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JOHANNESBURG, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Egypt have asked the Confederation of African Football to postpone an African Nations Cup qualifier in South Africa because of the recent civil unrest in their country, a CAF spokesman confirmed on Sunday.

Egypt want the game, scheduled for March 26 in Johannesburg, to be put back to June because of a shutdown of their premier league programme following the riots and demonstrations that led to the toppling of president Hosni Mubarak earlier this month.

Egyptian clubs have not played league matches since early January and the federation feels their players will not have had the requisite preparation for the qualifier.

CAF said they had received a request from the Egypt Football Association and would discuss it over the next few days.

It is a key game for Egypt, who have won the last three Nations Cup finals, because they have fallen three points behind South Africa in the standings after the first two rounds of matches.

Only the group winner is guaranteed a place at the 2012 finals, co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Egypt have asked CAF to consider their situation a case of ‘force majeure’, which would allow them to claim a postponement because of circumstances beyond their control.

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by John O’Brien; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Labels: Egypt, Nations, postponement, qualifier, Reuters

{ Scotland rugby coach Andy Robinson was today urged to grab the chance of injecting fresh blood into an ailing national team as he prepares to unveil a line-up tomorrow to face Ireland at Murrayfield in Sunday's RBS Six Nations Championship clash.
Having lost both matches so far, Robinson now finds himself unable to call upon regulars Joe Ansbro and Hugo Southwell, as well as Rory Lamont, who is also injured.

But, while wishing no player any harm, former Scotland captain Gary Armstrong beli

eves it is time for a clear-out anyway and questions whether current incumbents have forgotten what it means to pull on the dark blue jersey.

"Did the team that gave such an inept performance against Wales last time really want to play for the jersey? Or were they more interested in picking up a pay-packet because there were times when it looked that way," said Armstrong, who retired from internationals following the 1999 World Cup.

Adds the former colleague of coach Robinson on the 1989 Lions tour of Australia: "This Six Nations title has gone now for Scotland so why not look ahead to the World Cup later this year and start the planning?

"I've been impressed by what Robinson has done for Scotland so far but he has to make a stance and not just try to punch holes in the glass box he sits in at the back of the stand. He looked rattled by the way the team fell apart against Wales and I hope the team have been shaken by the outcry over the past week and a half because the performance was terrible."

That was a reference to how television cameras caught Robinson venting his displeasure during the 6-24 defeat as he pounded on the glass panes of a box he shares with fellow coaches and team analysts.

In particular, Armstrong has called for a new set of half-backs, saying: "Greig Laidlaw did nothing wrong when introduced as a substitute for the second half against New Zealand but hasn't had an opportunity since to show what he can do. At Edinburgh he has been making Mike Blair work for a scrum-half place and even starting ahead of him.

"I think the time has come for Greig to take over with Scotland," he said of a position he occupied with distinction.

If Laidlaw does come in, it will mean leapfrogging both Blair and Rory Lawson, who has started on both occasions so far. Added Armstrong: "As for stand off I couldn't understand picking Dan Parks against Wales when he plays his club rugby there with Cardiff and all the Welsh boys knew exactly what he could and couldn't do.

"Now is the time to start Ruaridh Jackson and find out if he can handle the occasion.

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Labels: Armstrong, changes, demands, Nations, Scotland, Scotsman

{

Former Ireland fly-half Tony Ward is in no doubt that O’Brien’s time has come, staring with Declan Kidney’s side’s opener against Italy on Feb 5. “The Tullow man simply must run out in Rome for the opening Six Nations joust, with the back-row position his to lose after that,” he wrote recently.

“On the simple premise of form, he’s a shoo-in. Nor can there be any counter-argument as regards balance, with a Ferris/O’Brien/Jamie Heaslip trio picking itself, leaving either David Wallace or Denis Leamy as cover for all three positions on the bench.”

Further evidence of O’Brien’s emergence as one of the most exciting young back-row forwards in Europe came in the form of strong interest from France before Christmas.

The Irish Rugby Football Union, keen to ensure they did not lose such a precocious talent, moved quickly and O’Brien agreed a new three-year deal with Leinster in January.

“While it was flattering to have interest from overseas, I desperately want to be part of the Leinster story for the foreseeable future,” said O’Brien.

His mercurial rise is made more remarkable by the fact that it did not follow a traditional path. As a boy he excelled at Gaelic football before rugby came to dominate his life.

He grew up in Ardristan, County Carlow, was educated at Tullow Community School and played his rugby for Tullow RFC before representing Ireland Youths, the representative side drawn from Irish clubs, not those players at affiliated schools.

O’Brien won three caps for Ireland Youths, captaining the side to a win over Scotland and a defeat by England. His performances were of such quality that he immediately attracted Leinster’s scouts and was offered an academy contract.

“I really enjoyed my experience there in 2003, the Ireland Youth side is a fantastic thing, a chance for those who are not in the schools system,” O’Brien recalls. “The side was coached by Lenny Brown and Wille Gribbin, and I think we were all aware that this was a set-up that could produce players who might go a long way in the game.

“Trevor Brennan and Shane Horgan came through this way, while more recently Niall Ronan played with the Irish Youths.”

O’Brien cites former Leinster and Ireland No?8 Victor Costello, and former Ulster and Ireland lock Paddy Johns as the two players who inspired him to follow his dream for playing for Ireland. His first start came last November when he replaced the 34-year-old Wallace in the side that defeated Samoa.

While O’Brien has recently been operating at No?8 for Leinster during Heaslip’s absence as he struggles with an ankle injury, he insists he would be happy to operate at open side flanker and has spent hours on the training paddock working hard on his contribution at the breakdown.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has a tough decision to take, with many believing that O’Brien is finally

ready to replace the formidable Wallace.

“I would be very happy at seven, it is just the matter of getting an opportunity,” O’Brien says. “Ball-carrying is one of my strengths, but I have been working on the breakdown in trying to cause havoc by getting back on my feet quickly.

“It hasn’t been hard to stay patient, but it’s not like I’m at the end of my career. I’m young and have been picking up experience the whole time. Even when training with those lads you’re learning.

“You have to stay patient. If you get down because you’re not getting an opportunity then it can affect your game. I’m happy with the way my game’s gone and I have to back it up every week.”

