History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

WASPS HOPING NOT TO GET STUNG

London Wasps head to Castres next weekend hoping that Leinster, who they beat 19-12 at Twickenham on Saturday, slip up against Edinburgh, in order to qualify for the last eight of the Heineken Cup.

Though equal with Wasps on 16 points the Irish team will advance thanks to their 41-11 win over Wasps in October – but their losing bonus point could have been cancelled out had Wasps chosen to gamble for a try rather than let Dave Walder slot a penalty.

“There was a little bit of discussion – it’s one of those decisions,” said prop and captain Phil Vickery following the win in which Danny Cipriani also kicked 11 points and Serge Betsen crossed for a try. “Should you have gone for the corner or stuck it over, you could talk about it forever.

“You can go on about ifs and buts, but if we’d lost the ball we could easily have been talking about something different. I wouldn’t be surprised if Edinburgh beat Leinster. So we can’t worry about anyone else, it’s about what we do.”

Harlequins had their 100 per cent record halted by Ulster at Ravenhill. The Irish won 21-10, but Dean Richards’s team’s passage to the quarter-finals is assured.

Meanwhile, in the European Challenge Cup Saracens defeated Viadana 36-19 at Vicarage Road on Sunday to secure their advancement to the last eight. Similarly London Irish, for whom Peter Hewat scored five tries in a 75-5 win over Connacht, are also through.

Labels: Daniel Cipriani, Dean Richards, Edinburgh, Ian McGeechan, Leinster, London Harlequins, London Irish, London Wasps, Phil Vickery, Saracens, Serge Betsen

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:49 pm | Permalink | Comments

VICKERY: JOHNNO MUST STICK WITH YOUNGSTERS

England manager Martin Johnson should persevere with his new-look team in spite of Saturday’s “unacceptable” 28-14 defeat to Australia, says Phil Vickery. But the recalled former captain has warned his young team-mates they must “smarten up” ahead of Saturday’s Test against world champions South Africa, who defeated Scotland 14-10 at Murrayfield.

Fly-half Matt Giteau’s six penalties – five of which were conceded within kicking-range before the interval thanks to England’s over-eagerness at the breakdown – and Adam Ashley-Cooper's converted try allowed the Wallabies to exact some revenge for their World Cup quarter-final loss in Marseille 13 months ago.

Though No8 Nick Easter barged over for a try and Danny Cipriani slotted three penalties, Johnson’s troops proved to be hot-headed in attack and defence at crucial moments. “We have been beaten by Australia at Twickenham by 14 points and that is unacceptable,” said Wasps prop Vickery.

“We were taught a good lesson by a team who knew how to win a game and we have to regroup and prepare properly because we know that there is not a more physical challenge in world rugby than playing the Springboks.”

Five of Johnson’s seven backs have only 15 caps between them, but Vickery believes that discarding them would be counter-productive for the development of the team. The 32-year-old continued: “I hope that Johnno sticks with those guys because we have got an exciting group and they deserve that faith. Everyone is trying their hardest but we just need to be a bit smarter and make sure we learn from this.

“If we have ambitions to become one of the best teams in world rugby then our guys can’t afford to go into their shells. You have to put yourself out there and in difficult and awkward positions. Unfortunately along the way they are going to get some bumps but they have got to back themselves.”

Labels: Australia, England, Martin Johnson, Phil Vickery, Rugby Football Union

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:58 am | Permalink | Comments

NEW-LOOK VICKERY WILL FIGHT TO THE DEATH

Phil Vickery, the prop recalled to former England team-mate Martin Johnson’s team to face Australia on Saturday, has an oriental tattoo on his person which translates as ‘I Will Fight You To The Death’. After the disappointment of benching in the 39-13 victory over the Pacific Islanders, the 32-year-old is delighted to have been given the nod over Matt Stevens, and – as his marking suggests – he has no desire to stop battling until the bitter end for his place, and for his country. In order to compete with the younger Bath front-rower, however, a leaner, meaner Vickery has emerged this season.

The tight-head, the only member of the 2003 World Cup winning team still featuring for England, has been advised to stop playing rugby on many occasions after suffering a number of career-threatening injuries but will win his 66th cap against Robbie Deans’s side. “I may not be the brightest or the most skilful player,” concedes Vickery, “but I would like to think that my tattoo sums up what I stand for: I will go to the very end. I certainly will not give up and I am passionate about my rugby. My drive and ambition and hunger for the game is as strong if not stronger than it has ever been.

“Matty Stevens is a great player who I hope is around this England team for many years to come. But I’m not just here to make up the numbers. I still think I have a huge amount to offer – I’m not going to be happy to melt away into the horizon and sit back and say I have got so many caps for England. I want to learn new things and try and improve certain aspects of my game.”

While much has been made of former captain Vickery’s scrummaging which has helped dominate Australian packs in the recent past – most recently 12 months ago in the quarter-final en route to the World Cup Final, and most memorably against the green and golds on that evening in Sydney five years ago – it is his willingness to evolve and keep up to speed with the modern demands of the front-row which underlines his commitment to the sport.

After suffering yet another injury in April – a dislocation of his right knee – he rushed himself back for the Guinness Premiership Final. Though Wasps defeated Leicester 26-16 it put Vickery’s rehabilitation back and he consequently missed out on England’s ill-fated summer tour to New Zealand. But the summer off international duty only strengthened his resolve.

He continues: “I worked so hard with the medical staff to get back for that final against the Tigers, though I think, in hindsight, I shouldn’t have played. I just wanted to do my bit for the Wasps boys. Missing out on the tour gave me the summer to re-focus.

“As a result I’ve lost some weight – just over a stone. It was a conscious decision. As the summer went on I lost some weight and my strength levels did not drop. I felt better much better having found the right balance with my diet and my training.

“Nowadays you have to tick as many boxes as possible as a modern player, and if you are too one dimensional then it is not good enough anymore – teams can’t afford to carry you. Things go full circle with the scrum though; I have been around the game long enough to know that. It changes from people wanting big, strong players to fitter, smaller, faster players.

“But strip it down and take away all the bullshit and ultimately you need guys on the field who are going to give their all. And whatever anyone says about my game, I can put my hand on my heart and guarantee you that I will always give 110 per cent.”

On Johnson’s revolution, Vickery warns that the World Cup winning captain’s reputation alone will not bear fruit. “We can’t think that just because Martin has walked through the door everything will be brilliant,” he adds. “We as a group need to work hard, do it on the field.

“When, in the first conversation I had with him after the appointment, he told me that he did not want me to be captain it became obvious that he would be straight talking. He is honest and fair and his experience can develop and bring on this England team so we can move forward.

“It is going to be an exciting place to be in the coming years. And I will be fighting away until those big eyebrows look at me and say: ‘Don’t bother coming anymore!’”

Labels: Australia, England, Martin Johnson, Phil Vickery

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:11 pm | Permalink | Comments