The Guardian (Free subscription) | 14 hours ago
... a brutal and compelling Test series – 10 of them won Lions caps with all but the injured Luke Fitzgerald in the 22 for Saturday – South Africa's first visit to Croke Park has taken on the guise of a grudge match. Other than Smit's revelation, the phoney war has been dominated by pleasantries with South Africa's coach Peter de Villiers stating "the Irish team were...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
• Lions fly half dropped for first time in six years • Keith Earls also comes in for Luke Fitzgerald on wing Jonathan Sexton will start Ireland's game with South Africa at Croke Park on Saturday after being preferred ahead of Ronan O'Gara at fly half. Sexton has taken the No10 jersey from O'Gara as reward for his outstanding display in Ireland's 41‑6 victory over Fiji...
The Irish Times (Free subscription) | 5 hours ago
... welcome after getting up close and personal in the early stages of the Lions’ second Test with Luke Fitzgerald, starting at blindside.The only other player ruled out is centre Adi Jacobs, hence Wynand Olivier replacing him.In addition to Van der Linde and De Villiers, there are two more changes on the bench – hooker Bismarck du Plessis returns from injury and flanker Dewald Potgieter...
IOL (Free subscription) | 8 hours ago
... hot reception from the Dublin crowd following his yellow card for gouging the eye of Irish winger Luke Fitzgerald at the start of the second test against the British and Irish Lions earlier this year.Fitzgerald misses Saturday's game after suffering a knee injury that has ruled him out for several months.In the Springbok backline, Wynand Olivier replaces the injured Adi Jacobs...
BBC Sport (Free subscription) | 9 hours ago
With so many Irishmen contributing towards a brutal and compelling Test series - 10 of them won Lions caps with all but the injured Luke Fitzgerald in the 22 for Saturday - South Africa's first visit to Croke Park has taken on the guise of a grudge match.
Reuters UK (Free subscription) | 12 hours ago
Burger is likely to get a hot reception from the Dublin crowd following his yellow card for gouging the eye of Irish winger Luke Fitzgerald at the start of the second test against the British and Irish Lions earlier this year.
Skysports.com (Free subscription) | 13 hours ago
... Matfield. ComebackSchalk Burger, who was issued an eight-week ban for eye-gouging Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald during the British and Irish Lions summer tour, makes his comeback to replace Danie Rossouw at openside flanker, with the Bulls forward switching to number eight. The only alteration to the back-line sees Wynand Olivier replacing Adrian Jacobs at inside centre. Two other...
Planet Rugby (Free subscription) | 14 hours ago
... towards a brutal and compelling Test series - 10 of them won Lions caps with all but the injured Luke Fitzgerald in the 22 for Saturday - South Africa's first visit to Croke Park has taken on the guise of a grudge match. Other than Smit's revelation, the phoney war has been dominated by pleasantries with South Africa coach Peter de Villiers stating "the Irish team were camouflaged...
The Telegraph (Free subscription) | 14 hours ago
... Bekker at lock. Schalk Burger - who received an eight-week ban for eye-gouging Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald during the Lions tour this summer - returns at openside flanker with Danie Rossouw switching to number eight. The only change to the back-line sees Wynand Olivier starting at inside centre in place of Adrian Jacobs. As well as BJ Botha, two other Irish-based players are in...
The Irish Times (Free subscription) | yesterday
... Peter de Villiers – whose garment-laden language has moved from Schalk Burger’s massaging of Luke Fitzgerald’s eyes and his opinion that the effete Lions should wear tutus to Ireland dressed in camouflage, or, was that the Lions in camouflage? – has declared that Ireland are better than the British and Irish Lions no less.Ireland maintains that despite defeat by two club sides and...
Planet Rugby (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
There has been plenty of talk of bad blood between the side following a couple of incidents involving Irish players during the Lions tour (Schalk Burger's eye-gauge on Luke Fitzgerald or Brian O'Driscoll and Danie Rossouw's head clash for example) but the Bok coach rubbished speculation that any scores were going to be settled this weekend.
Reuters UK (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
... the fit first team players rested after the Nov. 15 draw against Australia with long-term casualty Luke Fitzgerald the only name missing as Munster's Keith Earls retained his place on the left wing.(Reporting by ; Editing by ; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) ((padraic.halpin@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: padraic.halpin.reuters.com@reuters.net;...
The Independent (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
... drew 20-20 with Australia in Ireland's autumn opener with Keith Earls replacing knee injury victim Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing. Ulster's Paddy Wallace is restored at inside centre where he is preferred ahead of Gordon D'Arcy, who features among the substitutes. Cian Healy of Leinster resumes loosehead duties after missing out against Fiji because of a shoulder injury. Munster...
ireland.com (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
... the 20-20 draw against the Wallabies nearly a fortnight ago, Keith Earls will replace the injured Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing.Changes from the win over Fiji, however, see Paddy Wallace return to partner captain Brian O'Driscoll in the centre and Cian Healy come back into the frontrow instead of Tom Court.Donncha O'Callaghan is back in harness with Munster team-mate Paul O'Connell,...
The Irish Times (Free subscription) | 11/23/2009
... Keith Earls confirmed his form and established himself as the favourite to replace the unfortunate Luke Fitzgerald, even if at times boredom might have afflicted him more than hypothermia.Elsewhere, though, the likes of Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Eoin Reddan and Gordon D’Arcy probably did enough to cement their places in the 22 for the game against South Africa, but no more.Among the...