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Labels: bides, flanker, Ireland, Nations, OaposBrien, Telegraphcouk, young

{ Maxime Médard of France evades Ireland's Tomás O'Leary to score his side's only try in the Six Nations match in Dublin. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

And then there were two. The second round of the Six Nations finished in Dublin with only France and England left to dream of a grand slam after a pulsating 80 minutes in which the French just squeezed home.

France lost the try count three to one but a couple of old heads saw them and Le Crunch at Twickenham in two weeks looks even more mouthwatering. Ireland, who head to Murrayfield hoping they might still have a say in the championship, were vastly improved compared to their display in Rome, but they have now beaten France only once in 10 matches.

After a lacklustre autumn and that feeble victory over Italy, Ireland promised fire and brimstone from the start. But no one really expected them to be seven points up within five minutes, with France barely getting a sniff. Brian O'Driscoll played a perfect runaround with Jonathan Sexton from a Paul O'Connell lineout take and Luke Fitzgerald was in at the corner in under two minutes – only for the referee, Dave Pearson, to spot a forward pass.

It looked as though France would weather the storm. They even tried to run the ball off the back of the subsequent scrum, but after Yoann Huget and Damien Traille got the move off to a smooth start but the full-back, Clément Poitrenaud, dropped the ball. A ball bouncing free five metres out was just what Ireland fancied and the wing Fergus McFadden went over close enough to the posts to make Sexton's conversion easy.

Ireland even won a penalty off the France scrum – Nicolas Mas being adjudged to have dropped it – to wipe out a penalty for offside that had been kicked by Morgan Parra. But then the first signs of a French fightback began to show. Fast hands put Huget up the right, Maxime Médard sent Poitrenaud up the left and Parra kicked a couple of penalties to make it 10-9. The French pack then got a nudge on for the first time, Donncha O'Callaghan was caught not rolling away and the Parra kicked his fourth penalty to put France in the lead for the first time, after 26 minutes.

Ireland bounced back and within 10 minutes their scrum-half, Tomás O'Leary, who had been a real doubt with back spasms, and the prop Mike Ross threw themselves at the line. The French held out against the short-range battering and when Sexton fumbled it appeared that an overlap on the left might have been wasted. But O'Leary was on hand a second time, the scrum-half scrambling to the line with Mas clinging to his back to give Ireland a three-point half-time lead.

Parra pulled that back when the centre Gordon D'Arcy was caught failing to release in the tackle, but exasperation in the French camp was becoming more obvious as the replacements warmed up. One more front-row indiscretion saw the prop Thomas Domingo, a hero last week when Scotland were pushed all over Paris, replaced by Sylvain Marconnet and another veteran, Vincent Clerc, came on for the erratic Poitrenaud.

Fingers are often pointed when Marc Lièvremont empties his bench, but this time the travelling French got some reward for their head coach's tinkering. Barely had Dimitri Yachvili replaced Parra at scrum-half than France had scored their first and only try, a simple affair off the back of a solid scrum. The ball went right, Aurélien Rougerie battered a hole in the Irish defence and Médard cruised up on the outside for a score that Yachvili converted with ease.

The Biarritz scrum half missed with a long-range penalty but then landed a more difficult shot from wide on the right. All of a sudden the French had a 10-point lead, with 18 minutes to go.

Again, Ireland came back. Declan Kidney threw on the veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara and the new chemistry brought immediate rewards, if not necessarily in the way intended. O'Gara's 67th-minute chip looked to be going nowhere but David Wallace did what a good flanker does and cleaned up, leaving the No8 Jamie Heaslip with a dive for the corner.

The theatre continued with O'Gara, Ireland's saviour in Rome, converting the try with the help of the left upright, but this time there was no rabbit to be plucked from the hat.

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Labels: France, Guardian, Ireland, muchimproved, Nations

{ Former captain Gavin Hastings has backed Scotland to bounce back after their embarrassing 24-6 RBS 6 Nations defeat to Wales.Scottish hopes had been high after an encouraging performance in defeat against France when they scored three tries for the first time in a Six Nations match for four years.

But they trailed 16-0 after just 20 minutes at Murrayfield and managed just three points when Wales were reduced to 13 men and will be looking for their points of the competition when they entertain Ireland after the rest week. 

“I fully expect to see a rejuvenated Scotland take the game to Ireland in a fortnight,” said Hastings, who won all four of his matches against Wales at Murrayfield.

“It would be difficult to take any positives from the game.

“There were incredible errors that you wouldn't accept in a schoolboys' game.

“But it's too early to lose faith with this team.

“After Paris there was an awful lot of expectancy from the Scottish public.

“[Scotland head coach] Andy Robinson was incredibly disappointed with the performance of the team and I think they will work incredibly hard before Ireland come.”

Full back Sean Lamont came out criticising the effort of his teammates after the demoralising defeat.

And Hastings believes Lamont’s outburst was a clear indication of underlying problems.

“With a player expressing those views publically then you've got to think something has been wrong in the Scottish camp,” said the former British and Irish Lions captain.

“He's not having a go, he's suggesting that the players own up to their own mistakes.

“If a clear-the-air session can address those issues then I'm all for it.” 

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Labels: faith, Hastings, keeps, Nations, Scotland

{ Scotland's Sean Lamont was one of his team's few positives in their Six Nations defeat by Wales. Photograph: David Moir/REUTERS

Andy Robinson's final words to his players before the kick-off were to go out and really play, but the Scotland coach saw them press rewind instead and could only watch in table-thumping frustration as his team showed a chronic inability to take the game to opponents who had gone more than 10 months without a victory.

Robinson wanted Scotland to show that they were able to manage expectation but they did not even manage to score a try despite enjoying the majority of possession and making almost twice as many passes as Wales. Even when they had a two-man advantage for seven minutes in the first-half when Bradley Davies and Lee Byrne were in the sin-bin, the home side lacked the poise and wit to fashion an opening. The year before, Wales had won the game with two tries when Scotland had players in the sin-bin.

The Scotland captain, Alastair Kellock, afterwards lamented that it took disappointment for Scotland to put in a performance, the refuge of the underdog. Three tries in Paris on the opening weekend, together with victory over South Africa in November and a 2-0 series win in Argentina the previous summer had given Robinson hope that the days of one-off performances were over, but Saturday showed that progress is still followed by a backward step.

Scotland offered little behind beyond the thrusts of Sean Lamont and the Scarlet only found himself on the field after Hugo Southwell injured himself after taking out Byrne in the air at the end of the opening quarter. Dan Parks, so influential last season, was one-dimensional, the midfield dithered and fumbled and, without the ill Richie Gray, the forwards lacked thrust, bullied at the breakdown.

