EDF Energy Cup

EDF Energy Cup

The Anglo-Welsh Trophy was founded in 1971 and is contested by the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and four Welsh regions. The sixteen clubs are placed in four pools with three English clubs and one Welsh club.

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Sunday, March 23, 2008
EDF Team of the Day
Comments [0] | Tags: by tournament | EDF Energy Cup


Alun Wyn Jones will be a candidate for the Lions captaincy

It's surely unthinkable for a Welsh side to beat the English at Rugby HQ for a second time in two months. The Ospreys head to Twickenham dead set on revenge against the Leicester Tigers after sensational wins at the Millennium Stadium but who stood out like Victoria Beckham in TK Max.


15: Brent Russell (Saracens): Not a day for the defenders but the nippy South African did his utmost to provide some spark in attack.
14: Paul Sackey (Wasps): Stood up well against a bigger Alex Tuilagi and finished like a lethal weapon.
13: Seru Rabeni (Leicester): Burrowed away like a prop, linked up play like a back-row and finished like a centre.
12: Dan Hipkiss (Leicester): Henson may have been man of the match but can he carry six men on his back... I think not.
11: Shane Williams (Ospreys): Can't put a foot wrong at the moment. Another match winning performance and the toast of Wales for another week.
10: Andy Goode (Leicester): Not as box office as Cipriani or Hook but well worth the entry fee. It's astounding why he can't do it in an England shirt.
9: Harry Ellis (Leicester): Three games under his belt and everyone is already licking their lips ahead of Ellis hooking up with Danny Cipriani.
8: Martin Corry (Leicester): Silenced Dallaglio, taking every opportunity to throw himself into waves of attack and lines of defence.
7: Marty Holah (Ospreys): Close call with fellow Kiwi Ben Herring but the Osprey stole more ball and suffocated all of Glen Jackson's space.
6: Tom Croft (Leicester): Effective in the loose but his line-out sniping prevented Wasps finding any rhythm.
5: Ben Kay (Leicester): Waited a while for a big game. Talismanic in the lineout and a flurry of powerful surges up field.
4: Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys): On current form, a certain starter for the Lions, showing plenty of aggression and athleticism.
3: Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester): Showed Phil Vickery that being a prop isn't all about scrummaging although he's better at that too.
2: George Chuter (Leicester): On a day when Leicester's forwards were immense, Chuter laid the foundations with his accurate throwing.
1: Paul James (Ospreys): Put in several big hits and more than capable in the scrum. Took his chance well.

Ospreys swoop to conquer
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Shane Williams: 'I've even given you a chance there boys'

Ospreys: Tries: S Williams (2) G Henson F Tiatia Cons: J Hook (2) Pens: J Hook (2)
Saracens: Pens: G Jackson

Shane Williams hasn't had the worst week - Grand Slam winner, Six Nations player of the tournament, becoming Wales' leading try scorer and the landmark's continued in Cardiff as 'Super Shane' ran in a brace to set up a rematch with Leicester Tigers on April 13.

It was difficult not to embrace the winning feeling which is rumbling throughout Wales, even with a half-pint crowd, but the Ospreys showed they are living the dream with a convincing win over a hopeless Saracens, who should worry about their Heineken Cup quarter-final..

The early signs looked ominous with Williams and Jonathan Thomas both having tries ruled out with barely eight minutes on the clock.

How much credit Lyn Jones deserve remains to be seen, but Shaun Edwards, Warren Gatland and Rob Howley derseve a lot of credit as sharpness of their passing, energy in attack and ruthlessness in their blitz defending showed the euphoria of Wales' Grand Slam isn't going away that easily.

The crowd waited with baited breath for Williams to produce one of his magic moments and the wing wizard didn't disappoint.

The half-time kettle was virtually boiling and Saracens clearly had one eye on who had the first mug, but Williams sniffed out the merest of half chances to latch onto another trademark hack albeit confirmation of his sixth score of the tournament took an age of deliberation.

Gavin Henson had an indifferent first half but taking up a flat pass from James Hook the Welsh centre brushed Andy Farrell off like a dirty chat up line, leaving the former Rugby League star seeing stars as senor grease slipped his way over the line.

Filo Tiatia  barged his way over within seconds of entering the fray and Williams grabbed a second after Ian Evans tidy grubber bounced kindly into the wingers on rushing Williams hands.

Tigers roar into the final
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We're not letting you up until you give us your grooming secrets...

Leicester 34-24 Wasps

Leicester Tigers: Tries: A Goode S Rabeni D Hipkiss M Castrogiovanni Cons: A Goode (4) Pens: A Goode (2)
London Wasps: Tries: D Cipriani (2) P Sackey (2) Cons: D Cipriani D Walder

What a strange game. For such a grand stadium that only hosted a Grand Slam party seven days ago, you could almost hear a penny drop for the atmosphere was about as exhilarating as watching  Lenny Henry re-runs with a migrane.

Shame really, as the all-English semi-final matched up to any Six Nations battle in terms of enterprise, entertainment and effort, but a half-empty Millenium Stadium took the shine off a superb game of rugby.

