ALL IN THE SCRUM:A rugby miscellany
IRISH SCRUMHALF Eoin Reddan turned up at Riverview last week for Ireland’s Davis Cup match against Luxemburg.
Reddan is friendly with Irish professional Conor Niland, who is ranked 131 in the world. The two sportsmen grew up together in Limerick before taking separate sporting paths.
“Conor lived next door to me so we grew up quite good friends,” said Reddan.
“I hadnt seen him play but I met him in Riverview and I heard he was playing so I asked him for tickets to watch him play.
“He was incredible. If you havent gone to see live tennis, just the power of it . . . I keep a close eye on him and hes done very well this season. Hopefully he can keep climbing those rankings. He played a bit of rugby and we played a bit of soccer together as well, but you could always hear the bang of a ball from the other side of the wall.
“We were probably lobbing rugby balls into his house and he was hitting tennis balls into ours. In fairness hes always applied himself hard to the sport. Its all about personal achievement and knowing yourself. Being 130 in the world is hard for most people to understand how good that is. In rugby terms its probably the equivalent of winning the Heineken Cup.”
€17.3m boost for Ravenhill
Ulster Rugby will receive funding worth almost €17.3 million from the Northern Ireland Executive for the final stages of the development of Ravenhill. Rugby, along with soccer and GAA, were the main benefactors of a €160 million handout during the week.
The money has already been earmarked for redevelopment of sections of the Ravenhill ground, which has been modernised in part in recent years. Three new stands are planned at the north, the east and at the end of the pitch behind the goals at the Aquinas School end.
Youngs warns England
Ben Youngs has declared that England’s Six Nations campaign would be rendered a “shambles” if they lose to Scotland on Sunday.
England are unbeaten after three matches and on the trail of a first championship title and Grand Slam since the World Cup-winning year of 2003.
All mention of the Grand Slam is banned within the camp but Youngs is not afraid to hold it up as England’s ambition, knowing every player is aware what it will take to achieve.
Victories over Wales, Italy and France have carried England three steps along the way – and Youngs warned them not to waste that promising work.
“Everyone is fully aware there is something special happening in the squad and if we play to our potential there is no reason we can’t win the Grand Slam,” Youngs said.
“It is a phrase we are not allowed to say! It is the target but if you know what obstacles are in your way you should be alright.
“We are fully aware of the threat Scotland pose. We are three from three but there are such big challenges ahead. If we lose this weekend it will be a disaster.
“It would end up being a shambles of a Six Nations because we have come so far. It would be like taking five steps forward and 10 steps back,” added Youngs, who made his England debut off the bench against Scotland a year ago.
Kaplan's 60th test world record
What you need to know about today’s referee Jonathan Kaplan
1. He is from Durban, SA.
2. He majored in economics and psychology from the University of Capetown
3. He became the first referee to reach the milestone of 50 Test matches when he refereed the Scotland-Ireland game in the 2009 Six Nations.
His 60th Test match today is a world record.
4. In the 2005 Six Nations game between Ireland and England he was criticised by English officials (including the then head coach, Andy Robinson and the RFU’s Manager of Elite Referees, Colin High), when he disallowed two try attempts by England: Kaplan publicly refuted their criticism
5. In the last World Cup he was criticised for his time-keeping in the pool game between Canada and Japan. The Canadians claimed he had played several minutes of extra-time, during which Japan scored a converted try and drew the game. Kaplan was found to be correct.
6. He once said: “If players trust my judgment they will generally enjoy the matches I referee”, and “my style produces games that are easy on the eye”.
7. He believes creative refereeing skills include – advantage, communication, body language and hand signals. He is a straight shooter and precise.
9. He has a laid-back style but wants to see the ball playable at all times.
10. He speaks clearly to players, although, not incessantly.
Will it be open?: Or shut
THE decision about the Millennium Stadium roof being open or closed could be left to up to 20 minutes before the game if organisers wished to hold off for bad weather. The two sliding 400 tonne sections take that long to come together.
Last season the roof was an issue too. France wanted to play against Wales with the roof closed and it was, while it stayed open for Wales’ win over Scotland, at Scotland coach Andy Robinson’s request. That request prompted a spat with Warren Gatland, which may explain why Declan Kidney was not asked this year.
Martin Johnson wanted it open last year before agreeing to it being closed and that came two years after Johnson insisting that it remain open. And it was supposed to make things more simple!
