Gavin Henson

One of the major talking points over the festive period was the ban handed out to Wales' centre Gavin Henson for his elbow on Leicester prop Alex Moreno. The ban, initially ten weeks and two days, has been reduced to seven weeks and two days.

Despite that lessening of the punishment I still take issue with the length of the ban. Firstly, John Smit, the South Africa captain, elbowed Jerome Thion, the French second row in the throat fracturing his larynx. Thion is still being fed through a straw and is unable to speak. Yet Smit's punishment was a mere six weeks. Henson's action while unacceptable, and we must remember he did break Moreno's nose, was not as serious as Smit's offence and yet his ban was initially four weeks longer.

Secondly, the failure of the authorities to punish Kevin Mealamu and Tana Umaga following their spear tackle on Brian O'Driscoll has left rugby's disciplinary system a mockery. Bans vary in length for the same offence and not neccessarily in order of the severity of the offence. It is about time that set bans are given for offences such as punching, elbowing or biting. Then controversy surrounding such incidents as Henson's elbow can be forgotten.

Just one final point. Why the two days? That two days now prevents Henson playing for Wales against Scotland on the 12th February as that is the last day of his ban. The two days seems uneccessary and maybe it is therefore also time that bans are measured in games not days as players can actually escape the effects of a ban if their team is during their off season. This is clearly not fair and needs to be addressed.

New Year

As we welcome in the new year there is much to look forward to. Hopefully my passing of my Diploma course here in Cardiff and a job as a rugby journalist. Build up is already underway and with the Six Nations just round the corner it promises to be another memorable year.

Pete Clifton

The latest guest speaker to take the stage at Cardiff University was Pete Clifton, Head of BBCi.

The man who lecturer Simon Williams described as an "online god" gave an entertaining and informative talk about issues affecting BBCi and some of the plans in the pipeline for its development.

Clifton expressed his belief that thanks to the regular income provided by license fees means that "We are a large way ahead of our rivals."

He also outlined the heavy workload at BBCi. There are over 30 million page impressions during a day. Clifton also explained that major improvements were made to the system after the website collapsed under the strain of people trying to find information as 9/11 took place. When it came to the London July bombings the system was able to cope admirably.

Pete also told the audience that he believed that user genereated content is becoming ever more important to web based journalism. In the aftermath of the seventh of July the BBC received 20,000 emails, 3,000 texts and over a thousand still photos from the public offering information and resources for use.

He also outlined plans to allow the reader to personalise what news they read by ticking boxes on what they want to know. There are also plans to set up a news ticker along the bottom that people can also use to personalise what appears. Thsi ticker would work independently of the site, as Clifton himself said, "I do not care whether they go into the site or not, as long as they are using our services."

So in short watch this space BBCi is going to have a lot of new developments over the next 12 months

Rugby World Cup Cop Out

It has been a while since I made a post on this blog and reader there is a simple reason for this. It is nothing to do with Wales defeat to the Springboks nor England's valiant but bland efforts at stopping the All Black juggernaut on Saturday. It is to do with the cloud of rage that has hung over me since last Thursday's announcement that New Zealand will host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby, as a sport, has never been stronger. There are more bums on seats on a Saturday than ever before, more replica kits are being sold and television has never covered so many games before. Surely now was the time to increase the games global appeal, to do something new and exciting with it, to give some new nations the chance to take the game to its masses.

Quite clearly Japan should have been awarded the tournament. As they showed with their co-hosting of the 2002 Football World Cup the Japanese know how to organise a major sporting event. Hosting the tournament would have given the game a massive boost in Japan and the Far East where a massive player base is potentially available and major commercial opportunities would surely have followed.

Furthermore the reasons for the tournament being awarded to New Zealand are frankly pathetic. Syd Millar's statement that full crowds were guaranteed in New Zealand is nonsense, there were very few empty seats at any of the Football World Cup games in 2002. The excuse that the tournament will inspire a new generation of All Blacks is also absolute tripe. Rugby is the be all and end all in New Zealand there are not many kids who wake up and think "Nah, I don't fancy being an All Black."

It is just a sad fact that old friends vote for each other. The SANZAR nations obviously voted for their Tri Nations partners and it is obvious that many unions followed suit and stuck with a union that they know. It is a shame that the ballot was not open (as with IOC decisions) so that everyone could see the conspiracy that has been allowed to take place.

Rugby has set itself back at least ten years in terms of its global development and every single union who played a part in capturing the event for New Zealand should hang their heads in shame.

Kim Hollamby

A bit late this post but nevermind.

Last Thursday Kim Hollamby Head of Electronic Media at IPC Media took the stage in our Birt Acres lecture theatre.