Danny Cipriani may have all the golden touches at the moment, but Andy Goode' domestic know diffused his sizzling talents with Leicester's mop haired fly-half every bit as silky as the hottest property in English rugby.

Shaun Edwards saw his day-to-day employees yield more tries in 22 minutes than his Welsh defence shift in seven previous weeks and the great redeemer's face could've turned any man, woman or animal to stone given the intensity of his disgust.

It was more fizzle and flair than grizzle and grunt with both defences breached on four occassions.

Cipriani started the eight-try feast with a dazzling drift towards the corner before Paul Sackey swooped to finish off Eoin Reddan's scrintillating break from deep inside his twenty-two.

Andy Goode darted back inside a Johnee Murphy off load to edge the Tigers ahead at half-time, but they would've been disappointed only to be one-point up at half-time.

The Wasps defence was as quick as the Millennium Stadium lifts when reacting to Goode's quick thinking that allowed Dan Hipkiss to usher the ever-willing Seru Rabeni's over for Leicester's second score.

The Wasps forwards were shoved around all afternoon by the hungrier Tigers, especially in the line-out. Tom Croft pinched his second of the day, Andy Goode collected his own delightful chip and slipped a clnical inside ball for Hipkiss slide in for Leicester's third.

Be it audacious, genius or luck, Cipriani's spectacular over-head pass set up Sackey to bring Wasps within ten points.

Missing a forward pass is acceptable, not so much in a semi-final, but ignoring two in succession is just criminal. Hipkiss and Alex Tuilagi were the guilty party's but quick ball ensured Martin Castriovanni's rich veign of try-scoring continues although he needs serious work on his celebration.

17 point gap - it was game over barring the clock. Cipriani scored a slick late try but even his box office skills couldn't begrudge Goode of his day, although Cipriani will undoubtedly have more.

Friday, March 21, 2008
EDF Semi-Finals Preview
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Tom Croft: 'Exhibit A - welcome to the gun show'

Stick your Six Nations, screw your Grand Slam, the EDF Energy Trophy is where the money's at.

Current holders Leicester Tigers renew their vows with Heineken Cup champions London Wasps and the Ospreys or Wales, whichever way you want to look at it, take on this season’s surprise package, Saracens, as the Millennium Stadium hosts another star studded day of rugby.

Marcelo Loffreda has rolled back the big guns for the semi-final shoot out with Tom Croft, Martin Castrogiovanni and Ben Kay cleaning out their barrels and ready to fire.

Danny Cipriani and Paul Sackey start at fly-half and wing respectively while Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw and James Haskell offering the sting in the forwards tail.

Mike Phillips’ fine Welsh form earns him the nod over Justin Marshall at scrum-half with Six Nations heroes, Shane Williams, James Hook and Gavin Henson forming an frightening back-line.

Franceso Leonelli partners Andy Farrell in the centres with Dan Scarborough, Brent Russell and Richard Haughton providing the petrifying pace out wide.

Wasps: 15 Josh Lewsey, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 David Doherty, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c), 7 James Haskell, 6 John Hart, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 1 Tim Payne.

Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Tom French, 18 George Skivington, 19 Dan Leo, 20 Mark McMillan, 21 Dave Walder, 22 Dominic Waldouck.

Leicester: 15 Johne Murphy, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Seru Rabeni, 12 Dan Hipkiss, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Martin Corry (c), 7 Ben Herring, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Boris Stankovich.

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Julian White, 19 Jordan Crane, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Matt Cornwell, 22 Sam Vesty.

Prediction: Leicester Tigers to win by five points

Saracens: 15 Brent Russell, 14 Richard Haughton, 13 Francisco Leonelli, 12 Andy Farrell, 11 Dan Scarbrough, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock (c), 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Don Barrell, 6 Kris Chesney, 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Cencus Johnston, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Nick Lloyd.

Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Tom Ryder, 19 Paul Gustard, 20 Moses Rauluni, 21 Kevin Sorrell, 22 Kameli Ratuvou.

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Johnny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn-Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.

Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Lyndon Bateman, 19 Filo Tiatia, 20 Justin Marshall, 21 Daniel Biggar, 22 Andrew Bishop.

Prediction: Ospreys to win by 14 points.

Monday, December 03, 2007
the bet detective – edf energy cup review
Comments [0] | Tags: Bet Detective | Betting | EDF Energy Cup | Rugby News

Martin Corry auditions for the lead in the upcoming Boris Karloff biopic...

Martin Corry auditions for the lead in the upcoming Boris Karloff biopic...


Reigning champion Leicester Tigers hosted Sale Sharks at Welford Road on Friday night in a contest to decide who would reach the semifinal of the EDF Cup. I correctly advised you to back…

Leicester Tigers to beat Sale Sharks by at least 11 points: Sale stayed in contention until three second half tries earned Leicester a 32-8 win and a semi-final berth. It was the Tigers fourth successive victory over the Sharks and they have won all five EDF Cup matches that they have played at Welford Road.

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