"We were poor and that is being polite," said Lamont. "I would use stronger words than that. We need to sit down and have some serious alone time, pointing fingers. It is time to shut doors, perhaps not even have the coaches there. We have to question how much we want this and I think a few boys need to be worried and start looking over their shoulders. It was criminal that we did not convert when they were down to 13 men and we should not have lost like we did. We were not good enough."

Lamont's angst was compounded by the fact that they lost to a Wales team that is far from vintage. The return of James Hook to fly-half made an immediate difference: he was six times involved in the move that led to the opening try on seven minutes, carrying the ball in both hands, vexing defenders and waiting for an opportunity that came when he detected the Scotland prop Allan Jacobsen in front of him.

Hook stepped into space and away from the front-rower to give Shane Williams, the tormentor of the Scots, his 52nd try for Wales. Hook was blessed with what Scotland lacked, cunning and patience, but the men in red still lacked conviction in attack. Their victory was based on defence and they were content, after Williams's early try was supplemented by three Hook penalties, to let Scotland take the game to them, knowing there would be mistakes to feed off.

Wales had gone 20 internationals since they had last kept their tryline intact but here their determination in defence, where the forwards Craig Mitchell, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton all made a double-figure number of tackles, was outstanding. They were the team reacting to disappointment, not just the defeat to England the previous week, but a gradual decline since winning the grand slam in 2008.

The players had treated their coach, Warren Gatland, to frequent playings of David Bowie and Queen's Under Pressure in the team coach last week, a reference to the media scrutiny the New Zealander had come under. Disappointing results have not sapped morale but, like Scotland, their ambition is dimmed by a discomfort of expectation.

Wales's next stop is Rome and they will start as favourites against an Italian team reeling from its Twickenham torment. The Azzurri have more cause to fear themselves than Wales who have come to rely on graft rather than craft, even with Hook.

The second half was miasmic, basic mistakes wrecking fluency. The more Scotland attacked, the less likely they looked like scoring. Wales waited for their moment and secured victory when Nikki Walker's sloppy pass to Jacobsen was claimed byWarburton for Jonathan Davies to kick into the space Walker had vacated for Williams to claim his second try.

"We have gone back a couple of steps," said Robinson, who is still waiting for his first Six Nations victory in the Scottish capital.

Gatland said Wales would improve. He will not be playing Bowie's Heroes to his players just yet, nor Hunky Dory, but his relief was palpable.

Scotland: Southwell (Stade Français; S Lamont, Scarlets, 20); Walker (Ospreys), Ansbro (Northampton), De Luca (Edinburgh), Evans (Glasgow); Parks (Cardiff Blues), R Lawson (Gloucester; Blair, Edinburgh, 47); Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ford (Edinburgh; S Lawson, Gloucester, 70), Murray (Newcastle; Low, Edinburgh, 47), Hines (Leinster), Kellock (Glasgow, capt; MacLeod, Scarlets, 75), Brown (Saracens), Barclay (Glasgow; Rennie, Edinburgh, 70), Vernon (Glasgow).

Pens Parks 2.

Wales: Byrne (Ospreys; Priestland, Scarlets, 80); Stoddart (Scarlets), Roberts (Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), Williams (Ospreys); Hook (Ospreys; S Jones, Scarlets, 70), Phillips (Ospreys; Knoyle, Scarlets, 80); James (Ospreys; Yapp, Blues, 70), Rees (Scarlets, capt; Hibbard, Ospreys, 80), Mitchell (Ospreys), B Davies (Blues), AW Jones (Ospreys; Turnbull, Scarlets, 75), Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons; Thomas, Ospreys, 55), Warburton (Blues), R Jones (Ospreys).

Tries Williams 2 Con Hook Pens Hook 4.

Sin-bin B Davies 24, Byrne 28.

Referee: G Clancy (Ireland) Attendance 60,259.

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Labels: backwards, defeat, Guardian, Nations, Scotland, Wales

{ Sized matters: Thomas Domingo, the French loosehead prop, is the Six Nations' little big man Photo: GETTY IMAGES

“These days players across the world are as big and as powerful as each other. We’ve all got access to gyms and conditioners. There’s no real difference between the teams.”

Lamont is wrong of course. And right. Right because, self-evidently, the size of the gene pool doesn’t influence the results of international matches in the way that it did a generation or so ago; because Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy, with fewer players to choose from, can now, on the back of specialist nutritional advice and a load of weights, churn out individuals who tip the scales with, and stand as tall as, the best of the rest.

But wrong because Lamont’s answer ignores the way France go about their rugby, which, at its finest, is an explosive combination of very powerful men running fast at pockets of unguarded space. It is the Holy Grail of modern Test rugby, and no one, not even New Zealand, does it as well as France when they are up for it.

In recent seasons, it has come with a twist. France have always done big and direct. From the brutish and bullying Gerard Cholley and Jean-Pierre Bastiat, down through Marc Cécillon, and onto the likes of Fabien Pelous, a succession of French coaches have reasoned that a good big ’un will marmalise a good little ’un. Current boss Marc Lièvremont is no different.

He also is of the opinion that size matters, only Lièvremont has shifted the big is beautiful philosophy from the pack to a specific area of the backs.

When Ireland take on France in the Aviva Stadium this afternoon they will encounter a midfield of Damien Traille, switched from full-back to centre because of an injury to Maxime Mermoz, and Aurélien Rougerie, who are a stone and a half heavier and five inches taller than their oppos, Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll.

Rougerie and Traille, at 16st 5lb each, are heavier than three of the French forwards, and taller, at 6ft 4in, than six of them. This is not a one-off. Last season Lièvremont selected Mathieu Bastareaud who is six-foot tall and 17st 4lb, while Yannick Jauzion, on the bench this afternoon for France, has been an ever-present at 6ft 4in and 16st 7lb.

It’s not as if Rougerie and Traille are just big lumps either. Rougerie, having spent much of his career on the wing, has gas, and, as his deft poke through for France’s opening score against Scotland demonstrated, can manipulate a rugby ball with his feet. Traille, no slouch himself, has started at outside half as well as full-back and centre for France in his 78-cap career. These guys can play.

