Munster Passed up Chance to Sign Lomu
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22 THE IRISH TIMES Tuesday, October 4, 2005 SportsNews Rugby News round-up French flair makes skills Munster camp a tour de force passed up chance to sign Lomu Gerry Thornley given they are idle the following Gerry Thornley weekend, this is Declan Kidney’s Munster, it has emerged, may have last opportunity to try out combina- On Rugby been favourites at one stage of tions and see players back from Jonah Lomu’s long-running transfer injury before their opening kills, skills, skills. More than anything, saga to a European club to sign the European Cup tie, away to the high- that’s what teenage rugby players should legendary All Black winger. Cer- flying Sale Sharks. be learning in the years that are the tainly that was the belief within the Hence, Pitout – who has under- windows of opportunity. But are they? Is Cardiff Blues, and Munster sources gone four operations after a pin Sthe much-vaunted Irish schools/underage have confirmed they were in inserted in the leg he broke playing system, which undoubtedly helps produce great advanced negotiations with Lomu’s for the Springbok Sevens last players, achieving this aim as much as it could? agent before Cardiff signed him last January became infected – may well The bottom line, are they even enjoying the week. come into the Munster side after game as much as they could? “Yes it’s true that we were a long arriving from South Africa Sure, they’re often playing for schools that way down the road with him and yesterday. have a great tradition and are the lifeblood of perhaps might have had first option Kidney might also give Shaun rugby in this country. They often compete in on him at one point,” admitted a Payne, Anthony Horgan and/or front of big crowds and, for better or worse, are Munster spokesperson yesterday. David Wallace game time if any or exposed to more media coverage than their And Lomu himself is believed to all of them recover from recent counterparts in any other sport. They learn much have been in contact with his old All short-term injuries. He is expected about the nature of high-profile, knockout rugby, Black team-mate Christian Cullen. to announce his squad tomorrow how to perform in the context of team patterns However, Munster were ulti- and his team later in the week. and how to win. But winning isn’t everything at mately reluctant to gamble on a His counterpart Michael Cheika underage level. It’s not even the most important player who has played only one will definitely be without Guy thing. Nurturing talent is, especially if it leads to game in the last three years, Martin Easterby not only for next Sunday’s fulfilment in a senior career. Johnson’s testimonial last May at game but also for the opening two Summertime, away from competition, Twickenham. rounds of the European Cup after provides the best opening, and, along with the To even be back on a pitch confirmation the Ireland scrumhalf schools and others, into this breach boldly steps playing was a miraculous achieve- suffered a broken jaw in Leinster’s the Rugby and French camp in Soustons, north ment for a player who, after the 1995 hard-earned win over Ulster. of Biarritz (www.rugbyandfrench.com). Held Jonah Lomu, here on the charge in New Zealand’s 40-29 win over Ireland in November 2001, was in talks, through his agent, with Munster and 1999 World Cups, was undoubt- Easterby will be sidelined for an over July and August, and recently having and might have ended up playing alongside David Wallace (left) and Anthony Foley had Cardiff not stepped in. – (Photograph: Getty Images) edly the biggest name in the global estimated six to eight weeks, which completed a sixth summer, it is run by the game, but since then his career has would rule him out of Ireland’s former Wanderers centre Nigel Osborne and the been blighted by nephrotic syn- opening autumn international, one-time Harlequins back-five forward Bill drome, which necessitated a kidney against the All Blacks, and probably Davison at the impressive Camp Nautique de transplant last year. the ensuing games against Australia L’Isle Verte, and is attended by mostly Irish and Dallaglio bounces back Munster were committed to and Romania. English kids between the ages of 12 and 15. signing Anton Pitout – the Brian O’Meara will thus be Similar camps are held there by the French 28-year-old winger-cum-centre expected to start, with Brian Federation for young rugby players in the Lawrence Dallaglio promised on Initial estimates placed his the modern game. ability we’ll have to wait and see. from the Cheetahs’ Currie Cup team O’Riordan back on the bench after southwest/Landes