ENGLAND RUGBY
FEBRUARY 2009: IN REVIEW

Danny Cipriani in Saxons Squad to face Ireland

Danny Cipriani has been called into the England Saxons squad for Friday's match against Ireland A. The London Wasps fly half and Leicester Tigers scrum half Harry Ellis are among eight capped players in the 24-man training squad for the match at Donnybrook, Dublin (7.30pm).

Danny Cipriani

Their inclusion comes at the request of England Team Manager Martin Johnson, who said,

"Harry benefited from playing with them last week and I will be in regular contact with Saxons Head Coach Stuart Lancaster during the course of the week."

More here, although please note that the actual Ireland A v England Saxons match ended up being cancelled due to bad weather/a frozen pitch.

England will play Argentina at Old Trafford

The 76,000 all-seater home of Premier League champions Manchester United will host England and the Pumas on Saturday, June 6 (4pm kick-off) with the second Test in Argentina on Saturday, June 13 (venue to be confirmed).

In partnership with Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Agency (NWDA), the Rugby Football Union are taking an England international to Manchester for the first time since 1997.

Old Trafford, future home of the 1st Test v Argentina in June 09

RFU Chief Executive Francis Baron said: "We received a request from the Argentinean Rugby Union to play one of the tests in England to generate funds to invest in their squads.

"We are delighted to have been able to help them by securing Old Trafford, one of the most famous football stadiums in the world, and our thanks go to Manchester City Council, the NWDA and Old Trafford itself.

"Rugby Union is thriving in the North West and this is a great opportunity for us to play a match away from Twickenham and aid the development of the game in the region. Tickets will be competitively priced and we are looking forward to a great occasion."

More here

Tackle your aches and pains head on +special offer

Blue Active Gel has just been named as the best muscle and joint rub by a panel of the some of the country’s leading runners, in Runner’s World Magazine, and was named as one of the best back pain relievers by the Daily Mail. Used and praised by many of the country’s leading sports men, women and therapists Blue Active Gel combines a whole host of effective natural ingredients, including Golden Emu Oil, made famous by the likes of Paula Radcliffe, Glucosamine Sulphate, renowned for its beneficial effects on joints, aloe vera, one of today’s most popular natural remedies, and willow bark extract, nature’s aspirin, to create a powerful dual action muscle and joint rub that cools on immediate application, but whose soothing properties last for hours.

More here + instructions on how to claim your free bottle of Blue Active Gel

England 36 v 11 Italy - RBS Six Nations 2009 Match Review

England v Italy RBS Six Nations 2009 Match Review by Quin Kong. The opening game of the 2009 RBS Six Nations saw an injury plagued Italy take on an injury plagued England at Twickenham.

The opening game of the 2009 RBS Six Nations saw an injury plagued Italy take on an injury plagued England at Twickenham.

For England a paucity of fly-halves saw Martin Johnson looking to France in the form of Andy Goode to fill the role. Italy were looking to progress from their year on year improvement but their lack of international strength in depth was highlighted in the flanker Mauro Bergamasco being named as their starting scrum-half.

Harry Ellis goes over for his first try

Full review here

England come second in breathtaking final at USA 7s

England found their way into the final at the USA 7s having beaten Scotland 22-12, Japan 35-12, Fiji 10-12 in the quarter final and South Africa 19-22 in the Semis. Unfortunately turnovers proved costly at the final against an Argentina team who went on to take top honours at the competition.

Full results here

England Women 7s Crowned Champions in USA

England Women were crowned champions of the San Diego Sevens on Saturday after a thrilling final, which saw England battle their way to a 17-12 victory in sudden death at Petco Park.

England and the US, playing in front of a packed arena, were drawn 12-12 at full-time, but Wasps' Heather Fisher provided the magic for England straight after the restart with a sensational charge down the right wing to score the crucial try.

England now head to Dubai next month for the inaugural IRB Women's Rugby World Cup with victories in the London, Amsterdam, Dubai, European, San Diego Sevens and the Home Nations Cup under their belts.