That’s Ireland’s first job. Stop the French midfield from operating and you start to stop France, because they are at their most dangerous when their big men get in behind the tacklers and are able to offload to support runners flooding the holes close in. That’s the benefit of being tall and heavy on attack. It allows you to ride over or through the collisions, freeing up a hand to distribute. In defence the additional weight on impact can dislodge the ball, forcing turnovers.

Ireland play it differently. If their run-out against Italy is anything to go by, they will attempt to bewilder France with the variety of their offence.

Ireland weren’t very good against Italy. There were far too many unforced errors by D’Arcy in particular, but they are more of a play-book side than France, more reliant on choreographed decoys and deceptive running lines involving the back three. France thump in midfield.

Ireland, led by the majestic O’Driscoll, aim to obfuscate, to fix or wrong-foot defenders by confusion. Pull Traille and Rougerie out of their defensive channels and they fall off tackles. It’s not quite beauty against the beast, but almost.

The other big difference between the two sides is at the scrummage. France can. Ireland can’t. Again, size is the issue here. France were a stone a man lighter than Scotland up front yet forced a penalty try from Scottish inadequacies, damaging Euan Murray’s reputation for competence into the bargain. Against Ireland, France are just half a stone lighter but they still expect to dominate that area. Less weight, more go-forward. It doesn’t make sense.

Except that it does when you take account of the fact that French oomph is channelled through a front row which houses a freak of a forward.

At a vertically challenged 5ft 8in, Thomas Domingo, the French loosehead prop, is the Six Nations’ little big man. His diminutive stature is a virtue because taller opponents find it almost impossible to get underneath him to shunt him backwards. Nicolas Mas, Domingo’s mate on the tight head, is also smallish for a modern prop.

At 5ft 11in, he completes a squat trio which, when the front rows engage, naturally thrusts up and against taller opponents. Trying to get low in the stance to meet them head on, which is what Murray tried to do, means shifting your feet further back away from the hips which in turn makes you vulnerable to collapse. Ireland could be in real trouble here this afternoon.

Mike Ross is six inches taller than Domingo, a massive discrepancy. With the International Rugby Board keen to address the mess of collapses and resets polluting Test rugby, English referee Dave Pearson is honour bound to reward the dominant scrum.

So, a game of intriguing contrasts, of petit French props and huge centres against big Irish props and little centres. They may not be the only issues around which the game turns. The French mood generally, the return of the excellent Jamie Heaslip and the fact that Ireland won’t be as diffident as they were in Rome may affect the result. But in an age where the top teams are all much of a muchness, it is rather satisfying to anticipate genuine points of difference.

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Labels: France, French, hopes, Ireland, lifted, little, Nations, Telegraphcouk

{

2011 SIX NATIONS: SCOTLAND v WALES
Venue: Murrayfield Stadium Date: Saturday, 12 February Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 1635, and on the Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles. Also broadcast on BBC America.

Roger Lewis gave Warren Gatland a new contract in November 2010Wales coach Warren Gatland has been reassured his job is safe after Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis insisted he does not face the sack.

Wales travel to Scotland on Saturday bidding to end an eight-match winless run following their opening Six Nations defeat to England in Cardiff on Friday.

Lewis said: "This is a time for cool heads and certainly not to chop heads.

"At the top of the WRU we believe we have the right people in place with the right skills and experiences."

Gatland, a Heineken Cup winner with London Wasps in 2004, inspired Wales to the 2008 Grand Slam in his first campaign as national team coach but current Welsh form is poor.

Wales have not tasted victory since their final Six Nations game of last season when Gatland's men beat Italy 33-10.

The 2011 Six Nations campaign starts the preparations for this autumn's Rugby World Cup and Wales do have an unfortunate habit of parting company with coaches in the build-up to international rugby's showpiece tournament.

And Gatland has come under increasing pressure since Wales' disappointing performance in their Six Nations curtain-raising 16-19 defeat by England at the Millennium Stadium on Friday.

No-one is making excuses, it is up to all of us in the WRU to front up to this together and move forward
Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis

The WRU backed Gatland by handing him a four-year contract extension in October and Lewis is adamant the New Zealander should be given more time to stop one of the worst sequences of results in the country's history.

"Our coaching team know what is required to win Grand Slams and European Cups as well as how to face defeat," Lewis told the Daily Telegraph.

"To gain respect we first need self-respect and to do that we all need to take responsibility.

"No-one is making excuses, it is up to all of us in the WRU to front up to this together and move forward."

Gatland has admitted he expects the sack should he not guide Wales to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

Wales share a tricky Pool D with Samoa, Namibia, 2007 World Cup nemesis Fiji and world champions South Africa when Gatland takes his team to his native New Zealand for September's showpiece.

Gatland has only won twice in his last 14 Wales internationals but signed a contract extension which would make the 47-year-old Welsh rugby's longest-serving national coach should he remain until 2015.

But WRU chief Lewis conceded Gatland has a release clause in his new and improved contract that he could leave his post as Wales coach should either party want a change with the next four years.

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Labels: Backed, coach, Gatland, Nations, Wales, Warren

{

2011 SIX NATIONS: SCOTLAND v WALES
Venue: Murrayfield Stadium Date: Saturday, 12 February Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 1635, and on the Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles. Also broadcast on BBC America.

Jamie Roberts takes on England at the Millennium Stadium on Friday
Jamie Roberts could be switched to the wing for Wales' Six Nations trip to Scotland as Warren Gatland seeks cover for an injury crisis on the flanks.

Leigh Halfpenny and George North are out while Morgan Stoddart is a doubt with a fractured bone in a hand.

Gatland said British and Irish Lions centre Roberts had a "quiet game" in a Six Nations opening defeat to England.

And asked if Wales could move Roberts, Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins admits: "That certainly is an option."

The former Wales fly-half and is not among coach Gatland's selectors but admitted the 2009 Lions man-of-the-series could move from his usual centre berth onto the flanks if Stoddart fails a fitness test.

The Scarlets wing has been given extra time to prove he is available despite fracturing a bone in a hand before scoring Wales' only try in their 26-19 Millennium Stadium defeat to England on Friday.

"Morgan has been given a window of opportunity," said Wales physiotherapist Mark Davies.

"If his symptoms settle down we will clear him to play subject to a fitness review later in the week."

But should Stoddart join regional colleague North (shoulder) and Blues star Halfpenny (ankle) on the injured list then Roberts may be utilised on the opposite flank to Wales' record try-scorer Shane Williams at Murrayfield on Saturday.

