Friday’s Rugby News has JOC released, Farr-Jones condemning current contracts, Larkham calling for a quick Brumbies decision and Henry in hot water over referee criticism.
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O’Connor axed
James O’Connor has been released from the remainder of his 2013 contract by the ARU in light of his latest off-field controversy. The Wallabies playmaker was in line for a lucrative top-up contract in 2014 and his release will now cost him $500,000. ‘James must make some changes with respect to his off-field responsibilities and ensure that this approach is consistent with the values of our game,’ chief executive Bill Pulver said, also adding that the ARU would review their position in 2015.
As for next year, only the Western Force remain open to signing O’Connor, his sole option for 2015 World Cup consideration. This will involve a massive pay cut, leading many to think that the 23-year-old could pursue options in French or Japanese rugby, or look at a switch to rugby league, next year. [/one_half]
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Farr-Jones calls for contract reform
Nick Farr-Jones has slammed the current player payment system, suggesting that the $14,000 payment per game for Wallabies, regardless of the result, should be altered to a performance based approach. ‘I want to see it hurt, one for the jersey but I also want to see it hurt the hip pocket as well,’ Farr-Jones said. The former Wallabies captain saw that an incentivised scheme could boost the performance of the national team, while also increasing funding for junior development.
James Horwill is definitely hurting from the prospect of captaining a side to Rugby Championship wooden spoon. ‘It is not something I want to be labelled with, or that we want. So we need to win and not let that happen.’ he said. Saturday’s prospects against Argentina were massively boosted though by the fact that world class tighthead prop Juan Figallo will not play due to a back injury. [/one_half]
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Larkham wants quick decision
Stephen Larkham has called for the Brumbies to make their decision on the head coaching role ‘sooner rather than later.’ Larkham is the favourite to replace the departing Jake White, but is struggling to prepare for the off-season, with Laurie Fisher or other outside candidates still a possibility.
The Brumbies have less than two weeks before training resumes, with the former Wallabies flyhalf asserting, ‘If they are going to look for an outside coach then it is going to be a proper process which will take at least …well into the pre-season.’ While Larkham is looking for a decision as soon as possible, the Brumbies are still in the process of finalising the panel to appoint the new coach, with that expected to be completed early next week. [/one_half]
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Henry criticises refs again
Graham Henry, now a technical advisor to the Argentinean team, will face a SANZAR investigation after saying that the referees and the judicial panel in this season’s Rugby Championship have been ‘totally inconsistent’ and ‘a weakness in the game.’ The former All Blacks coach was specifically commenting on the citing of Springboks lock Flip van der Merwe as well as the yellow card given to Michael Hooper during last weekend’s Test.
Henry was in agreement with former All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall, who saw that referees have been awarding cards too quickly, affecting the outcome of matches. Henry, no stranger to SANZAR sanction, was forced to make an apology after calling the TV match official ‘blind’ when coaching the Blues during last year’s Super Rugby competition. [/one_half]
