2009 Six Nations Championship Explained

2009 Six Nations Championship
Date:7 February – 21 March 2009
Countries:




Count:11
Grand Slam: (2nd title)
Triple Crown: (10th title)
Matches:15
Attendance:981963
Tries:56
Top Point Scorer: Ronan O'Gara (51)
Top Try Scorer: Brian O'Driscoll (4)
Riki Flutey (4)
Player Of The Tournament: Brian O'Driscoll
Previous Year:2008
Previous Tournament:2008 Six Nations Championship
Next Year:2010
Next Tournament:2010 Six Nations Championship

The 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the RBS 6 Nations for sponsorship reasons, was the 10th Six Nations Championship, and the 115th international championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major European national teams: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The tournament was held between 7 February and 21 March 2009.

Ireland won the Grand Slam and Triple Crown, only their second Grand Slam, and first since 1948, and first Triple Crown since 2007.[1]

England finished as runners-up, and also won the Calcutta Cup. The tournament featured the first Friday night game in its history, played between France and Wales at the Stade de France.[2]

Summary

The tournament began on 7 February 2009, when England hosted Italy in the earlier of the day's two matches. Ireland played France later that evening, with Scotland versus Wales the following day.

The reigning champions on entering the 2009 tournament were Wales, who won the Grand Slam and Triple Crown in 2008. The winners of both accolades in 2009 were Ireland, with Ronan O'Gara's dropped goal leaving the score in the final match against Wales in Cardiff on 21 March at 17–15.[3] Wales's Stephen Jones then missed a late penalty from just inside the Ireland half to leave Wales in fourth position.[4] Ireland's two tries in that match came when captain Brian O'Driscoll and Tommy Bowe scored in quick succession in the 44th and 46th minutes respectively.[4] Paul O'Connell received the Triple Crown and Ireland's captain Brian O'Driscoll lifted the trophy. It was Ireland's first Grand Slam since 1948, 61 years earlier.[4] [5] This was achieved in the first Six Nations Championship since Declan Kidney was appointed as manager of the Ireland team, succeeding Eddie O'Sullivan who resigned after the previous tournament.[6]

Twelve tries were scored by Ireland throughout the tournament, and five wins left the team on top of the table at the end of the Championship with ten points. They opened with a 30–21 win over France at home stadium Croke Park on 7 February.[7] On 15 February, Ireland's second match was a 38–9 victory over Italy at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome.[8] On 28 February, Ireland beat England 14–13 at Croke Park and on 14 March, Ireland beat Scotland 22–15 at Murrayfield Stadium.[9] [10] Then followed the Grand Slam against Wales on 21 March 2009. That game was attended by the President of Ireland Mary McAleese, who presented the trophy, and Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Following the game there were tributes from politicians. A civic reception for the team took place outside Dublin's Mansion House on 22 March at 16:30,[11] with 18,000 fans attending alongside Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Dublin's Deputy Lord Mayor Emer Costelloe.[12] 2,000 fans had earlier greeted the team upon their arrival at Dublin Airport.[12] Brian O'Driscoll described 21 March as a "sweet, sweet day".[13] The game was watched by 945,000 people in Ireland, the highest rating television programme in the country by that stage of 2009.[14] Former coach Eddie O'Sullivan was said to be "delighted" for the team.[15] Brian O'Driscoll was named player of the tournament, beating Italy's Sergio Parisse and Ireland teammate Paul O'Connell.[16] O'Connell was later named captain of the British and Irish Lions team to tour South Africa and containing fourteen members of the Grand Slam winning Irish team on 21 April 2009, describing it as "a great honour".[17] [18]

Italy were the only side to not win a match in the tournament, suffering defeats by twenty points or more against, in addition to Ireland, France (50–8), England (36–11) and Scotland (26–6), while losing 20–15 to Wales. Scotland managed a solitary victory against Italy to finish on 2 points. England, France and Wales all managed to win three of their matches to finish level on six points but England's points difference of +54 granted them second place in the table. Their points tally was boosted by a 36–10 defeat of France and a 26–12 win against Scotland which sealed the Calcutta Cup. Wales' early loss to France and narrow loss to Ireland in the last game of the tournament denied them a second consecutive championship. Although Wales needed to beat Ireland by more than 13 points to win the championship, they could have won the game and the Triple Crown in the last minute of the tournament (as well as denying Ireland the Grand Slam) if Stephen Jones' 50-yard penalty kick had not fallen short.