If Roberts switches roles, the versatile James Hook may revert from the full-back role he occupied against England to his more familiar role in the centre and play alongside Jonathan Davies.

And then Lions full-back Lee Byrne, dropped to the bench against England, could start at number 15.

Roberts, coincidentally, made his Wales debut on the wing against Scotland in 2008 in the Welsh Grand Slam year during Gatland's first Championship campaign.

He also appeared at full-back before Gatland and defence coach Shaun Edwards took the view that the Cardiff Blues player Roberts was ideally suited to midfield.

But he has had a limited impact there since the Lions tour and Jenkins believes Roberts could fill the role in the manner Scarlets teenager George North achieved during his November introduction to Test rugby.

Cardiff Blues wing Chris Czekaj has been called into the squad as cover for Stoddart but Roberts may still get the nod.

Jamie could have looked for the ball a little bit more
Neil Jenkins on Jamie Roberts' display against England

Jenkins said: "Jamie had his first cap on the wing against Scotland in 2008… George is a fantastic player and he caused all sorts of problems when he played in the autumn playing off Stephen.

"And [he was effective off] a short ball behind the centres as well... and Jamie would be very effective at that.

"But the team will be picked in due course and you'll get to find out then. But that certainly is an option and James moving up and Byrney there as well who's a fantastic full-back."

Jenkins says Roberts could have been more pro-active in his approach against England, saying: "Jamie had one of his quieter games.

"We know how good a player he is, how good a ball-carrier he is. I think we'd like to see him carrying the ball as much as possible.

"One, he had a quieter game; two we didn't get the ball to him and three probably Jamie could have looked for the ball a little bit more.

"So I think it's all a culmination of a lot of things and it's something we can hopefully get right this week."

However, Jenkins defended Wales' tactical approach against a growing chorus of criticism among Welsh fans and pundits who believe Gatland's side are predictable and lacking in attacking variety.

He said: "In terms of the way we are playing, I feel we're happy with the way we're playing, the way that we progress and go about the game and obviously look at the opposition as well.

"We feel that the weaknesses in their game, the way we played is the way we wanted to play.

"I think we're reasonably happy with that and we've just got to get better at it and make the right decisions."

But the ex-Wales and Lions star says Wales must accept some of the criticism that came their way.

He said: "No-one's alien to criticism - we all get it and if we haven't won, we deserve it. It's as simple as that.

"If we haven't played to the standards that we expect, most definitely, we've got to take that on the chin.

"We've got to work our socks off to get it right, get ourselves back on track and get ourselves a win."

Wales squad:

Forwards: Paul James (Ospreys), John Yapp (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets, capt), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Wasps), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Dan Lydiate (Dragons).

Backs: Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Sale), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Ospreys), Chris Czekaj (Blues)

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Labels: Jamie, Nations, option, Roberts, switch, Wales

{ Ronan O'Gara kicks Ireland to victory over Italy. Photograph: Brendan Moran / Pinnacle Photo Agency

Back in the grim old days, before Celtic Tigers and grand slams, losing to Italy was a feasible proposition for the Ireland rugby team. Those with long memories will recall three painful Irish defeats in the 1990s and, two minutes from time, they were staring a fourth in the face here and the mother of all humiliations. In the end a trusted old weapon saved them from oblivion: the boot of Ronan O'Gara.

Off the pitch the Munster fly-half has always been an abrasive character, bristling with self-belief and a sense of indignation when he feels he is getting a raw deal. He turns 34 next month but would not take kindly to the suggestion that his powers are on the wane. As assured as Jonathan Sexton has looked, O'Gara would still back himself as the country's top fly-half. It is the nature of the man.

O'Gara has come to the rescue for club and country many times. Two years ago, of course, he memorably kicked Ireland to an emotional grand slam. His drop-goal on Saturday was merely to save his team-mates' blushes, though for O'Gara it will have delivered the message to the Ireland coach, Declan Kidney, that he cannot be overlooked for the daunting assignment against France on Sunday.

"At that stage in the game you go at it and don't think too much, you just do your job," O'Gara said of his late intervention. "The ability to do that comes with experience. As a youngster you don't understand that. I was told that once but it's when you get in my position – and I've been lucky to steer the Ireland and Munster ship for 10 years – that you understand it.

"Then someone like Jonny comes in and he's really good but to continue the analogy, when the ship hits choppy waters, you bring someone in. Jonny played well but I got backed to come on and try to win the game. It's important to have two fellas fighting it out because we can offer a lot going forward."

O'Gara usurping Sexton this week would not be a shock, but it would be sure to focus attention on Kidney's selection policy. A shaky start to the Six Nations follows on the heels of an uninspiring autumn series and there are many willing to link Ireland's troubles with Munster's poor form and Kidney's perceived loyalty to some of the province's ageing stalwarts.

Several of Kidney's calls had prompted head-scratching. Donncha O'Callaghan ahead of Leo Cullen, Tomás O'Leary ahead of a posse of scrum-half rivals and Denis Leamy instead of the in-form Shane Jennings. O'Callaghan played well in Rome, but O'Leary noticeably struggled and that Kidney waited more than an hour to introduce Eoin Reddan was further evidence of his innate conservatism.

The Munster factor is an unsatisfactory diagnosis of Ireland's problems however. Saturday was a collective failure. Even Ireland's most dependable players had a day they will want to forget. Brian O'Driscoll, of all people, fired a pass to the touch judge when Fergus McFadden was in the clear. Gordon D'Arcy fumbled inexplicably with the line gaping moments later. Not a Munster player in sight.

They left the stadium quibbling about the French referee, Romain Poite, about whom Ireland are fast developing a complex. The penalty count was 13-5 in Italy's favour and Poite was particularly harsh on the Ireland loosehead, Cian Healy, so much so that Kidney suggested they might pursue the matter through official channels. "Most of the penalties did seem to come in the scrum," he said, "but we're told that there is an avenue for us to approach this. We've been asked to trust it and I'll ask ye to trust me that that is what I'll do."

Kidney would be fooling himself if he thought an unsympathetic referee explained his side's shambolic performance. And let us not fall into the trap of patronising Italy. Led by the magnificent Sergio Parisse they were formidable up front as we expected and they fired for the full 80 minutes which we did not. Still, they were predictably limited and might still have won if Luciano Orquera had waited for his pack to make ground instead of trying an heroic drop-goal from an impossible position.For Ireland the imperative is to get their walking wounded back and Jamie Heaslip is on the mend and may be fit to face France.

