Thursday’s top rugby news has the Brumbies not changing tactics, a proposed world club championship, Farr-Jones on Link and a tragic playing death.
[one_half last=”no”]
Brumbies to tempt breakdown fate
When playing a side that features Morne Steyn taking the shots at goal, it is generally advisable to keep it ultra clean around the breakdown. Especially when said game takes place at altitude meaning Steyn is able to knock them over from about 400 metres out.
However, acknowledging the fact that his side was guilty of giving away the most penalties in Super Rugby this year, while also being one of the most effective sides at the breakdown, Jake White indicated nothing would be changing this weekend. ‘One goes in hand with the other and I’m prepared to take the risk of conceding a penalty or two, knowing full well that you get a lot of return on what we do at the breakdown’, White said. With Steyn kicking them at a startling accuracy of 85.6 per cent this season, here’s hoping the Brumbies keep the infringements to a minimum.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
World club championship challenge
While rumours often abound of a world championship style showdown between the top provincial sides from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, it appears Toulon President Mourad Boudjellal is keen to make it happen sooner rather than later. Boudjellal is keen for his Heineken Cup champion team to take on the winner of the current Super Rugby competition. He has registered the name World Cup of Rugby Clubs and his plans are geared toward being a financial boost to both teams involved.
Logistically, the proposed match is already facing barriers. The boss of European Rugby Cup Ltd (who organise the Heineken Cup) has labelled the plan ‘impossible’, whilst IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset was similarly dismissive when saying he had received hundreds of similar proposals that had not come to fruition. Perhaps with a very keen (not to mention rich) club owner backing this one, it may have more of a chance.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
Farr-Jones a Link fan
Add Wallaby great Nick Farr-Jones to the list of those who are very happy that Ewen McKenzie is now Wallabies coach. Speaking earlier this week, Farr-Jones, who won a World Cup with Link in 1991, described his appointment as a ‘breath of fresh air’ after the extended period under Robbie Deans. While he didn’t attack Deans, Farr-Jones suggested the change would be good for everyone, including the fans, with a chance to see a different style of rugby.
Farr-Jones would prefer to see ‘winning rugby’ to start with, but he also professed an understandable preference for an expansive game focused on speed and clever interchange between all players. Hopefully Link is the man to deliver just that.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Tragic death in New Zealand
Every so often our sport faces the tragic news of a player dying from taking part in the action. Such a story broke yesterday with the news that Auckland club rugby player Willie Halaifonua had passed away after suffering a head injury during a match on Saturday. The 27-year-old had collapsed unconscious at the end of the Premier Division match between his side Takapuna and Massey.
Halaifonua was rushed to Auckland City Hospital where he underwent a procedure in an attempt to relieve the pressure on his brain. Initial reports suggest that the player clashed heads with an opposition player toward the end of the match. Halaifonua appeared OK after being checked by the team medical staff, but he collapsed while shaking hands with opposition players.
[/one_half]