Hollamby's talk gave an interesting insight to how skills between print and online are likely to become increasingly transferable.

He also outlined the importance of magazines getting out there and strongly identifying just who their reader is. Hollamby gave the audience a graphic example when he gave us an example of how, while at International Boat Industry magazine.

He went on a five month sojourn around Britain on a boat. He wrote regular copy while he was on the boat but when he stopped in various ports he invited readers to come aboard and talk to him about the magazine. This therefore gave him a much clearer picture of the audience that he was writing for.

Hollamby also expressed his belief that "The reader of the future will want more than one medium through which to access their news." This is where the internet is key.

Statistics have shown that in the first half of 2005 more internet advertising space has been sold than there was in the whole of 2003.

Hollamby left us with some golden rules to use when maintaining or writing for websites.

• Web content needs to be valuable to the reader.
• Updates should be small but take place often.
• Keyword rich content will lead to high search engine rankings putting your sit at the top of the list.
• Content should be complementary to other mags.

All in all it was an enjoyable presentation and Hollamby was a very friendly and approachable man. I hope to see more of him in the future as IPC is the parent company of Rugby World magazine, my dream employer.

Autumn International Previews

Wales v Fiji

Wales go into this fixture with the memory of last week's All Black mauling still in their minds. The home side will need to establish the solid set piece platform that they were so desperately lacking last weekend if they are to get the comfortable victory the Welsh nation expects.

Fiji have selected almost as strong a side as is available to them with Sireli Bobo sure to be a major threat on the wing, another player to watch being explosive number eight Sisa Koyamaibole.

For all the considerable individual quality within the Fijian squad expect a young but exciting Welsh side to come out on top by a comfortable margin. The dynamic back row of Dafydd Jones, Martyn Williams and skipper Michael Owen should ensure the quick ball Wales desire, while Sonny Parker and Matthew Watkins get a chance to stake a claim at centre for the next two internationals against South Africa and Australia.

Wales: Lee Byrne (Scarlets); Kevin Morgan (Dragons), Matthew Watkins (Scarlets), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Nick Robinson (Blues), Gareth Cooper (Dragons); John Yapp (Blues), Rhys Thomas (Blues), Chris Horsman (Worcester), Brent Cockbain (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Martyn Williams (Blues), Michael Owen (Dragons, capt).Replacements: Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Robert Sidoli (Blues), Alix Popham (Scarlets), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Blues), Mike Phillips (Blues), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons).

Fiji: Norman Ligairi; Mosese Luveitasau, Epeli Ruivadra, Julian Vulakoro, Sireli Bobo; Seremaia Bai, Mosese Rauluni (capt); Jo Bale, Sunia Kota, Apisai Nagi, Ifereimi Rawaqa, Isoa Domolailai, Alifereti Doviverata, Aca Ratuva, Sisa Koyamaibole.Replacements: Bill Gadolo, Tiko Matawalu, Kele Leawere, Kiniviliame Salabogi, Mosese Volavola, Aporosa Vata, Kameli Ratuvou.

Player to watch: Sireli Bobo.
One of the quickest wingers in world rugby. If Fiji stick to their trusted method of expansive rugby then expect this man to cause Wales some problems.

Prediction: Wales 48- 15 Fiji


England v Australia

Andy Robinson's charges will hope to maintain Australia's recent bad run by sending the Wallabies to a record seventh straight defeat. While England have lost four of their last six tests they will go into tomorrow's showdown as slight favourites.

Andy Sheridan gets a start after his promising performances on the Lions tour. Mark Cueto and Ben Cohen will provide strength and firepower out wide while the solid Danny Grewcock and Steve Borthwick should provide a steady stream of good lineout ball for Charlie Hodgson to move out wide.

With Mark van Gisbergen on the bench Hodgson will have to shoulder the kicking duties and will need to avoid the jitters he suffered in this fixture 12 months ago.

The Wallabies have stuck with under fire skipper George Gregan but have brought in the exciting, if erratic, Mat Rogers at fly half. Lote Tuqiri continues at centre while Drew Mitchell comes on to the wing.

Up front Hugh McMeniman gets an opportunity at second row and John Roe returns to a powerful back row including the ball winners Goerge Smith and Phil Waugh.

Whoever wins the back row battle might just come out on top in this one.

England: J Lewsey (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), B Cohen (Northampton); C Hodgson (Sale), M Dawson (Wasps); A Sheridan (Sale), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester); S Borthwick (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath); P Sanderson (Worcester), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), C Jones (Sale), H Ellis (Leicester), O Barkley (Bath), M Van Gisbergen (Wasps).

