Wednesday’s rugby news has more on the Beale saga, another rugby biography, Giteau winning French player of the year and Burgess’ rugby switch delayed.
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ARU investigating Beale saga
With the ARU’s integrity unit looking to finalise its investigation into the in-flight argument by the end of this week, both Kurtley Beale and Ewen McKenzie will be interviewed today. The ARU will hope to make its final findings before McKenzie names his squad on Thursday or Friday this week for the third Test against the All-Blacks.
While Beale has not performed well during the Rugby Championships, McKenzie is running short of Test playmakers with inside centre Matt Toomua battling a concussion problem.
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Mitchell blasts Aussie culture
John Mitchell has criticised Australian rugby culture in his recently released autobiography. Having coached the All Blacks, Western Force and the Lions, Mitchell has given the Australian system an unfavourable comparison, especially in relation to the way the players deal with authority.
“They don’t have much respect for authority and constantly challenge you to relinquish your leadership,” he said. While praising Nathan Sharpe generally, Mitchell said that the Western Force captain did not always represent team management to the players.
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Giteau given French honour
Matt Giteau has been named the 2013-14 Player of the Year in French rugby after scoring nine tries and a total of 84 points during the season. Giteau has recently signed a two-year $A1.5 million deal which will likely see him finish his career in Toulon.
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly said Giteau’s latest award highlights the “stupidity” of coach Robbie Deans’ decision to axe Giteau from the World Cup squad three years ago. “He’s an outstanding player and he’s the ideal captain,” Connolly said. “Maybe if the Wallabies went to him with the captaincy, maybe that could work [to bring him back].”
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Burgess delayed by surgery
The code-switch of rugby league star Sam Burgess will be delayed by major facial surgery after fracturing a cheekbone and eye socket in the NRL Grand Final over the weekend. Burgess will have a metal plate inserted into his face and could be ruled out of action until December, previously set to arrive at Bath on October 15.
Asked when he expected to be able to debut for Bath, he said: “It will be a while, but that is the least of my worries right now. Hopefully this face won’t be damaged for too long. I have to get it fixed and then crack on.”
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