Thursday’s Rugby News has the squads laid out for the Wallaby XV vs French Barbarians game, as well as the Cheika delegating and injury news for Ireland.
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Cap’n Skelton
The teamsheet for the French Barbarians game has been released, and the big news is that Slammin’ Will Skelton is going to be captain. Marika Koroibete is also slated to start on the wing.
Of the 19-man team reported on Tuesday, there are have been five more additions from the main touring squad (including Skelton) as well as the late call up of emergency 24th-man Henry Clunies-Ross from Lyon.
The five new additions are Skelton, Luke Morahan, Scott Fardy, Kyle Godwin and Harry Vanderglas.
Wallaby XV: 1. Paddy Ryan (NSW Waratahs)2. Nathan Charles (Clermont) 3. Tom Robertson (NSW Waratahs), 4. Will Skelton (c) (NSW Waratahs), 5. Sam Carter (ACT Brumbies), 6. Peter Kimlin (Grenoble), 7. Jack Dempsey (NSW Waratahs), 8. Ben Mowen (Pau), 9. Nick Frisby (Queensland Reds), 10. Jono Lance (vc) (Western Force), 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro (NSW Waratahs), 12. Kyle Godwin (ACT Brumbies), 13. Mark Gerrard (Toyota Industries Shuttles), 14. Marika Koroibete (Melbourne Rebels), 15. Luke Morahan (Western Force)
Finishers: 16. Andrew Ready (Queensland Reds), 17. Sef Fa’agase (Queensland Reds), 18. David Lolohea (Western Sydney Rams), 19. Scott Fardy (ACT Brumbies), 20. Henry Vanderglas (Grenoble), 21. Nic Stirzaker (Melbourne Rebels), 22. Izaia Perese (Queensland Reds), 23. Andrew Kellaway (NSW Waratahs), 24th Man: Henry Clunies-Ross (Lyon)
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French BaaBaas
If you wanna know who the French Barbarians actually are, here’s your chance! 10 Gagr points will be redeemable to you if you actually recognise any name in the following squad.
That is, except for former Queensland Reds Blair Connor, who will be one of a few non-Frenchmen in the squad. Connor, who apparently was considered for French selection last World Cup, has been playing on the wing in Bordeaux since 2010.
The teams will battling it out for the first ever Manu Feildel Trophy.
French Barbarians Squad: 1. Lucas Pointud (Brive), 2. Remi Bonfils (Stade Francais), 3. Julien Brugnault (Racing 92), 4.Felix Lambey (Lyon), 5. Rodrigo Capo Orgeta (Castres), 6. Romain Sazy (La Rochelle), 7. Raphael Lakafia (Stade Francais), 8. Camille Gerondeau (Clermont), 9. Yann Lesgourgues (Bordeaux), 10. Romain Lonca (Bordeaux), 11. Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), 12. Pierre Aguillon ( La Rochelle), 13. Louis Dupichot (Pau), 14. Blair Connor (Bordeaux), 15. Arthur Bonneval (Toulouse)
Le Bench: 16. Antoine Dupont (Castres), 17. Julien Caminati (Castres), 18. Julien Dumora (Castres), 19. Jean Monribot (Bayonne), 20. Loic Jacquet (Castres), 21. Jean Baptiste Poux (Bordeaux), 22. Jean-Charles Orioli (Toulon), 23. Alexandre Menini (Lyon).
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Delegation Master
Michael Cheika has revealed that he leaves most of the match day work up to assistants. So sayeth the Daily Telegraph.
The article says that Stephen Larkham, Nathan Grey, Mario Ledesma and Mick Byrne are the ones who pour through the footage of the other team to formulate game plans.
“It’s just the way we decide to work. The lads I’ve got with me coaching they’re really clever — they take the time to look at the opposition,” Cheika said. “I don’t think there’s any point in me looking over all the same things, to second-guess them? Because I don’t trust them? I believe in those coaches.
Cheika also seems to let out a state secret, confirming that Stephen Larkham is being groomed as the next Wallabies head coach.
“Stephen’s a head coach, we’re banking on him being the next Australian coach and building the knowledge in him, and Nathan I’ve had from Waratahs and now here and trust him like my brother. Mario the same, Mick has come in and added so much into the team environment. I trust them to do that stuff.”
And Cheika also seems to intimate that he leaves the tactical mumbo jumbo to his assistants as he can go around a man-manage the squad.
“We’ve got a lot of guys on tour so we’ve had anywhere between 36 and 44 players and I want to give as much individual attention to guys. “Not just on the field but off the field to make sure that they’re in the best possible space to play their best footy,” Cheika said.
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Sexton, Henshaw Out
Two of Ireland’s better players have been ruled out of Saturday’s test in Dublin, as Fox Sports explains.
Backs Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw have both been struck off after injuring themselves fighting the good fight against The Darkness.
Henshaw was knocked out after being taken out by Sam Cane. Cane was later cited for that tackle, but cleared by a judiciary yesterday. Cane’s shoulder had come into contact with Henshaw’s jaw.
Meanwhile Sexton is out after knacking his hamstring.
Other players in doubt for the game on the weekend include backrower CJ Stander, winger Simon Zebo and fullback Rob Kearney – they will all be given the chance to prove their fitness before the game on the weekend.
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GRAND SLAM CRAFT BEER
There’s only one thing better than watching a clinical David Pocock pilfer, and that’s drinking some craft beer while you watch your rugby.
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This pack has everything – pilsners, pale ales, Indian pale ales, golden ales, bright ales, double lagers (if there can be Two Dads, there can be double lager, right?), wheat ales, chardonnay IPAs, and summer ales.
All you have to do is enter the code “GAGR84” to receive your discount on a lineup of beers that would give the current Wallabies XV (plus coach Cheika) a run for their money.