Heather Fisher scores the winning try

Full report here

Wales v England Player Ratings

Although many predicted a rout of twenty or thirty points against Martin Johnson's England, the reality turned out to be far different, as England put in a much improved display after their struggles against Italy. In the end though, it unfortunately wasn't good enough, and whilst lack of discipline is a worry, from an England perspective there were many positives to take from the match.

Delon Armitage - 7 Much better display from Armitage this week, showing glimpses of his Autumn form. Solid under the high ball, good support work and took his try very well. Aimless kicking still an issue.

Paul Sackey - 7 Again, potentially returning to his best. Always a threat either with ball in hand or without, claiming a good try and very nearly a second.

Mike Tindall - 5 Quiet game in attack but put in some big hits in defense, particularly early on. His yellow card was disappointing.

Full ratings here

Wales 23 v 15 England - RBS 6N 2009 Match Review

News just in from Wigan , Humble Pie is sold out. A mystery buyer in the North East of England placed a huge order on Saturday evening. I and many of my fellow UnofficialEnglandRugby posters will be logging on to request our share. Wales ran out deserved victors, but the unpopular selection of Joe Worsley at open side flanker proved to be a masterstroke that almost inspired England to a most unlikely victory.

Disappointingly the foremost reaction for many England fans, appears to be that Jonathan Kaplan is the sole reason England lost the game. Whilst I agree that he didn’t have a good game, and I will cover a couple of the bigger decisions in due course, to single him out as the prime reason for defeat shows neither the individual whingers, nor England rugby in good light. Yes he made some bad calls, but suck it up, take it on the chin and move on, it happens to practically every team in almost every game. Wales are better than us at the moment, accept it. I personally would rather focus on how much closer we are to them than we were at this time last week.

Joe Worsley tackles Jamie Roberts, again.

Full report here

Oh! The Games People Play Now.....

Fancy your chances at being a Director of Rugby then? Well now is your chance as Director of Rugby.com has given Unofficial England Rugby posters and viewers a special 14 day Free Trial of their NEW game. Premier Rugby has licensed a rugby manager game based on the Guinness Premiership and featuring real clubs and playing squads. All you need to do is click on the link below.

If the post-match chatter in club bars is anything to go by, most rugby fans have strong opinions on who their club should sign and how their team should play. Now, fans who think they can make the right decisions sign the right players and pick the right tactics have a chance to find out.

Premier Rugby Ltd has licensed a new manager game based on the Guinness Premiership, featuring real clubs and playing squads. Director of Rugby is loaded with accurate information, is a detailed, comprehensive simulation of the DOR role and is great fun to play.

Full story here + a special offer for readers of Unofficial England Rugby

RFU Statement on EPS Players & Overseas Contracts

The RFU Management Board discussed today the issue of members of the Senior Elite Players Squad (EPS) entering into contracts to play rugby overseas.

The Board, whilst respecting the rights of individual players to seek employment and negotiate the best financial terms for that employment, also had to take into account the best interests of the England Team and the Guinness Premiership.

The current arrangements are that all EPS players sign a tripartite contract with the RFU and the player's club. This contract sets out the details of the EPS programme and includes the RFU match fee and IP rights payments to the player for EPS and international duty.

Full statement here

Ireland 14 v 13 England - RBS Six Nations 2009 Match Review

England went to Ireland to prove they could cut out the penalties defend well and do a job! Well they defended well and almost did a job but the penalties ............. Agghhhh give me strength!

England had a good positive start in the first 10mins, defending well, they held Ireland and slowed their ball down. For rugby fans it was not a particularly good match to watch especially in the first half, bit boring in fact. England were lucky though not to be down 9 - 3 at half time as O'Gara did not have his kicking boots on today and missed two easy penalties but drove the third straight through the posts.

Brian O'Driscoll charges forward for Ireland' only try of the match

Full report here

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