Tuesday’s Rugby News has a new fowards coach for the Wallabies, Cheika hoping that Ireland do (not) bring out their stares, the Rebels v the Canes and Henry Speight re-signs.
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New Coach
Simon Raiwalui has been named as the Wallabies forwards coach, ending the former Fijian international/Manly (not Randwick!!) second-rower’s 20 year self-imposed exile from Australia.
Raiwalui has been in France, coaching for Biarritz, Stade Francais and Racing Metro, according to the SMH who have the budget and time to do stuff like research and fact-checking.
After leaving Australia early in his career, he played in England, Wales and France where he crafted the fine art of scrummanging.
“His quality of character, along with his technical detail and passion for Australia was a mix that proved a very potent argument for his selection,” Michael Cheika said.
“He was a very hard, tough and no-nonsense player from the Manly club, who has gained invaluable playing and coaching experiences in Europe.
“He’s ready to use all of that and more in building on the work of his predecessor to make our Wallaby forward pack one that will lay the platform for our national team’s success over the next two years.”
“I’m very excited to move back to Australia and the chance to work alongside Michael, Stephen [Larkham], Mick [Byrne] and Nathan [Grey] was one that I just couldn’t pass up,” said Raiwalui.
“I’ve learned so much about the game in the northern hemisphere and I think it’s been crucial for me as a forwards coach. There’s so much focus on that side of the game in Europe so I hope I can bring home some of those learnings to Australian rugby.”
Raiwalui was picked from a shortlist of 4, and is replacing Pablo Ledesma (now of Jaguares).
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Old Coach
Michael Cheika has been chatting about Ireland, presumably while he doesn’t have else much to do until June. Hopefully he’s been getting into meditation or ready a few books on rugby tactics or something.
Cheika was wondering out aloud about whether or not Ireland would bring out their best players in June, which is much of a muchness really.
“I don’t know what they’ll do but I see some very, very handy players there as well. Johnny’s back up, a guy called Joey Carbery, he could be playing in many international teams already. He’s just not playing because he’s got a guy like Sexton in front of him,” Cheika told the SMH.
“I’d be surprised if they didn’t bring everyone to be honest, they’re number two in the world now, so they’d be looking to keep that status going into the lead up to the World Cup.”
Cheika also believes that the Wallabies team is much better than the two years ago, despite the fact that the Wallabies struggled to beat Italy last June.
“For sure, 100 per cent, we have a lot more experience in those young players, we’ve had 26 debutants since then, of which there’s probably 20 around the squad,” he said.
“If you see some of those guys now – Adam Coleman captain of Melbourne, Izack Rodda a standout player in the Reds so far, Reece Hodge a regular who’s played all over the back line for us, and then you’ve got players like Marika Koroibete who’ve come in.
“With the experience we’ve had between that time and now, we’re in a lot better shape.”
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Rebels Within A Yell
The Melbourne Rebels are playing some bloody good rugby union football at the moment, but their second-biggest test (after the Tahs of course) is about to come up when they face the Hurricanes this weekend.
Man-mountain Adam Coleman ain’t worried about anything much. Just focus, focus, focus.
“I think it will be a great challenge,” said Mt. Coleman (via the Herald Sun).
“We haven’t looked too much into it being a Kiwi team. We just have to stay to what has been working for us — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
As the Melbourne media is currently screaming about an AFL player going to hospital with a migraine, they don’t have enough time to fill out the story. So here is the SMH‘s Paul Cully –
“In many [ways this game] is mouthwatering – Jack Maddocks v Jordie Barrett, Adam Coleman v Vaea Fifita, Will Genia v TJ Perenara – but there will also be some nerves.
“This is the first true test of Australia’s decision to cull one team. In fact, the entire reduction project is in the Rebels’ hands, in the short term at least.
“The early evidence is that Australian sides have entered 2018 in better shape than South Africa but the New Zealanders are still setting the pace. The safe money is on the Hurricanes but the uplift a Rebels win would give to the game as a whole would be huge. It is not impossible.”
Cully also believes that Ngani Laumape will “crush” Jack Debreczeni if Billy Meakes doesn’t start and isn’t tasked with defending against the “best ball carrier since Ma’a Nonu”. So there.
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Speightycakes
The super mercurial Henry Speight has signed on for another year, the Brumbies have announced.
The 30-year-old will remain in Australia for one more season, which gives him the opportunity to sit on the bench behind Marika Koroibete and Sefa Naivalu at the World Cup in Japan. His re-signing ends speculation that Speight could do one to Europe.
“There’s still a lot to achieve with both the Brumbies and the Wallabies so I’m really excited to be staying in Canberra for another year,” Speight told rugby.com.au, probably via the Brumbies PR department.
“The World Cup is a big target of mine. I really enjoyed the experience in 2015 but I want to go one step further next year so hopefully I’m part of that.
“Dan (McKellar) is also building something very special at the Brumbies and they have done so much for me since I moved here to Australia.”
Michael Cheika, who once capped Eto Nabuli and Marika Koroibete in the same season, loves that Henry Speight has signed on.
“Henry has shown how much he wants to represent the Brumbies and the Wallabies by knocking back big money offers from Europe to stay and play his rugby in Australia,” he said.
“It shows the quality of character in the man and you need character like that to be a quality player.
“I’m sure he’s going to have a huge impact on our game over the next 18 months leading into the World Cup.”
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