection for the World Student Games so decided
I needed a change in lifestyle and diet. I saw a flyer in
the gym for the Uni (University of Queensland) Rugby Club.
I started playing for a bit of fun but went from playing
6th grade to the premier grade grand final within the first
season. The rest has been a bit of a blur.
Tom Court, one of this seasons successes, in action against The Ospreys. (Photo courtesy of Rooster.)
Do you think you'll make it all the way to the full Ireland team? Did you enjoy your time with Ireland A?
To play for Ireland would be a dream come true but at this point in time I need to concentrate on trying to cement a spot in the Ulster side. The trip away with the Ireland A team was something I will always remember. I guess I was just as surprised as anyone to be selected for the squad but I tried to take full advantage of the opportunity and ended up starting all 3 games. On top of the games, I had never been to the USA or Canada so I had a great time sightseeing and getting to know the other team members.
How did you enjoy your time with Pertemps Bees? Do you prefer Belfast or Birmingham?
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Pertemps Bees in Birmingham. The whole purpose was obviously to get game time at a higher level than the AIL. The level of rugby was surprising tough and the scrummaging in particular was extremely challenging, enabling me to learn a great deal during the stint. I much prefer Belfast as I can live in my own home and hang out with my friends. Belfast has a much similar feel to Brisbane (my home city); just like a big friendly country town.
Any inside information on Steve Williams from your time there?
I have the highest respect for Steve from my time with him in Birmingham. What you see is what you get with Steve. He is very friendly and approachable, loves a good laugh and is just one of those guys with a natural 'rugby' brain. Inside goss - I'll keep you posted.
How does English National 1 stack up against The Magners League?
I didn't know what to expect as I had received mixed reviews.
I was surprised to find that the level of rugby, especially
with the top 5 or 6 teams, was very high. The scrummaging
was just as difficult as any of the teams in the ML and
there are a lot of big, powerful guys over there who have
spent 5-10 years playing in the premiership.
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On Tour With the FRU!
After reading last weeks report on the UAFC trip to Edinburgh, The FRU thought it was time to get on the road and decided to do a day trip to Newport for the Dragons game.
Got up at the ungodly hour of 5:30am to catch the 7:20am Eazy Jet to Bristol. Had to wait in Bristol Airport for five hours as the rest of the tour party came across on Ryanair from Dublin. (Tip Number 1. Don't book your flights at the last minute on a RWC Quarter Final weekend!) Spent most of the time in Bristol people watching. Came to the conclusion that it was the migratory season for plump slappers in dayglow tops and white trainers.
Rest of the party arrived and we sat-naved
it over to Bristol while listening to England Australia.
Caught the last half hour in the club bar at Rodney Parade.
A surprising amount of the locals were actually cheering
for the English!
A few pints later and we make our way over to Hazell Terrace where we arrive just in time to see the "Dancing Katz" chase the Ulster team off the pitch with their unique interpretation of the Haka in techno! Unfortunately this is the highlight of the match!
The match really was poor but we were
kept entertained by the locals and all in all Rodney Parade
is a friendly little ground. Disappointed with the size
of the crowd and it takes them a while to get warmed up
but it was good value. Met Darren Cave's dad who is the
spitting image of his son (or vice versa).
It was a high speed trip back to Bristol and despite a couple of pit stops we got there in time to see most of the France New Zealand game.
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Lady Panthers News.
The gorgeous Calia
flies the flag for the Lady Panthers Tour of Ireland!
Dear Rugby Enthusiasts:
As it stands, the Ladies are doing well for themselves so far this fall. A few injuries, but nothing extremely major for the players. It's another matter entirely for the coaching staff, however.
This last weekend ( 29 Sept ) the Lady Panthers managed to defeat the University of Wisconsin 31 - 7, and now sit comfortably atop the Wisconsin RFU Tier I League with 20 pool points over their 4 league matches. They're also sporting a point margin of +154.
If things go well, this should see the Lady Panthers take the WRFU Automatic bid into the Midwest RFU Playoffs.
This coming weekend ( 6 Oct ) the Ladies will close out
their Tier I League Season against UW-Eau Claire. As the
UWEC Women have sustained quite a few injuries this fall,
the Lady Panthers have scheduled a second match this weekend
with the Minnesota Valkyries. The Valkyries are currently
ranked nationally as the #3 Women's Club Team. We're hoping
for a good test for our A-side. We're also hoping that we
do draw their genuine B-side, and they leave their players
from the WNT at home....Eau Claire does not have a major
Trauma Centre in the area.