Italy McLean; Masi, Canale (Garcia, 69), Sgarbi, Mirco Bergamasco; Burton (Orquera, 72), Gori (Canavosio, 11); Perugini (Lo Cicero, 64), Ghiraldini (Ongaro, 64) Castrogiovanni, Dellape (Del Fava, 55), Geldenhuys, Sole (Bernabò, 51), Zanni, Parisse (capt).

Try McLean. Pens Bergamasco 2.

Ireland Fitzgerald; McFadden, O'Driscoll (capt), D'Arcy (P Wallace, 77), Earls; Sexton (O'Gara, 66), O'Leary (Reddan, 64); Healy (Court, 77), Best (Cronin, 77), Ross, O'Callaghan (Cullen 74), O'Connell, Leamy, D Wallace, O'Brien.

Try O'Driscoll. Con Sexton. Pen Sexton. Drop-goal O'Gara.

Referee R Poite (France). Attendance 30,000.

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Labels: conservatism, Guardian, hampers, Ireland, Kidneyaposs, Nations

{

Ireland began their Six Nations campaign with a win over Italy at the weekend, however it was a less than stellar performance from the team as unforced errors almost cost them victory.

Italy took an early lead in the game with Mirco Bergamasco slotting over his first penalty after Ireland’s Sean O’Brien was penalised for not releasing.

Ronan O'Gara's drop goal, three minutes from time, helped Ireland reclaim their narrow victory over Italy.

Ireland tried to gain a foothold in the match for most of the first quarter but a series of unforced errors and poor handling skills put an end to any scoring opportunities.

It was only when the half-hour mark approached that Ireland finally looked like scoring when O’Brien cut through the Italian defence to offload to Jonathan Sexton.

Sexton was bundled into touch just before the Italian line, but he didn’t come away empty handed. After an infringement from the home side, Sexton levelled the scores with a penalty of his own.

Play became scrappy for both sides and on the stroke of half time Bergamasco gave his side the lead by landing his second penalty.

As the second half got underway, Ireland emerged a different side and their intensity forced the Italians onto the back foot.

A series of good recycled ball from the Ireland forwards brought them ever closer to the Italian’s 22 and spotting a gap in their defence, Brian O’Driscoll cut inside to score the first try of the game, with Sexton adding the extras.

Ireland had ample more opportunities to take the game out of Italy’s reach but poor passes and knock ons halted any further progress.

With seven minutes left, Ireland were forced to defend hard after Denis Leamy was sin binned for an offside infringement.

It was then when the Italians began their comeback when Luke McClean stormed over Ireland’s try line with just five minutes left on the clock.

Luckily for Ireland, Bergamasco missed the conversion and Italy failed to win the crucial restart.

With just three minutes left and Italy with a one-point lead, O’Gara recreated his efforts of 2009 with an impressive drop goal, to snatch victory back from the home side.

Meanwhile, on Friday night’s opening match, Wales played host to England at the Millennium Stadium, where Northampton’s Chris Ashton ran in two tries to seal the win for his side.

France also played host to Scotland, bringing in a 34 – 21 victory despite the Scots staging a number of successful comebacks.

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Labels: begin, Insideirelandie, Irelandaposs, Italy, Nations

{ Earls: Attacking threat in Rome

Kellock: Led from the front

Parisse: World-class player

Domingo: Part of an impressive pack

Hook: Impressed

A fantastic weekend in the RBS Six Nations saw the opening salvos fired - with England, Ireland and France able to look back on winning starts.

With the World Cup approaching fast, a good run of form now is crucial - as England found out in 2003.

Having won the tournament in Australia eight years ago on the back of their Grand Slam success, the class of 2011 got off to a positive start as they toppled Wales in Cardiff.

Ironically it was England's first win in the Welsh capital since 2003 - and although there is plenty to work on, boss Martin Johnson will have been pleased with his side's positive approach.

France began the defence of their title with an impressive 34-21 win over Scotland, with the front row, in particular, looking fearsome in Paris.

Scotland will take heart from their display, though, as they scored three tries at the Stade de France.

Ireland escaped with victory in Italy but only after they were given a scare by the Azzurri. Ronan O'Gara's late drop goal snatched victory away from the hosts.

And following all the action, Skysports.com rugby union expert Tony Curtis names his team of the weekend - so feel free to let us know your views via the form below...

One of the few Wales players who can be pleased with his shift at the Millennium Stadium but why wasn't he starting at fly-half? When Hook was eventually moved to 10, the Wales backline looked far more dangerous.

Ashton might be gaining a reputation as being a clinical finisher, but it is worth noting that his work-rate as a winger is second to none and allows him to be in the right positions at the right times.

The centre had a hand in one try - courtesy of his delightful grubber kick - and was unlucky not to score one himself.

So often the whipping boys of the competition, it is rare to see an Italian make it into the XV. However Sgarbi deserves his spot after giving Ireland a torrid time in Rome. Was a threat throughout with some powerful runs, while he made some telling tackles.

One of the few Irishmen to leave Rome with his reputation enhanced. Looked dangerous with the ball in hand and was consistently looking for work.

A faultless performance from the Leicester man, who is really growing into the fly-half shirt for England. Kicked brilliantly all night in Cardiff, while he spotted the gap to set Ashton up for the first try.

Everything that was good about France's back play in Paris came from Parra. He set the pace for the game and kept Scotland on the back foot.

So impressive was France's destruction of Scotland upfront in Paris it is impossible to split up Domingo, Servat and Mas. As a unit, there is possibly not a better front row in world rugby. Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and the once-untouchable Euan Murray will not enjoy watching the repeats of the match.

Rose to the occasion as skipper and put in an impressive shift for his side. Scored a try, worked tirelessly throughout and was constantly rallying his troops.

Quickly becoming the heartbeat of the England pack and argued a good case to be the man of the match in Cardiff. Made plenty of yards with the ball in hand, was the banker option in the lineout and produced some telling hits in defence.

Watch out Croft there is another Tom with his eyes on the England No.6 jersey ahead of the World Cup. In the absence of Lions international Croft, Wood took his chance at the Millennium Stadium with an impressive debut.

The pick of the Scotland back-row in Paris as he stood toe-to-toe with the French pack. Seemed to cover every blade of grass in attack and defence and was a constant menace at the breakdown.