Australia: C Latham (Queensland); M Gerrard (ACT), L Tuqiri (NSW), M Turinui (NSW), D Mitchell (Queensland; M Rogers (NSW), G Gregan (ACT, capt); M Dunning (NSW), B Cannon (WA), A Baxter (NSW), N Sharpe (WA), H McMeniman (Queensland), J Roe (Queensland), P Waugh (NSW), G Smith (ACT). Replacements: T Polata-Nau (NSW), G Holmes (Queensland), M Chisholm (ACT), S Fava (WA), C Whitaker (NSW), M Giteau (ACT), L Johannson (Queensland).

Player to watch: Drew Mitchell
Was a revelation in the Tri Nations and is an exciting counter attacking force who always beats the first tackler, if the Wallaby back row provide good ball his elusive running could cause England major problems.

Prediction: England 22- 16 Australia


Ireland v New Zealand

The All Blacks arrive in Dublin for the second leg of their Grand Slam bid full of confidence following their demolition of Wales last weekend. Graham Henry has had the luxury of changing all starting personal for the this fixture and the awesome stength in depth in New Zealand rugby can be clearly seen.

A back three including Leon McDonald, Doug Howlett and Sitiveni Sivivatu does not appear to be second string does it?

Richie McCaw returns to the back row and Keven Mealamu starts despite his role in Brian O'Dricoll's injury in the summer.

There are also two new caps in the shape of prop John Afoa and second row Jason Eaton, who has yet to start a Super 12 game.

For Ireland there are absentees in the shape of Paul O'Connell, Denis Hickie andof course O'Driscoll. Simon Easterby takes over the captaincy in the centre's absence.

Lions returnees Ronan O'Gara, Geordan Murphy, Diomacha O'Callaghan, John Hayes, Shane Byrne, Gordan D'Arcy and Shane Horgan all start.

Ireland will need a flawless performance to upset the New Zealand bandwagon but the number of changes in All Black ranks mean a bit of rustiness could play into Irish hands. However an away victory appears the only outcome.

Ireland: G Murphy, T Bowe, G D'Arcy, S Horgan, A Horgan, R O'Gara, P Stringer, M Horan, S Byrne, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, M O'Kelly, S Easterby (capt), J O'Connor, D Leamy.Replacements: R Best, S Best, M McCullough, N Best, K Campbell, D Humphreys, G Dempsey.

New Zealand: L McDonald; D Howlett, M Nonu, A Mauger, S Sivivatu; N Evans, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, J Afoa; J Eaton, A Williams; S Lauaki, R McCaw (capt), M Tuiali'i.Replacements: A Hore, S Taumoepeau, C Hayman, C Jack, R So'oialo, J Cowan, M Muliaina.

Player to watch: Sione Lauaki
The powerful back rower is a dynamic runner with ball in end and is very good at doing the hard yards, expect a big performance tomorrow.

Prediction: Ireland 17- 38 New Zealand


Scotland v Argentina

New coach Frank Hadden has his first game in permanent charge after oversseing summer wins over the Barbarians and Romania. The former Edinburgh coach has stuck with much of the squad used by previous incumbent Matt Williams as he attempts to transfer good Celtic League form onto the international stage.

Jason White is made skipper while Mike Blair starts at scrum half ahead of Lions tourist Chris Cusiter. Marcus Di Rollo gets a deserved start at centre while hooker Dougie Hall and second row Craig Hamilton all get their first home starts.

The Pumas come into this game on the back of a very stron performance against South Africa in Buenos Aires where they led at half time only to lose 34-23.

Argentina have found some dangerous strike runners behind the scrum to go with their fearsome pack including Stade Francais's Juan Martin Hernandez and Edinburgh's Francesco Leonelli. Sale's Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe is a key figure up front.

Expcet a close game with the Pumas recording a famous victory.

Scotland: C Paterson, R Lamont, M Di Rollo, A Henderson, S Lamont, D Parks, M Blair, G Kerr, D Hall, B Douglas, C Hamilton, S Murray, J White (capt), S Taylor, A Hogg.Replacements: S Lawson, C Smith, A Jacobsen, A Kellock, K Brown, C Cusiter, H Southwell.

Argentina: J Hernandez, F Martin Aramburu, M Contepomi, F Contepomi, F Leonelli, F Todeschini, A Pichot (capt), R Roncero, M Ledesma, O Hasan, I Lobbe, P Bouza, M Durand, J Lobbe, M Schusterman. Replacements: M Scelzo, E Guinazu, M Carizza, J Leguizamon, N Fernandez-Miranda, L Borges, B Stortoni.

Player to watch: Chris Paterson
Had an excellent end to the Six Nations and has had a good start in the Celtic League with Edinburgh. Is a devastating runner in broken play.

