Thursday’s rugby news has the Wallabies focusing on the mental game, RWC hopes diminishing for the Honey Badger, Genia looking abroad and Kaino leading the Blues.
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Grey emphasises winning mentality
Wallabies coach Nathan Grey believes that the recent struggles of the Test team will only change if the player’s can turn around their attitude late in games. “It’s just the close games and certain scenarios that we’ll look to get a bit of polish,” he said. “It’s between the ears, having a positive mindset about being dominant and maintain that and then being adaptable.”
Michael Cheika has also emphasised his desire to build the confidence of the Wallabies to back themselves from anywhere on the field. [/one_half]
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Cummins dismisses RWC hopes
Nick Cummins is still hoping that he might line up for the Wallabies in next year’s World Cup, requiring his Japanese club side to suspend the second year of his contract to play for the Western Force and become eligible. But the Honey Badger was not optimistic, saying, “It would depend on my Japanese club bending a little bit which is probably not likely.”
Cummins will line-up for the Barbarians on Saturday against his former Wallaby team-mates, tipping his side for a comprehensive 32-15 win. [/one_half]
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Genia keeps his options open
Will Genia is set to use his time on Australia’s European tour to look at possible destinations for his career after the World Cup. The Reds scrum-half has long been linked with a move to join Sam Burgess in Bath, while there are also a number of clubs in France’s Top 14 who are said to be interested.
“You don’t come away (on tour) looking at it as an opportunity to meet people and whatnot but you’ve just got to understand it’s a reality,” Genia said.
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Kaino to lead Blues
Veteran All-Blacks backrower Jerome Kaino will captain the Blues next season. Kaino is replacing Luke Braid at the helm after Braid has had a horror run of injuries recently, threatening his positioning within the team.
“Jerome brings everything you want in a captain – leadership on the field, leadership off the field,” Blues coach Sir John Kirwan said. The 54-Test stalwart Kaino will be joined by new signings Jimmy Cowan, in-form Manawatu midfielder Hamish Northcott and former Test lock Josh Bekhuis.
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