‘Heartbreak’ at Williams death
Wales must subdue star duo
CHAMPIONSHIP club Doncaster are in shock after prop Ian Williams died at training yesterday.
The 27-year-old could not be revived after collapsing during a team huddle before the session began.
The club issued a statement saying it had been a “heartbreaking day” and there was “great sadness” over the loss of the popular Oxford University graduate.
“Ian collapsed at training this morning and, despite the best efforts of the emergency team, could not be resuscitated,” said the club. “We extend our deepest sympathies to Ian’s mother Pippa, father Phillip and sister Helen and are working with a counselling team in the best interest of Ian’s team-mates.” Swansea-born Williams, who represented Wales at student level, joined the Knights from Rotherham last summer. “We have lost a lovely guy and friend,” said Doncaster team-mate Michael Hills. The 6ft 4in, 20st front row played in the 2013 Varsity Match and had spells with London Welsh and Richmond. England prop Joe Marler tweeted: “My thoughts are with Doncaster and Ian’s family and friends.” WILLIAMS MASTERS champion Mark Allen lost four frames in a row yesterday to crash out of the World Grand Prix in Preston at the first hurdle.
The Northern Irishman lost 4-3 to China’s Xiao Guodong, having led 3-0 and looking set to complete a whitewash.
But the world No9 faltered badly, spurning four opportunities in the deciding frame – and now faces a battle to stay in the top 16, which guarantees a place at the World Championship. GREG RUTHERFORD will target the one global title he has yet to win after being named in Britain’s team for the World Indoor Championships, which start in Birmingham a week tomorrow.
Rutherford put his injury nightmare behind him to win the British title at Arena Birmingham – where the World Indoors will also be held – last Saturday, his first competition since June last year following groin and ankle operations. CALCUTTA CUP week is always drenched in both nostalgia and nationalism, a time when minds tinted white or blue start wandering down memory lane.
David Sole slowly marching his army on to Murrayfield in 1990; Dean Richards and John Jeffrey trashing the trophy during a drunken post-match spree two years earlier; Scotland’s last win at Twickenham in 1983 that condemned the auld enemy to the wooden spoon; England’s record victory in Edinburgh, 29-3 in 2002, that marked the start of their run towards the World Cup 18 months later. Oh, the memories…
But ask a current player what he remembers, and it all becomes a bit hazy. He will talk about the next game being the only one that matters. Stepping into a Murrayfield maelstrom? Just another day at another office.
Former England captain Steve Borthwick, now Eddie Jones’ forwards coach, has a bank chock-full of Calcutta Cup memories, but ask him to share one and the vault slams shut. “We are not a team who look back. We constantly look forward,” he said. “I just want the players to play well and the team to win the next game.”
England hooker Jamie George is happy to recall watching from the Murrayfield stands as his Saracens pal Owen Farrell made his Test debut in 2012 but of his own moments on the pitch? “I just
Fans like to talk about past games but none of the boys dwell on it
want to finish the day a better player than I started,” he said.
But for the perfect example of the 21st century professional player, look no further than Ben Te’o, the former rugby league star, now England’s outside-centre.
“History is completely irrelevant,” he said. “Fans like to talk about past games, past championships, but none of the boys dwell on it. We don’t WALES coach Warren Gatland has told his team to attack Ireland’s half-back pair or risk seeing their Six Nations dream ended.
Gatland’s men must win at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday if they wish to continue their pursuit of a first title since 2013.
Scrum-half Conor Murray and fly-half Johnny Sexton form the heartbeat of Ireland’s side and their kicking threat has led to Gatland making three changes from the side defeated 12-6 by England.
Full-back Leigh Halfpenny returns, Liam Williams starts on the wing and Dan Biggar has made a quick recovery from a shoulder injury to take his place at fly-half. All three players are excellent in the air.
Having coached Murray and Sexton on the past two Lions tours, Gatland is well aware of the star duo’s threat. “We have got to time you get this far you’ve played in some big stadiums, in front of hostile crowds.
“It doesn’t matter at all to me where I play. The confidence is in the preparation. Do all the little things during the week, know your stuff, prepare well, go out and play rugby.”
In charge of a critical part of that preparation is Paul Gustard, the England defence coach. He will have drawn up attack them,” he said. “We’ve had some pretty good success not allowing Johnny too much time and space on the ball.
“Our line-speed defensively has got to be good. We have got to put Conor and his kicking game under pressure and we have to be prepared to be pretty physical against them. The way Wales played at home against Ireland last year was outstanding, it was the model.
“We must not allow Murray and Sexton to dominate the game. If we can do that, we have got a chance.”
Biggar has not played since limping out of Ospreys’ Champions Cup defeat by Clermont Auvergne last month. He comes straight into Gatland’s side with Rhys Patchell dropped from the 23 altogether. “Dan has a lot of experience,” said Gatland. “We know how good he is in the air defensively and on attack.”
Wing George North again has to make do with a spot among the replacements, while the Welsh pack is unchanged.
Wales are unbeaten in their past three Six Nations games against Ireland but Gatland is wary, saying: “We know it’s a massive, must-win game in Dublin against a team who are difficult to get the ball off.”
WALES: Halfpenny; L Williams, S Williams, Parkes, S Evans; Biggar, G Davies; R Evans, Owens, Lee, Hill, AW Jones, Shingler, Navidi, Moriarty. Replacements: Dee, W Jones, Francis, B Davies, Tipuric, A Davies, Anscombe, North.