Participants

NationHome stadiumCityHead coachCaptain
TwickenhamLondon Martin Johnson[19] Steve Borthwick
Stade de FranceSaint-Denis Marc LièvremontLionel Nallet
Croke ParkDublin Declan KidneyBrian O'Driscoll[20]
Stadio FlaminioRome Nick MallettSergio Parisse
MurrayfieldEdinburgh Frank HaddenMike Blair
Millennium StadiumCardiff Warren GatlandRyan Jones[21] [22]

Fixtures

The fixtures for the 2009 Six Nations were released on 17 April 2008.[23] The France v Wales game on 27 February was the first Friday night game in the history of the championship, both under the Five and Six Nations format.[24]

Round 1

FB 15Delon Armitage
RW 14Paul Sackey
OC 13
IC 12
LW 11Mark Cueto
FH 10Andy Goode
SH 9
N8 8 Nick Easter
OF 7
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Steve Borthwick (c)
TP 3 Phil Vickery
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
CE 22
Coach:
Martin Johnson
FB 15Andrea Masi
RW 14Kaine Robertson
OC 13Gonzalo Canale
IC 12
LW 11Mirco Bergamasco
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)
OF 7 Alessandro Zanni
BF 6 Josh Sole
RL 5
LL 4
TP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Nick Mallett
----
FB 15
RW 14Tommy Bowe
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12
LW 11Luke Fitzgerald
FH 10Ronan O'Gara
SH 9 Tomás O'Leary
N8 8 Jamie Heaslip
OF 7 David Wallace
BF 6
RL 5 Paul O'Connell
LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17Tom Court
LK 18Malcolm O'Kelly
FL 19
SH 20Peter Stringer
CE 21
FB 22
Coach:
Declan Kidney
FB 15
RW 14Julien Malzieu
OC 13
IC 12Yannick Jauzion
LW 11Maxime Médard
FH 10Lionel Beauxis
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo
BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir
RL 5
LL 4 Lionel Nallet (c)
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Lionel Faure
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
SH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Marc Lièvremont
----
FB 15Hugo Southwell
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Graeme Morrison
LW 11Sean Lamont
FH 10Phil Godman
SH 9 Mike Blair (c)
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7
BF 6
RL 5 Jim Hamilton
LL 4 Jason White
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Allan Jacobsen
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
WG 21
CE 22
Coach:
Frank Hadden
FB 15Lee Byrne
RW 14Leigh Halfpenny
OC 13Tom Shanklin
IC 12
LW 11
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Andy Powell
OF 7 Martyn Williams (c)
BF 6 Dafydd Jones
RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones
LL 4
TP 3 Adam Jones
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Warren Gatland

