GAVIN CUMMISKEYwith this week's Planet Rugby
Bowe tied up
Nothing is signed yet but word from the Welsh and English media has Tommy Bowe primed to sign a new contract with the Ospreys despite supposed interest from Munster, Ulster and Leinster.
Bowe’s stock has never been so high after a brilliant 2009 that included some world-class displays on the Lions tour.
Still lacking winger’s pace? We think that myth is now confined to the scrap heap.
Quotes of the year: part one
“If we are going on like this, why don’t we go to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going? There will be no eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing and we will enjoy it.”
– SA coach Peter de Villiers after Schalk Burger eye-gouged Luke Fitzgerald in the second Test.
“The Beast was pretty impressive. There was one scrum after nine minutes when we got lifted off the floor and if I was their scrum coach I would have retired and gone to Panama.”
– Lions scrum coach Graham Rowntree after Tendai Mtawarira destroyed Phil Vickery at scrum time in the first Lions Test.
“We’re reaching a level where the players have got too big for their skill levels. They’ve become too muscle-bound and bulky. We’re getting to the point where we’re getting collisions, but not necessarily the entertainment. People are trying to run through the opposition, rather than around them. My hope is coaches recognise that and we get a little bit smaller and faster and more skilful; that players win the space rather than the collision.”
– Lions chief medical officer Dr James Robson after a brutal series.
Quotes of the year: part two
“Charles then laid out a compensation offer to me. This consisted of payment of my salary while I was suspended, an assurance that I would be selected for the team on merit once my suspension ended, a two-year contract extension, a testimonial, a three-year employment opportunity with the club after I retired from playing, and an assurance that he would take a direct interest in my post-rugby career.”
– Tom Williams explains the hush deal he rejected, put in front of him by Harlequins chairman Charles Jillings in the aftermath of the “Bloodgate” incident.
“I would in all possibility be sitting out a season of rugby. After having discussed this with my girlfriend, I took the view that adequate compensation for all of this would be the club apologising to me, extending my contract terms and paying off the mortgage on the house I own with my girlfriend.”
– Williams’ counter offer before deciding to become the whistle-blower who eventually led to Dean Richards’ three-year ban.
“People have said to me the biggest mistake I made was in choosing the wrong person to substitute. In some respects they’re right but I shouldn’t have done it. Of course the way we did it wasn’t well thought out. But we shouldn’t have done it, it was wrong. It’s something other head coaches and directors of rugby have done during their careers. I honestly don’t believe you would have got through a Premiership weekend last season without it happening once.
– Dean Richards.
“If the referee is not accurate we’ve got to put our hand up. We need to educate that referee and get him better because that scrummaging on Saturday was not up to international standard.”
– IRB refereeing co-ordinator Paddy O’Brien’s on Australian official Stuart Dickinson after the Italy versus New Zealand game at the San Siro in November.
“I think we have the secret. He brought his fiance down [from Zimbabwe] for a short stay and we saw what that did for him. We are going to get her to stay a couple of weeks longer”. – Springbok captain John Smit on Mtawarira.
IRFU calling player shots
There has been no official communication from the IRFU on their Player Management Programme leading up to the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011 but provincial selections for certain Magners League games has made it abundantly clear the coaches must defer to the IRFU grand scheme.
It is down to expert conditioning advice, no doubt, but it has demeaned interprovincial matches, like the two St Stephen’s Day meetings with Ulster and Munster forced to rest their internationals.
Leinster fielded a second string/academy line-up away to the Dragons that hardly helped these fledgling professionals.
“Yeah, you’ve got to try to pick the games,” said Michael Cheika. “Obviously the Dragons game we made a decision about what we were coming out of and going into.
“But it is a shame because the interprovincial fixtures are special ones and it would be nice if everyone was playing in them. They’re good for the crowds, in particular when you get a full house.”
Shannon appeal referee abuse fine
Shannon RFC already confirmed they intend to appeal the unprecedented €25,000 fine following the abuse of referee George Clancy in the officials’ dressingroom after their match against Cork Constitution on December 5th, which Shannon lost 9-8 in dramatic, late circumstances.
The AIB League champions, who avoided a six-point deduction, do not appear to be contesting the fact they should be fined, merely the large sum. They are seeking legal advice and have until January 14th to lodge a formal appeal to the IRFU.
“Due to the Christmas period the IRFU granted us grace to organise our case. We are very grateful for that,” said a club spokesman.
Clancy, an established international referee, was back in action on Saturday night at the RDS for the Magners League tie between Leinster and Ulster.