region. Their players stay in the day after having a plate and five recovery time at between four and But he made himself available for “No matter who you are or what – so their interest switched to Gary recovering from a pre-season ankle chalets, the Irish and English in tents, which screws inserted into his broken six months, but Dallaglio insisted a third Lions tour, and after that was you have done in the game, form Connolly. The former Britain and injury to play in the A game Osborne believes is more conducive to a family ankle that he would be back in from his hospital bed that it would wrecked by his injury just 17 min- and fitness are very, very impor- Ireland rugby league international between Leinster and Ulster last atmosphere as well as keeping down costs action by October – and he has been be sooner rather than later. utes into the opening game the pros- tant.” was signed at relatively short notice Friday. Sunday’s game should also (excessive at just over ¤1,000, due in the main to true to his word. After four months of intense pect of an England return began to England head coach Andy Rob- in time for the Heineken European see Keith Gleeson make his 50th the cost of flights). Wasps have confirmed Dallaglio physio, he is ready to take his first formulate. inson would welcome Dallaglio Cup deadline last Thursday after appearance for Leinster. There are three billiard-top pitches adjacent will be in the squad for Friday’s step on what could be the final “When you have had a long-term back into the fold. Declan Kidney noticed his possible ● Welsh outhalf Stephen Jones to the lake, a short walk from Soustons village Anglo-Welsh Cup clash with Car- journey of his career, one the injury the main priority is to get “I would love Lawrence to put availability just over a week ago. faces a race against time to be fit for and a 20-minute cycle from the beach, as well as diff at the Causeway Stadium. former England captain hopes will back on to the rugby pitch in a black himself forward to play for England Connolly duly scored twice on his country’s clash with New an array of nautical equipment and qualified Dallaglio underwent surgery in lead to more World Cup glory. shirt, playing for Wasps. Then we’ll again. He is still a great player,” he his debut in the win over Connacht Zealand on November 5th. He badly instructors, to help keep the players in camp Auckland on June 5th after he was Dallaglio retired from England be able to see what level I am at,” said this weekend. last Saturday. twisted an ankle playing for his club busy with kayaking, windsurfing and the like. caught awkwardly under a pile of duty as captain in September 2004, Dallaglio said recently. “The crucial thing is for him to Munster entertain Leinster in an side, Clermont Auvergne, on All overseen by the professional, unflustered bodies in the Lions’ opening tour just days before Clive Woodward “I have the desire to play interna- get back playing and get back to eagerly awaited Celtic League clash Saturday and has been told he needs Christophe Andignac, even the restaurant match against Bay of Plenty. quit, citing the “brutal demands” of tional rugby, but whether I have the where he used to be.” at Musgrave Park next Sunday and four weeks to recover. provides three healthy, well-balanced meals a day that Jamie Oliver would approve of. But what else would you expect from the French? There are also daily conversational Sports Digest Soccer News National League Premier Division French lessons run by two of Osborne’s eight-strong staff, Sara McDonald (formerly Francois Pienaar’s assistant at Saracens) and Elaine Coughlan. But most of all the emphasis is very much on the rugby skills instilled by Museeuw Mikel transfer Still no luck Osborne and Davison as well as Henric Gervais, Simon O’Hare, Niall Best, Peter Burns and Ron Boucher, five of Osborne’s protégés during his four-year stint as Wanderers under-20s coach. “Primarily it’s a rugby holiday,” says Osborne. faces charges saga continues for St Patrick’s “It’s the first real rugby tour for virtually all of them, with all the good elements of rugby tours, meeting and making mates for life, while ■ CYCLING: The 1996 world ■ EQUESTRIAN: Jessica Kurten Daniel Taylor and St Patrick’s played off the front enjoying their rugby and developing their skills.” champion, Johan Museeuw of won a car for finishing third in the Bohemians 1 foot until the break. Divided into junior and senior sections, each Belgium, is among 11 former Euroclassics final at Bremen Alex Ferguson yesterday criticised The breakthrough was made morning there is an intensive skills session of cyclists and their associates who yesterday, reports Grania Willis.