One of the best players in the world and he showed his talent as he upstaged the Irish pack with a stunning display. Unlucky to walk off a loser as his display deserved so much more.

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Labels: Nations, SkySports

{ ANDY ROBINSON has warned his Scotland side they'll never challenge for the Six Nations title until they discover their killer touch after gifting France victory in Paris. Four times France crossed the whitewash in a 34-21 victory but four times it was a Scottish hand that supplied Les Bleus with the killer pass.

Nick De Luca's error set the tone and though skipper Alastair Kellock, Kelly Brown and Sean Lamont all w

ent over, the defending Grand Slam champions were never going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

And although scoring three tries against Marc Lievremont's side is no mean feat, the scores were of scant consolation for Robinson who knows it could have been so much better.

"If you give them the freedom that we gave them from our turnovers they are a fantastic side; it was shown there today," he said.

"I was delighted with the attitude that was shown and the way we went out to play the game, but we're here to win Test matches and we've got to have a ruthless edge about the way that we play.

"It's really frustrating. They scored all their tries when we had the ball. We have to be a lot better with ball in hand.

"Their counter attack was very fast and very skilful but for France to score four tries from our turnovers is not good enough. Even the penalty try came from a turnover on our lineout. We have a lot of respect for the French scrum - I believe they're the best scrum in the world - and it was a tough day for the guys.

"They got the benefit of the referee's decisions and got the better of the hit but if I was on the other side I would have been screaming for a penalty try.

"If we can show the composure on the ball and still play with the same attitude we will be a good side."

De Luca was the first culprit, being turned over in midfield to allow Aurélien Rougerie to thread a delightful grubber kick through for Maxime Medard to score the opening try after just two minutes.

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Labels: French, handing, Nations, Robinson, Scotsman

{ The wing James Simpson-Daniel has been in fine form for Gloucester and scored two tries against Italy A for England Saxons last month. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics

England have added Gloucester's James Simpson-Daniel and Alex Corbisiero of London Irish to their training squad as cover ahead of the Six Nations game against Italy at Twickenham on Saturday. Simpson-Daniel has been called as cover for Bath's Nick Abendanon, who has a toe problem, while Corbisiero is in for Tim Payne, the London Wasps prop, who has a sternum injury.

Even the faintest possibility of SimpsonDaniel being involved in this Six Nations will excite those who have watched the wing run rings round the opposition on numerous occasions this season, including scoring two tries against Italy A for England Saxons last month .

Corbisiero, who has Italian-American roots, also impressed against Italy A. He can play on both sides of the front row and is a destructive influence in the loose. Martin Johnson is due to name his starting line-up on Thursday but, for now, is almost certain to stick with his starting props Dan Cole and Andrew Sheridan.

England will certainly not be taking Italy lightly, regardless of whether their No8 Sergio Parisse recovers from a hand injury. "They're an extremely dogmatic team," said the forwards coach, John Wells, as impressed as anyone by the Azzurri's forward effort in their narrow 13-11 defeat by Ireland.

Wells said England would be paying particular attention to their defensive line speed and attacking accuracy this week.

Wales, meanwhile, will name their team to face Scotland on Tuesday without Andy Powell, who will be out until at least the end of the month with the shoulder injury he sustained in the defeat by England. Morgan Stoddart is being given time to prove his fitness despite breaking a bone in his hand.

Wales' simple aim on Saturday will be to kick their losing habit, having lost seven and drawn one of their last eight Tests. "You can't hide from the fact we have lost an awful lot of games," said assistant Wales coach Neil Jenkins. "We know we can do it, it's just making the right decisions at the right time. We all get the criticism, and if we haven't won we deserve it. We've got to take it on the chin and work our socks off to get it right."

Scotland expect the scrum-half Rory Lawson to recover from the back injury which forced him off at half-time against France in Paris. The wings Max Evans (dead leg) and Nikki Walker (knee) also sat out training but are expected to be fit for the game at Murrayfield on Saturday. Francesco Minto, the Italy A flanker, has been cited for allegedly making contact with the eyes of an opponent in last Friday's match against Scotland "A" in Gala. The Italy U20 centre, Giovanni Alberghini, has also been cited for an alleged stamp against Ireland U20 in Parma.

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Labels: cover, England, Guardian, James, Nations, SimpsonDaniel

{ No complacency: Martin Johnson says there are "lots and lots" of improvements England can make despite beating Wales in Cardiff Photo: AP

And that is why there will be little praise on offer when they all gather on Monday morning at their Surrey training base, despite their first win at the Millennium Stadium in eight years. Johnson is all too familiar with the boom and bust trend of recent times, decent wins being followed by a lull: from the euphoria of beating Australia to a ho-hum afternoon against Samoa in November.

“You can only get better if you’re tough on yourself,” Johnson said. “What’s the alternative... pats on the back? At least we’ve got a good platform from which to be tough. It was a big, emotional time in Cardiff. But we’ve got to perform whatever the build-up is, set out own standards.

“Our match won’t be the big focus this weekend. The expectations will be different. It’s important we get the mindset right. Look at the All Blacks. Even their worst performance is still pretty good. Their standards are high. Our performance has got to be better against Italy than it was against Wales. We handled the lead-in to Wales very well. Now we’ve got to handle this very well. It’ll be a test for us this week.”

A self-critical tone is crucial if England are to make best use of what was a notable championship victory, only their third in seven years away from home against all opponents bar Italy. Any sense that they can now coast through the tournament with three successive matches at Twickenham before heading to Dublin in mid-March for a tilt at a Grand Slam is as fanciful as expecting bankers to give up bonuses. Johnson intends to weed out any self-delusion the moment the group gets together.

“If only it were all as simple as that,” he said when the Grand Slam scenario was outlined. “Our fans are pretty sensible when it comes to that. Being favourites just isn’t on our radar.”

England were far from being polished or emphatic in all that they did. They are still one-dimensional in midfield and also prone to bouts of daftness in giving away penalties. James Haskell, Chris Ashton and Shontayne Hape were guilty of lapses at different times.

“Those silly things you can regret for a very long time if the score goes against you,” Johnson said. “There’s lots and lots to get better at. If you looked at the local papers it’s all doom and gloom down in Wales and things will be said about us. We all know the truth is somewhere in between.”

