Saturday Round-Up

Saturday Round-Up

SBW Back in Business: The long awaited return of Sonny Bill Williams to rugby union was officially made official on Friday, after his side the Sydney Roosters were knocked out of the reckoning for Australia’s National Rugby League title. Having returned to the game where he honed his skills little over two years ago, speculation has continued to mount until earlier this year it was announced that the centre would return to the 15 man version of the game, with one eye fixed firmly on the forthcoming 2015 World Cup in England. Having earlier been exempted from a rule which requires New Zealand players to represent a domestic outfit in the iTM Cup, prior to lining out for the All Blacks, the former Toulon midfield man looks set to slot straight back into action on the All Blacks’ end of year tour of the United States and Europe.


Leinster pushed by Blues: Cardiff Blues new head coach Mark Hammett will wake this morning thinking what might have been, after his side pushed Guinness Pro12 champions Leinster all the way, before a last minute score put a gloss on the scoreline for the hosts. Having come into the game off the back of a poor defeat at the hands of fellow Irish outfit Connacht last weekend, Matt O’Connor’s Leinster side had a point to prove in front of their home crowd, but in reality won’t have gone too far in allaying their fears. A cagey affair in the opening quarter both kickers exchanged pleasantries from the tee before Rhys Ruddock picked a wonderful line off flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth, to plough his way over in the corner. A Madigan conversion followed, and Leinster suddenly found themselves 13-6 ahead. The second period saw the game open up more, much to the delight of the home crowd, with the home side going over for a brace of quick tries courtesy of replacement Mick McGrath and then experienced Irish centre Gordon D’Arcy. While the game looked to be over as a contest to the naked eye, the visitors staged a mighty comeback, albeit aided by some woeful defensive work from Ian Madigan who fumbled the ball in his own dead ball area. Having got to within a losing bonus point of their hosts, thanks to tries for Cory Allen and Welsh skipper Sam Warburton, the visitors then allowed replacement nine Luke McGrath to coast in for a last minute try and a 14 point Leinster win.

Ryan Sheady


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