BAN THE BOMB; RUGBY UNION ENGLAND READY TO UNLEASH JERSEY JUGGERNAUT ON WALLABIES.Byline: ALEX SPINK BEHIND his ears he has the initials of his parents tattooed in his skin. On his ribs his family surname. On his neck is a view of a German lookout tower at sunset on the beach in Jersey where he grew up. Then there is a four-leaf clover four-leaf clover n. A clover leaf having four leaflets instead of the normal three, considered to be an omen of good luck. on the inside of his right wrist, just along from the slogan 'Earn your Luck' on what he calls his lucky arm. Matt Banahan, picked to play for England against Australia on Saturday, is not your typical rugby winger. Not just because of the body art, which also includes a military scene in red and black on his left side complete with a Spitfire and bullets - his older brother Paul has a Mustang tattoo on his right side and when they stand side by side it joins up to make one image. For one thing he says he can't remember if he watched the 2003 World Cup final, in which his new team-mates Jonny Wilkinson Jonathan Peter Wilkinson OBE (born 25 May 1979 in Frimley, Surrey) is an English rugby union player and member of the England national team. From 2001-2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson rose to fame for being one of the world’s best rugby players. , Steve Thompson Steve Thompson or Steven Thompson may be:
When he was five he took up mini rugby at Bracknell, when a school friend suggested he join him. played. For another he is a giant of a man. Not only is he two inches taller than Jonah Lomu Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM (born May 12, 1975) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who has played 73 times (63 caps) as an All Black after debuting in 1994. Lomu was born in Auckland, New Zealand of Tongan descent. He grew up in South Auckland and attended Wesley College, Pukekohe. , he is bigger even than England boss Martin Johnson For other people named Martin Johnson, see Martin Johnson (disambiguation) Martin Osborne Johnson CBE (born March 9, 1970) is a former England rugby union player and captain. , who also played in that game. At 6ft 7in and 18st, it is obvious why Banahan is labelled the Jersey Juggernaut. With three tries in three previous appearances, it is equally clear he uses what he has to good effect. "He's certainly a different physical specimen to most guys who play on the wing," acknowledged Johnson (inset), recalling 5ft 9in Mirror columnist Austin Healey
Austin Sean Healey (born 26 October, 1973 in Wallasey, Merseyside) is a former English rugby union footballer, who played as a utility back for Leicester Tigers, and has represented England and the British as a more typical example. "Austin could also play scrum-half and fly-half - Banners can lift in line-outs!" The 22-year-old, fast-tracked after a hat-trick of tries for England's second team, was named man of the match on his senior debut against Argentina in June. So don't expect him to be overawed o·ver·awe tr.v. o·ver·awed, o·ver·aw·ing, o·ver·awes To control or subdue by inspiring awe. Adj. 1. overawed - overcome by a feeling of awe playing at Twickenham this weekend. Few players know their own minds like this guy. "If you don't have self-belief I don't think you'll achieve anything in life," said the Bath star. "You've got to back yourself. It's not cocky or arrogant. It's knowing you can achieve what you want with hard work. "Saturday is going to be special as mum and dad are flying over from Jersey. We are a massively close family. My brother, who is 5ft 9in and plays for Waterloo, is my best mate Best Mate (bay gelding, 28 January, 1995 - 1 November, 2005. Sire: Un Desperado, Dam: Katday) was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. . "People talk about my size but it's kind of hard to class myself as a bigger person, in rugby terms, because everybody increasingly in this sport is the same body shape." Banahan started rugby life as a full-back before Jersey RFC (Request For Comments) A document that describes the specifications for a recommended technology. Although the word "request" is in the title, if the specification is ratified, it becomes a standards document. moved him to the back row, the position in which he won selection to England's junior academy. He might have remained a forward but for Brian Ashton Brian Ashton may be:
"Which was fine until Brian then left to take the England job and I arrived at Bath, all 6ft 7in of me, and told them I was there to play wing," Banahan recalled. "I got a few strange looks." Not any more he doesn't. In a struggling team he is very much their star player. "I enjoy the physicality of rugby," he added. "It's always been a contact game - in the old days there was punching. Now tackling is where you get the big hits. I love all that." Australia cannot say they haven't been warned. Matt Banahan was speaking as a member of the England rugby squad on behalf of team sponsor 02. ENGLAND XV England team to play Australia in Saturday's Investec Challenge at Twickenham, kick-off 2.30pm: 15 U Monye (Harlequins) 14 M Cueto (Sale Sharks Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union team who play in England in the Guinness Premiership. The club is an offshoot of Sale F.C., which is based in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C. ) 13 D Hipkiss (Leicester) 12 S Geraghty (Northampton) 11 M Banahan (Bath) 10 J Wilkinson (Toulon) 9 D Care (Harlequins) 1 T Payne (Wasps) 2 S Thompson (Brive) 3 D Wilson (Bath) 4 L Deacon (Leicester) 5 S Borthwick (Saracens, capt) 6 T Croft (Leicester) 7 L Moody (Leicester) 8 J Crane (Leicester) Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Bell (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), P Hodgson (London Irish), A Goode (Brive), A Erinle (Biarritz) CAPTION(S): NO HOLDING BACK Steve Thompson and Matt Banahan (right) in training yesterday STOP ME IF YOU CAN Matt Banahan in action for Bath |
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