Friday’s rugby news has Hodgson stepping up to captain, Deans weighing in on the Beale saga, Speight finally making his debut and the All Blacks named for the US.
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Hodgson named captain
Michael Cheika has immediately shaken up the Test team, naming Matt Hodgson at captain in an experimental line-up to face the Barbarians. The decision to overlook more regular Test campaigners Will Genia, Quade Cooper and James Horwill has surprised some, despite the leadership qualities of Hodgson. “Matt has demonstrated exceptional leadership attributes at the Western Force for a long time now, and he deserves this opportunity being given to him,” the Wallabies coach said. Cheika has publicly backed Michael Hooper as his regular Test captain, notwithstanding the questionable handling of the recent crisis. [/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]
Deans bemoans lack of leadership
Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has chimed into the recent controversy, asserting that the Test team have lacked an effective leadership culture for some time. In terms of his own tenure as coach, Deans lamented the young make-up of the side– featuring Beale, Quade Cooper and James O’Connor – which he said limited the interior culture to prevent these types of behavioural problems from occurring.
“The acceleration of that generation presented its challenges,” he said. “Because of the profile of our group, the age of our group, we lacked the leadership within to really manage that effectively.” [/one_half] [one_half last=”no”]
Speight to make long-awaited debut
Winger Henry Speight will finally wear the Wallabies jersey in Sunday’s match against the Barbarians at Twickenham. The Fiji-born Speight became eligible to represent Australia in September but a hamstring injury delayed his availability. The Brumbies winger is just one new addition to a drastically changed Wallabies side. Michael Cheika has injected former Test halves pairing Will Genia and Quade Cooper, as well as Ben Alexander and Benn Robinson to the starting XV, while rising Melbourne backrower Sean McMahon gets his chance on the bench [/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]
Cruden and SBW set to start
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has also made a few changes to his starting 15 for their tour opener against the USA. Sonny Bill Williams will return the All Blacks midfield for his first game since August 2012, starting in the 12 jersey alongside Ryan Crotty at outside centre. Aaron Cruden also returns to the playmaker’s role at 10, with Dan Carter named on the bench in his return to the All-Blacks from a broken leg. “We want to give all players in the squad the opportunity to grow their game – and we also want to develop our game as a team – and it starts on Saturday,” Hansen said. [/one_half]
