Thursday’s rugby news has Kuridrani and Toomua both missing the rest of the Wallaby tour, Horwill supporting McKenzie’s suspensions and the Scottish team ready for battle
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Toomua sent home with injury
The Wallabies have experienced another major blow to their backline, with in-form playmaker Matt Toomua suffering a hamstring strain at training which will see him miss the Wallabies’ remaining two matches. This ruins any chance for Australian backline continuity, adding to the recent losses of suspended outside centre Tevita Kuridrani, as well as incumbent wingers Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins.
Coach Ewen McKenzie is now left with a number of last-minute options to patch together a backline against Scotland. Link may move superstar Israel Folau from full-back to plug a gap at wing or outside centre and promote Bernard Foley to full-back. While rookie Chris Feauai-Sautia was slated as the replacement number 13, he may be pushed onto the wing along with Brumbies flyer Joe Tomane, with Mike Harris another option at outside centre. [/one_half]
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Kuridrani given five weeks
Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani has been suspended for five matches by the IRB for a ‘tip’ tackle on Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony. This means that Kuridrani will miss Australia’s remaining tour matches against Scotland and Wales, as well as three Brumbies pre-season games. Despite the appeals of Wallabies team management, IRB judicial officer Professor Lorne Crerar upheld the red card issued in the Dublin Test match. Crerar decided Kuridrani’s offence should be classed as a ‘mid-range’ offence warranting a nine-week ban before deducting four weeks to reflect Kuridrani’s existing good disciplinary record.
Kuridrani’s absence will exacerbate the dearth of centre talent created by the Wallaby suspensions, with veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper among those missing the Scotland Test. [/one_half]
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Horwill backs suspensions
Former Wallabies captain James Horwill has defended Ewen McKenzie’s decision to suspend six players for excessive drinking, denying suggestions that the punishments would create a rift in the team. ‘The head coach is there to make tough decisions …he’s made those based on what he sees is best for the team,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to support the coach in that effort because that’s what he’s there for.’
Horwill’s support of Link counters the position of the Rugby Union Player’s Association, of which big Kev is a players’ representative. The RUPA criticised the punishments as overly severe considering that there had been no official curfews or limits on alcohol consumption in place. [/one_half]
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Scotland ready for physical battle
Scottish backrower David Denton has emphasised the need for his team to raise their level of physicality against Australia after a disappointing 28-0 loss to South Africa. ‘I think that is what will win Test matches these days. If you are the more physical team at the breakdown, the more accurate, you will win matches,’ he said.
The Scots will be hindered though by a six-day turnaround between Tests, according to head coach Scott Johnson. The team has made four changes, with Kelly Brown returning to resume captaincy duties alongside Ryan Grant, Tim Swinson and Johnnie Beattie. In the backs, winger Tommy Seymour is provisionally included, but a leg injury may yet rule him out. [/one_half]