There is little doubt, though, that England have matured. They worked themselves into a commanding position at 23-9 yet allowed Wales to come back at them and were grateful for Jonny Wilkinson’s penalty five minutes from time to ease jitters. Yet England did hold firm and grafted their way through the sticky patch. That resolve and hard-nosed awareness have not been present for a long time. A year ago England might have lost that game. Johnson himself conceded that point.

“Yes, certainly there would be more of a chance to lose it,” he said. “But after what this squad has been through in the summer and autumn – well, it’s why you play the game, to get better.”

True, but there is no guarantee that more time together necessarily leads to improvement. One player, though, who has grown in stature over the past 12 months is fly-half Toby Flood. Friday was his eighth start in successive games since he took over the reins from his former Newcastle team-mate, Jonny Wilkinson, for the game against France last season.

“We’ve seen Toby’s maturity, especially day-to-day on the training field,” Johnson said. “He was fantastic in the autumn. If you’re bright enough and hard-working enough to make the best of your experiences, then that’s what happens.”

There were other figures of substance in England ranks, notably debutant flanker Tom Wood and lock Tom Palmer. Wood was terrific, a real prospect even if only drafted in the first place because of injuries to others. He looks entirely comfortable at this level, unfazed by everything around him, even overcoming a bout of illness to go the distance.

“You’ve got a lot to deal with – the bright lights, the male voice choir, the band and even the goat,” Johnson said, revealing England had been pushed off their warm-up patch by the band.

“But Tom just got on with what he had to do, being accurate and that’s his little part done. A match is made up of lots of little fundamentals. If you win the majority of those battles, that’s what wins you games.”

England have a clean bill of health bar bumps and bruises. They name their side on Thursday.

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Labels: Championship, determined, England, Johnson, Martin, Nations, Telegraphcouk

{

2011 SIX NATIONS: ENGLAND v ITALY
Venue: Twickenham Stadium Date: Saturday, 12 February Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 1400, and on the Red Button; listen on BBC Radio 5 live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Simpson-Daniel is highly talented but has struggled with injuryEngland have called up winger James Simpson-Daniel and prop Alex Corbisiero as injury cover ahead of Saturday's game against Italy at Twickenham.

Ten-cap Gloucester wing Simpson-Daniel, 28, is cover for full-back Nick Abendanon, who has a toe injury but remains with the squad for assessment.

The uncapped Corbisiero, 23, comes in for Tim Payne, who has returned to Wasps for treatment on a chest injury.

England opened their 2011 Six Nations account with a 26-19 win away to Wales.

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Labels: Corbisiero, England, Nations, SimpsonDaniel, Sport

{ Don't miss out on a second of the action of the 2011 Six Nations. Who will be crowned kings of the northern hemisphere? Great tickets for all games here. The Six Nations is one of the premier rugby tournaments in the world. It's a chance to see the best rugby players in Europe going head-to-head for five weekends in February and March. If it's the best rugby in Europe you're after, then we have the Six Nations tickets for you. A visit to Twickenham whether you're an England fan or visiting supporter, is a must. Don't miss England at Twickenham as they play Italy, France and Scotland, Six Nations tickets available for all games. Cardiff's Millennium Stadium has become a fortress for the Welsh Rugby team. England and Ireland both have to visit Cardiff top try and scrape a win. Grab your Six Nations tickets and watch the drama unfold. Scotland welcome Wales, Italy and Ireland in this year's Six Nations. Be there for all the action. Ireland switch back to Lansdowne Road, or the Aviva Stadium as its now called for their home fixtures and this is the setting on opening weekend as France touchdown for an exciting Six Nations match-up in Dublin. Then in week three it's the game that the whole of Ireland looks forward to every year, Ireland v England in the Six Nations at Croke Park – such history and emotion in this tie. France have the capability of playing some sublime rugby, but can also turn in some very sub-par performances. A trip to Paris and the Stade de France is always worth it. Don't miss the Six Nations match-ups there this year; Scotland and Wales. The Six Nations has become a good home for Italy rugby and their loyal fans. Stadio Flaminio is a great little stadium and this year welcomes Ireland, Wales and France. Italy rugby has never been better, don't miss a second of their Six Nations action. Read more... back to top ^

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Labels: Festivals, Music, Nations, Tickets

{

From Australian football to rugby for Italy ... Kris Burton. Photo: Getty Images

AUSTRALIAN-born Italy five-eighth Kris Burton has set his sights on a place in the Azzurri World Cup squad for this year's tournament in New Zealand after forcing his way back into reckoning for the first team.

With fellow Australian Craig Gower on the treatment table, Burton earned a call-up to Italy's Six Nations squad for their first two games, against Ireland on Saturday and England next weekend.

With just four caps for Italy since switching allegiance seven years ago, Burton is determined not to let his goal slip through his fingers this time, four years after his hopes of representing the Azzurri in the 2007 World Cup in France were dashed. ''It's important to me because it's my objective,'' he said of the World Cup.

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''My primary objective is to play well for my club, and only from there can you be selected for the national team. So for me, after missing out on the 2007 World Cup from being in the 40-man squad and dropping out a few weeks before, I've always had in my mind that I'd do everything I could to get to this World Cup.

''At the end of the day, I can only play as hard as I can. If I get selected, I get selected. It's not something I can say I'm going to be there, because other players can play better than you, you can't control that. I can only control how I'm playing, and hopefully I can be there.''

Burton's route to being on the verge of making his Six Nations debut for Italy has been a peculiar one. He played Australian football in Brisbane from four before taking up rugby nine years later.

''I've been kicking a football since I was four but it's a bit different to Italy where they kick a soccer ball around,'' he said. ''I played Aussie rules until I was 13, and actually played rugby union and AFL in the same year, one day training one and one day training the other.

''Then I chose to stay with union because I was at a private school so you had to pick one sport to play … It was the first time I'd played rugby union, and I thought I'd give it a go, and from there I got better.''

Burton qualified to play for Italy through his mother's antecedents, and decided to move to her homeland when he failed to make the grade at the Queensland Reds.

''I was originally with the Queensland squad but didn't get selected for the Super 12 the following year,'' he said. ''So my mother said, 'I have an Italian passport,' so I could go and play in Italy if I'd like to have another experience, playing a different type of rugby, the European game, so we decided to come to Italy.''

Now he is on the brink of making his Six Nations bow as Italy strive to improve on their previous showings. They have finished last in eight out of 11 participations.

AFP

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Labels: Burton, Herald, hopes, Italy, Morning, Nations, passport, performance, Sydney