To say the least, the Panther's outlook on the Valkyries match is positive. We put the additional match against the Valkyries to an officer vote prior to accepting. I received a call from the Club Treasurer about the match. Her response was, "Yeah, we'll play. We've got nothing else to do." Out of the mouths of babes, right?
The Lady Panthers' own Kati McCormick
has received some honours of late. Last week Kati was
named to USA Rugby's Collegiate All-American Second Team.
This week, Kati was selected to tour with the USA Eagles
Women's National Team in December. She still plans to
tour Ireland and Northern Ireland with the Panthers this
January.
Her parents are getting very tired of her asking for money, so please feel free to send her any large sacks of cash you may have lying around to help her pay for her travel. She's still in hock to her parents for her tour of New Zealand with the U-23 National Team this July and her Tour of England, Scotland and Wales with the U-19 National Team this last February.
However, even small contributions are welcome. Considering the current lack of strength of the US Dollar, a £1.00 donation can pay for a week of training for Ms. McCormick. A £5 note can buy her a new car, and pay for a year's schooling. Please consider a yearly sponsorship. For a £200 donation, Kati can buy Rhode Island (it's a small state) and a private Jet with a pilot. Just £0.55 a day - less that the price of a cup of coffee - can help Ms. McCormick achieve her dreams!
The coaches would gladly help subsidize her travel, but we're still paying off our medical bills from trying to practice against her. After a broken nose, a torn Achilles tendon, a slipped disk, two broken ribs and lots and lots of pain, we simply haven't the resources to help her out at this point. For those of you who have been in the chat rooms with Coach Jeff, now you understand why we call her McSMACK.
Please remember, any donation made to Ms. McCormick or the Lady Panther Rugby Football Club qualifies you for Tax Credit. Please consider donating to us using Gift Aid to reduce your tax liability! Come to think of it, does anyone work for the Assembly? These donations may qualify as Foreign Aid.
Thank you for your generous offer of accommodations
for the Lady Panther Women while they are in Northern
Ireland. As our US currency doesn't go very
far anymore, we just may take you up on your offer!
As for your questions,
1) You may certainly pick the team from the pictures
on the web site. In fact, in response to your
request, we've updated the site with all the available
photos of the team this fall! Please feel
free to visit: http://www.uwm.edu/StudentOrg/lprfc/multimedia/index.htm.
2) Well, as for the 16 year-old age limit, I can't make any guarantees. We may be cutting it pretty close to the wire. Our youngest touring player has a birthday in mid-January, and we may have to keep her under armed guard until her birthday has passed to avoid any potential international incidents.
3) Our scrum halves come in three varieties: medium, wee and extra-wee. But you will have to make your own arrangements. Rates apply.
Again, on behalf of the Ladies, we extend you our warm regards and hope this message finds you well.
Yours etc.,
The Coaches.
Dear Coaches,
(Are you by any chance related
to the famous Red Indian chief of the same name?)
Anyway, thanks for your prompt reply to my questions.
You will be pleased to know that everything is going
dead on for your visit. Yesterday I bought one of
them big bottles of disinfectant and on Saturday
we should have Ballpark's house cleaned up enough
so the pigs can move in.
Two of the animals will be sharing with the girls
- "O'Sullivan", who is too obstinate to
be moved, and "O'Gara", who's just a useless
runt (at least I think that's what Boomshanka said).
We tried to form a ladies team so we could play
yez a game, but all the weemin that turned up for
the trial had facial hair and deep voices and wanted
to play in the front row. It was very strange.
Hope all is ok out in the Colonies!
Yours in sport (and a lotta pigs**t),
Gary Grousebeater
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Week 6.
Weekend Friday 12th October 2007.
Scarlets v Ulster
Blues v Connacht
Edinburgh v Dragons
Warriors v Leinster
Ospreys v Munster
Predictions to be in by 6:00pm Friday
12th October.
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FANTASY EDDIE
RWC 2007
Congratulations to Jackie Brown on being the winner of the Fantasy Eddie competition. Unless he wants it sooner, Jackie will be presented with his prize by a player at the next FRU Awards Night.
Special mention for Goody. If only she had entered a team for Georgia it could be her getting a special prize from Besty!
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