Tuesday’s rugby news has the next test for Australian rugby, some injuries to the front-row, Alcock re-signing and some dangerous women at the World Cup.
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All Blacks are another story
While Australian Super Rugby fans are on a high from Saturday’s victory, Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua has warned that success in the Test arena will require another step up, asserting that the Wallabies have “a lot of ground to make up” against New Zealand before the first Bledisloe Cup match.
While the Tahs win may have put Kurtley Beale in public favour, Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has stuck to his guns, picking the NSW centre at 10. Toomua’s superb form at the back end of the season, including a hat-trick against the Force last month, will make the 24-year-old difficult to shift, most likely teaming up with incumbent 10 Bernard Foley. [/one_half]
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Front row changes for Wallabies
The Wallabies have confirmed that Tatafu Polota-Nau will be ruled out of the opening Bledisloe Cup Test with a knee injury, with young Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu bolting into the Wallabies squad. Latu only debuted in Super Rugby this season but has been propelled into the squad after an impressive performance in the final, once again showing his strong ball-carrying.
Australia could also be without Brumbies loose-head Scott Sio, who suffered what looked like a serious ankle injury that left him on crutches during training in Dubbo on Monday. This could mean a recall for Waratahs prop Benn Robinson in the Wallabies new-look front-row. [/one_half]
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Alcock re-signs with Force
The Western Force have made the positive move of re-signing openside flanker Chris Alcock for another two seasons. While Alcock has been one of the team’s best over recent years, he was unfortunately limited to just three matches with a shoulder injury during 2014.
“You definitely get the hunger to play again when you’re sitting on the sideline watching the guys win nine games, so I definitely want to get back out there and be a part of it,” he said. Alcock will have to fight his way back, joining an impressive back-row featuring Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman, Gus Cottrell and Brynard Stander. [/one_half]
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Foul play at Women’s World Cup
South African captain Mandisa Williams has been suspended for 16-weeks for foul play during the teams opening round loss to Australia. Williams was found to have made contact with an opponent’s “eye(s) or eye area” and was also guilty of “striking a player with the fist or arm” during their match last Friday.
Somoa’s Soteria Pulumu will also miss the remainder of the tournament, issued a straight red card for a very dangerous spear tackle on England’s Natasha Hunt. She has been banned for nine weeks but this was reduced to five on account of the player’s remorse and clean record.
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