Monday’s top rugby news has Folau possibly switching positions, the Springboks with some last-minute changes, World Club 7s victory for the Brumbies and Cipriani urged to shape up once again.
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Folau to fullback?
Israel Folau could be switched to fullback in Ewen McKenzie’s lineup for the Wallabies second Rugby Championship encounter after an uneventful match at wing against the All Blacks on Saturday. The Wallabies must-win Saturday’s second Test in Wellington to avoid an eleventh straight Bledisloe disappointment and getting Folau more involved was identified as a major priority. ‘It’s up to us to find ways to keep him in the game,’ McKenzie said.
As for the All-Blacks, five-eighth Colin Slade, inside back Tom Taylor, loose forward Luke Whitelock and flanker Brad Shields have been called into the squad as injury cover ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup Test. The All-Blacks may require fourth-choice five-eighth Slade with Cruden (knee) and Barrett (calf) questionable and Dan Carter still sidelined. [/one_half]
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Springboks forced to make changes
The Springboks will be without Halfback Fourie du Preez and new prop Trevor Nyakane, who have not travelled with the team for their second Test in Argentina. While Du Preez is heading back to Japan with club commitments, the SARU said Nyakane had been dropped for ‘repeated breaches in team protocol,’ including missing flights and a video session. In place of the pair, halfback Piet van Zyl and front-rower Lourens Adriaanse have been called up.
Despite this minor setback, the South African media are already declaring themselves clear front-runners alongside New Zealand. The Boks ran in nine tries in their 73-13 slaughter of the Pumas over the weekend, with Argentinean coach Santiago Phelan asserting, ‘We were broken everywhere. We need to grow up, obviously losing by this kind of score is not good for any team.’ [/one_half]
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Brumbies triumph at World Club 7s
The Brumbies defeated the Auckland Blues 17-14 at Twickenham yesterday to take out the inaugural World Club 7s title. ‘We’ve been though the whole season together and it’s great to end on a good note and take some silverware home,’ said Hentry Speight who scored twice, including a try on the bell to secure the victory.
Another highlight of the tournament was freakishly fast winger Carlton Isles, who scored three tries against Northhampton, including an impressive 80m effort. If you’ve never seen highlights, he runs the 100 in 10.13 and it shows: [youtube id=”Hb4FKR1b3sk” width=”300″ height=”200″]
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Cipriani urged to grow up, again
Danny Cipriani’s former Wasps teammate Josh Lewsey has urged the fly-half to ‘grow up and take responsibility‘ ahead of the new Aviva Premiership season. Despite promises of a changed attitude, Cipriani failed to impress at his club Sale Sharks last season, also encountering off-field stories again, most notably when he was hit by a bus in Leeds on a night out. ‘I don’t know who advises him or whatever, but what a shame if he doesn’t fulfil his potential,’ Lewsey said.
But the future may be looking bleak for Cipriani, if his experience at the Rebels is anything to go by, with new Sale defensive coach Mike Forshaw actually expecting the five-eighth to tackle. ‘I’m a big believer that if you’re in the line you need to make your tackles and that’s no different for anybody at 10,” said Forshaw. [/one_half]
