Thursday’s rugby news has the new Super Rugby format, changes to the Reds and Tahs and Jake White patting himself on the back.
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Super Rugby expansion plans
ARU boss Bill Pulver has revealed that Super Rugby will move to a four-conference model in 2016, with the restructure announcement only a fortnight away. While the Australian and New Zealand conferences would stay the same, under the expansion plans the 2016 Super 18 model will include two conferences based in South Africa. With six South African teams set for inclusion, the second conference will feature an Argentinian team and another side, most likely from Japan.
The major concern for Australian franchises is that the 15-game regular season would include two less ‘local derby’ matches (from eight to six), meaning one less revenue-raising home game each year. [/one_half]
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Reds make four changes
Reds coach Richard Graham has made four changes to the starting line-up for the team’s must-win game against the Blues. Mike Harris has been switched to fullback ahead of Ben Lucas with strong defender Anthony Faingaa given the difficult task of keeping Maá Nonu in check. Rod Davies has regained his starting wing position while Liam Gill has returned from hamstring injury and Greg Holmes has replaced Ben Daley in the front row.
“The players recognise the situation they have got themselves in (with three straight losses) and the turning point comes through what we deliver,” Graham said. [/one_half]
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Palu back for Tahs
Wycliff Palu will return to the Waratahs starting line-up to face the Hurricanes on Saturday, prompting a reshuffle of the forward back. With Palu moving to number 8, skipper Dave Dennis will shift to blindside flanker, Jacques Potgieter to second-row with Will Skelton relegated to the bench. “It will be nice to have the big man back. His physicality and the opposition knowing he’s in the team is a good (thing) to have,” Michael Hooper said.
Coach Michael Cheika made a further two changes, with Paddy Ryan to start at tight-head instead of Sekope Kepu while Matt Carraro comes onto the wing for Cam Crawford. [/one_half]
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Jake White ‘vindicated’
Former Brumbies coach Jake White has no regrets about suddenly quitting the club last year, saying that the timing of his departure (two years into a four year deal) was “win-win”. “In a lot of ways that has been vindicated now by the way the Brumbies have continued their success,” he said.
White, now leading the Durban Sharks, also emphasised that the landscape of Australian sport was a deciding factor in his return to South Africa. “I want to coach internationally and anywhere in the world but you need opportunity,” White said, referring to the push to replace Robbie Deans with Ewen McKenzie, with ARU boss Bill Pulver admitting the desire to “play the Australian way”. [/one_half]