Prediction: Scotland 22-27 Argentina

Pelous ban

With so many internationals on this weekend I have decided to avoid putting all teams up on this site when they are announced, on Friday I will preview all the ome nations fixtures for the weekend.

The major news today is that France skipper Fabien Pelous has been banned for nine weeks following his elbowing of Brendan Cannon in the France v Australia fixture on Saturday. It is good to see that the IRB are actually able to hand out punishments appropriately. Pelous attack was a needless cheap shot and Cannon was off the field for 12 minutes while he was stitched back up.

However one has to question the consistency of the IRB when we equate this to other recent offences.

In the Tri-Nations encounter between South Africa and New Zealand Springbok lock Viktor Matfield hit Byron Kelleher with an illegal and extremely late tackle and yet no penalty was given and the incident was never reviewed when there was clearly a case to answer.

The most infamous recent incident is of course the Brian O'Driscoll spear tackle affair. One must question how a citing commissioner could come to the conclusion that what was done to O'Driscoll was not a red card offence meriting a lengthy ban.

So while banning the French captain is a fair punishment the IRB needs to look at being more consistent in its policies on foul play. Rugby is an ever growing sport it doesnt need its image tarnished by unpunished acts of thuggery.

England team to play Australia

As seems customary with Andy Robinson his assertions of players being picked on form goes out the window the moment it comes to naming a team for a test match. How else do you explain some of the glaring omissions from Saturday's team to face Australia at Twickenham.

Stuart Abbot of Wasps does not make the 22 at the expense of Jamie Noon and Mike Tindall. When you consider that in a recent Powergen Cup game Tindall made five forward passes it does not bode well for English creativity in midfield.

Louis Deacon and Tom Palmer can consider themselves very unfortunate to be overlooked for the solid but uninspiring combination of Grewcock and Borthwick.

Matt Dawson is re-instated at scrum half despite the dynamism that Peter Richards has brought to Gloucester so far this season and Perry Freshwater's excellent form for Perpignan has been ignored as Mat Stevens claims the front row bench spot.

England will be looking to beat the Wallabies for the first time since the World Cup Final. The two teams met last autumn at Twickenham where the Australians emerged 21-19 victors.

The England team is as follows:
J Lewsey (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), B Cohen (Northampton); C Hodgson (Sale), M Dawson (Wasps); A Sheridan (Sale), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester), S Borthwick (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath), P Sanderson (Worcester), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), C Jones (Sale), H Ellis (Leicester), O Barkley (Bath), M Van Gisbergen (Wasps).

New Zealand strength in depth

I have just checked the BBC Sport website and have discovered that New Zealand have changed their entire starting line up for their encounter with Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. Yet despite all these changes the team selected is very strong.

Keven Mealamu starts at hooker despite his role in Brian O'Driscoll's removal from the first test of the Lions Series.

Dan Carter is rested and Otago's Nick Evans comes in at fly half. Despite the resting of Muliaina, Rockocoko and hat trick hero Rico Gear the New Zealand back three still contain the potent line up of Leon McDonald, Doug Howlett and Sitiveni Sivivatu.

It just goes to prove that there is no such thing as a weak New Zealand side.

I will post a preview on Friday.

The team in full is:

McDonald, Howlett, Nonu, Mauger, Sivivatu, Evans, Weepu, Woodcock, Mealamu, Afoa, Eaton, Williams, Lauaki, McCaw, Tuiali'i.Replacements: Hoare, Taumoepeau, Hayman, Jack, So'oialo, Cowan, Muliaina.

The Weekend's Results

Well so much for a close game on Saturday.

New Zealand were utterly dominant and thoroughly deserved their crushing 41-3 victory. In Chris Jack and Dan Carter they had the two outstanding players on the field. Chris Masoe had an excellent debut, bossing the breakdown and along with Jerry Collins and Rodney So'oialo deprived Wales of the quick ball they craved.

Wales were very poor and struggled woefully in the set piece but Mike Ruddock can take comfort in the fact that it is going to take an outstanding performance from any side to beat this breed of All Blacks.

They were clinical in taking their five scores and it could have been worse had Byron Kelleher and James Ryan taken the right options when having broken the Welsh defensive line.

Wales were very rusty and suffered without the majority of their Lions. They have to regroup quickly if they are not to experience a similar result at the hands of the Springboks in just under two weeks.

Do not rule out Ruddock's men by any means. Their high octane style means that accuracy is vital to their success. That accuracy was lacking on Saturday but should it be rediscovered famous victories over both South Africa and Australia will not be out of the question.

It is hard to see anyone beating the All Blacks on this tour, at times on Saturday they were a privilege to watch.