SIX NATIONS NEWS:TOMMY BOWE played a full 80 minutes for the Ospreys in a 34-18 Magners League victory over Benetton Treviso at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo at the weekend without any reaction to the knee injury that has sidelined him for Ireland's opening two Six Nations Championship fixtures. The player confirmed as much after the game.
Barring a delayed adverse reaction he should be available when Ireland coach Declan Kidney names his team on Wednesday to play Scotland at Murrayfield next Sunday (3.0pm). Bowe’s measured rehabilitation was accelerated during the week when following consultation between the Ireland and Ospreys medical teams, it was decided that he should make his comeback against Treviso.
His fitness represents a boost for an Ireland team hoping to re-establish some momentum to their Six Nations campaign after the disappointment of their 25-22 defeat to France at the Aviva Stadium. Stephen Ferris seems certain to miss the game after having a second scan – he is due to have a third one this week – on a damaged left knee sustained while playing for Ulster in their Heineken Cup victory over Aironi.
His recovery has been slower than anticipated and he’s now in a fight to be available for Ireland’s games against Wales and England next month. The Irish squad will reconvene in Killiney tomorrow to prepare for the clash with Scotland.
Lewis Moody is on course to reclaim his England place and the captaincy for next Saturday’s showdown against France. Moody made a 23-minute appearance off the bench after five weeks out with knee ligament trouble in Bath’s emphatic 38-8 Aviva Premiership victory over Northampton.
The 66-times-capped Bath flanker missed England’s opening Six Nations wins against Wales and Italy, but he always maintained the Twickenham appointment with France was a realistic target. And it now seems likely that both Moody and prop Andrew Sheridan, who played 70 minutes for Sale Sharks against Harlequins yesterday to allay any fears about a back problem that sidelined him when England crushed Italy eight days ago, will both return.
England manager Martin Johnson will also have noted Leicester flanker Tom Croft’s second-half comeback in the win against Wasps following three months out with a shoulder injury.
But outside of Moody and Sheridan, changes are not anticipated for a game that if England win, would leave them needing to beat Scotland and Ireland for a first Six Nations title and Grand Slam since 2003.
“I feel good,” said Moody. “It was nice to have a run-out. It was a little bit stiff after the game, but I didn’t feel the knee during it, which was good. Fingers crossed, we’ve got through everything.
“I’ve said all along that I wanted to be back for this French game. We said it was a realistic target, so we’ve all been proved right at the minute.”