Round 2

FB 15Clément Poitrenaud
RW 14Maxime Médard
OC 13
IC 12Yannick Jauzion
LW 11Cédric Heymans
FH 10Lionel Beauxis
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo
BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir
RL 5 Lionel Nallet (c)
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Fabien Barcella
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
SH 20
CE 21
WG 22Julien Malzieu
Coach:
Marc Lièvremont
FB 15Hugo Southwell
RW 14
OC 13Max Evans
IC 12
LW 11Thom Evans
FH 10Phil Godman
SH 9 Mike Blair (c)
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7 John Barclay
BF 6 Alasdair Strokosch
RL 5
LL 4 Jason White
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Allan Jacobsen
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19Scott Gray
SH 20
WG 21
CE 22
Coach:
Frank Hadden
----
FB 15Lee Byrne
RW 14Leigh Halfpenny
OC 13Tom Shanklin
IC 12Jamie Roberts
LW 11Mark Jones
FH 10Stephen Jones
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Martyn Williams
BF 6 Ryan Jones (c)
RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones
LL 4 Ian Gough
TP 3 Adam Jones
HK 2
LP 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17John Yapp
LK 18Luke Charteris
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21James Hook
CE 22Andrew Bishop
Coach:
Warren Gatland
FB 15Delon Armitage
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Riki Flutey
LW 11Mark Cueto
FH 10
SH 9 Harry Ellis
N8 8 Nick Easter
OF 7 Joe Worsley
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Steve Borthwick (c)
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Andrew Sheridan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Paul Hodgson
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Martin Johnson
----
FB 15
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Mirco Bergamasco
LW 11Matteo Pratichetti
FH 10
SH 9 Paul Griffen
N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)
OF 7 Mauro Bergamasco
BF 6 Alessandro Zanni
RL 5
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Nick Mallett
FB 15Rob Kearney
RW 14Tommy Bowe
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12
LW 11Luke Fitzgerald
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Jamie Heaslip
OF 7 David Wallace
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
FB 22Geordan Murphy
Coach:
Declan Kidney

Round 3

FB 15Maxime Médard
RW 14Julien Malzieu
OC 13Mathieu Bastareaud
IC 12Yannick Jauzion
LW 11Cédric Heymans
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Imanol Harinordoquy
OF 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo
BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir
RL 5
LL 4 Lionel Nallet (c)
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Fabien Barcella
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19Louis Picamoles
SH 20
FH 21
FB 22Clément Poitrenaud
Coach:
Marc Lièvremont
FB 15Lee Byrne
RW 14Leigh Halfpenny
OC 13Tom Shanklin
IC 12
LW 11Shane Williams
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Martyn Williams
BF 6 Ryan Jones (c)
RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones
LL 4
TP 3 Adam Jones
HK 2
LP 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17John Yapp
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Warren Gatland
----
FB 15
RW 14Simon Danielli
OC 13Max Evans
IC 12
LW 11Thom Evans
FH 10Phil Godman
SH 9 Mike Blair (c)
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7
BF 6 Alasdair Strokosch
RL 5 Alastair Kellock
LL 4 Jason White
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
WG 21
CE 22
Coach:
Frank Hadden
FB 15
RW 14Mirco Bergamasco
OC 13Gonzalo Canale
IC 12
LW 11Matteo Pratichetti
FH 10Luke McLean
SH 9
N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)
OF 7 Mauro Bergamasco
BF 6 Alessandro Zanni
RL 5
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Salvatore Perugini
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Nick Mallett
----
FB 15Rob Kearney
RW 14Tommy Bowe
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12Paddy Wallace
LW 11Luke Fitzgerald
FH 10Ronan O'Gara
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 David Wallace
BF 6 Stephen Ferris
RL 5 Paul O'Connell
LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17Tom Court
LK 18Mick O'Driscoll
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21Gordon D'Arcy
FB 22Geordan Murphy
Coach:
Declan Kidney
FB 15Delon Armitage
RW 14
OC 13Mike Tindall
IC 12Riki Flutey
LW 11Mark Cueto
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Joe Worsley
BF 6 James Haskell
RL 5
LL 4 Steve Borthwick (c)
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Martin Johnson
Notes:

Round 4

FB 15
RW 14Giulio Rubini
OC 13Gonzalo Canale
IC 12Mirco Bergamasco
LW 11Matteo Pratichetti
FH 10Luke McLean
SH 9
N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)
OF 7 Mauro Bergamasco
BF 6 Alessandro Zanni
RL 5
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
LP 1 Salvatore Perugini
Replacements:
HK 16Franco Sbaraglini
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22Roberto Quartaroli
Coach:
Nick Mallett
FB 15
RW 14Mark Jones
OC 13Jamie Roberts
IC 12Gavin Henson
LW 11Shane Williams
FH 10
SH 9 Mike Phillips
N8 8 Andy Powell
OF 7 Dafydd Jones
BF 6
RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 John Yapp
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Warren Fury
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Warren Gatland
----
FB 15Chris Paterson
RW 14Simon Danielli
OC 13Max Evans
IC 12
LW 11Thom Evans
FH 10Phil Godman
SH 9 Mike Blair (c)
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7
BF 6 Alasdair Strokosch
RL 5 Jim Hamilton
LL 4
TP 3 Euan Murray
HK 2
LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17Moray Low
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
FB 22Hugo Southwell
Coach:
Frank Hadden
FB 15
RW 14Tommy Bowe
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12Gordon D'Arcy
LW 11Luke Fitzgerald
FH 10Ronan O'Gara
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 David Wallace
BF 6 Stephen Ferris
RL 5 Paul O'Connell
LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17Tom Court
LK 18Mick O'Driscoll
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21Paddy Wallace
FB 22
Coach:
Declan Kidney
Notes:

----

FB 15Delon Armitage
RW 14Mark Cueto
OC 13Mike Tindall
IC 12Riki Flutey
LW 11
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Nick Easter
OF 7
BF 6 Tom Croft
RL 5
LL 4 Steve Borthwick (c)
TP 3 Phil Vickery
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Martin Johnson
FB 15Maxime Médard
RW 14Julien Malzieu
OC 13
IC 12Yannick Jauzion
LW 11Cédric Heymans
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Sébastien Chabal
BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir
RL 5
LL 4 Lionel Nallet (c)
TP 3 Sylvain Marconnet
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
N8 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
CE 22
Coach:
Marc Lièvremont

Round 5

FB 15Andrea Marcato
RW 14Giulio Rubini
OC 13Gonzalo Canale
IC 12Mirco Bergamasco
LW 11
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)
OF 7 Mauro Bergamasco
BF 6 Alessandro Zanni
RL 5
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
LP 1 Salvatore Perugini
Replacements:
HK 16Franco Sbaraglini
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Nick Mallett
FB 15Damien Traille
RW 14Maxime Médard
OC 13
IC 12Yannick Jauzion
LW 11
FH 10François Trinh-Duc
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Julien Bonnaire
BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir
RL 5 Sébastien Chabal
LL 4 Lionel Nallet (c)
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Fabien Barcella
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
FH 20
CE 21
WG 22
Coach:
Marc Lièvremont
Notes:

----

FB 15Delon Armitage
RW 14Mark Cueto
OC 13Mike Tindall
IC 12Riki Flutey
LW 11
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Nick Easter
OF 7 Joe Worsley
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Steve Borthwick (c)
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Andrew Sheridan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Martin Johnson
FB 15Chris Paterson
RW 14
OC 13Max Evans
IC 12Graeme Morrison
LW 11
FH 10Phil Godman
SH 9 Mike Blair (c)
N8 8
OF 7 Scott Gray
BF 6 Alasdair Strokosch
RL 5 Jim Hamilton
LL 4
TP 3 Euan Murray
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
FB 22
Coach:
Frank Hadden
Notes:

----

FB 15
RW 14Mark Jones
OC 13Tom Shanklin
IC 12Gavin Henson
LW 11Shane Williams
FH 10Stephen Jones
SH 9 Mike Phillips
N8 8 Ryan Jones (c)
OF 7 Martyn Williams
BF 6 Dafydd Jones
RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones
LL 4
TP 3 Adam Jones
HK 2
LP 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17John Yapp
LK 18
FL 19Jonathan Thomas
SH 20Warren Fury
FH 21James Hook
CE 22
Coach:
Warren Gatland
FB 15
RW 14Tommy Bowe
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)
IC 12Gordon D'Arcy
LW 11
FH 10Ronan O'Gara
SH 9
N8 8 Jamie Heaslip
OF 7 David Wallace
BF 6
RL 5 Paul O'Connell
LL 4 Donncha O'Callaghan
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18Mick O'Driscoll
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
FB 22
Coach:
Declan Kidney
Notes:

Scorers

Try scorers
TriesNamePldTeam
4Brian O'Driscoll5
Riki Flutey5
3Delon Armitage5
Maxime Médard5
2Julien Malzieu3
Leigh Halfpenny3
Shane Williams4
Mark Cueto5
Harry Ellis5
Cédric Heymans5
Tommy Bowe5
Luke Fitzgerald5
Jamie Heaslip5
Tom Shanklin5
Point scorers
PointsNamePldTeam
51Ronan O'Gara5
46Chris Paterson5
44Stephen Jones5
28Lionel Beauxis2
26Morgan Parra5
23Brian O'Driscoll5
22Toby Flood5
21Andy Goode5
20Riki Flutey5
18Andrea Marcato3
Luke McLean3
Delon Armitage5

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ireland beat Wales to take first Grand Slam since 1948. 21 March 2009. 21 March 2009. The Irish Times.
  2. News: France 21-16 Wales . BBC Sport . 27 February 2009 . 23 March 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090311144425/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7891328.stm . 11 March 2009 . live .
  3. Web site: Wales 15-17 Ireland - Matchtracker. 21 March 2009. 21 March 2009. RTÉ. https://web.archive.org/web/20090322174917/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2009/0321/wales_ireland.html. 22 March 2009. dead.
  4. Web site: RBS 6 Nations: Wales v. Ireland. 21 March 2009. 21 March 2009. BBC. https://web.archive.org/web/20090321134700/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7954758.stm. 21 March 2009 . live.
  5. Web site: RBS 6 Nations: Expert Analysis: George Hook. 21 March 2009. 21 March 2009. RTÉ. https://web.archive.org/web/20090322090421/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2009/0319/george_hook_4.html. 22 March 2009. dead.
  6. News: Ireland appoint Kidney as coach . BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 7 May 2008 . 21 March 2009 .
  7. http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/12770.php "Ireland make the running"
  8. http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/12903.php "Victory margin flatters erratic Ireland"
  9. http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/13054.php "Unbeaten Ireland edge out England"
  10. http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/13209.php "Heaslip and Stringer inspire Ireland"
  11. Web site: Taoiseach leads tributes to Irish rugby team. 21 March 2009. 21 March 2009. RTÉ. https://web.archive.org/web/20090323031810/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0321/rugby.html. 23 March 2009 . live.
  12. Web site: Thousands welcome grand slam squad. 22 March 2009. 22 March 2009. RTÉ. https://web.archive.org/web/20090323130039/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0322/rugby.html. 23 March 2009 . live.
  13. News: O’Driscoll basks in Grand Slam glory. 21 March 2009. 21 March 2009 . The Irish Times.
  14. Web site: Huge viewership for Grand Slam decider. 23 March 2009. 23 March 2009. RTÉ. https://web.archive.org/web/20090326012859/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2009/0323/ireland.html. 26 March 2009. dead.
  15. Web site: O'Sullivan delighted for Ireland players. 23 March 2009. 23 March 2009. RTÉ. https://web.archive.org/web/20090325064908/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2009/0323/osullivane.html. 25 March 2009. dead.
  16. News: O'Driscoll Six Nations player of tournament. 27 March 2009. 27 March 2009. The Irish Times.
  17. Web site: O'Connell to lead 14 Irish Lions . 21 April 2009 . 21 April 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20090422153528/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2009/0421/lions.html . 22 April 2009 . dead .
  18. Web site: O'Connell: 'It's a great honour'. 21 April 2009 . 21 April 2009 . RTÉ. https://web.archive.org/web/20090422153533/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2009/0421/lions1.html. 22 April 2009. dead.
  19. Unlike the other head coaches in the 2009 Six Nations, Martin Johnson holds the position of team manager
  20. Web site: Ireland Management Confirm Captain And Season Plan . Irish Rugby Football Union . 27 January 2009 . 27 January 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090130012941/http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_15840.php . January 30, 2009 . dead .
  21. [Martyn Williams]
  22. [Alun Wyn Jones]
  23. News: 2009 RBS 6 Nations Fixtures . rbs6nations.com . 19 March 2008.
  24. News: First Friday night game? . sixnationsweb.co.uk . 19 March 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090201210027/http://www.sixnationsweb.co.uk/news/article.asp?id=9933 . 1 February 2009 .

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