Tuesday’s rugby news has the starting sides for the Australia-Fiji clash, Hall of Fame inductees and a new job for Eddie Jones.
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Wallabies team named
Michael Cheika has unveiled his Wallabies side to take-on Fiji in their opening World Cup match, with a few notable combinations included. Cheika said that the impressive performances of the pair forced him into including two openside flankers in the backrow, with Michael Hooper to stay at 7 and David Pocock moving to number 8.
At scrum-half Will Genia is selected over Nick Phipps to partner Bernard Foley, while Matt Giteau will start outside Foley at 12, four years after then-coach Robbie Deans dumped the Test veteran from his 2011 squad. Kane Douglas and Rob Simmons form the second row with two other locks, Dean Mumm and Will Skelton, picked on the bench.
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Four changes for Fiji
Fiji boss John McKee has made four changes to his starting XV for Wednesday’s match against Australia in Cardiff. While Fiji’s backline remains unchanged, Netani Talei starts at number eight, Tevita Cavubati comes into the second row and Tuapati Talemaitoga takes over at hooker.
The final change sees Dominiko Waqaniburotu miss out after he was suspended for a tip tackle on England winger Jonny May in last Friday’s defeat at Twickenham. He is replaced by Clermont flanker Peceli Yato who comes into the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the opener. Former Waratah Ben Volavola will remain at flyhalf ahead of Josh Matavesi.
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World Rugby adds to Hall of Fame
Wallabies legend Tim Horan has been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame after a career which delivered 80 Tests over 11 years and World Cup success in 1991 and 1999. Horan was one of 25 hall of fame inductees who were honoured at a function before the All Blacks’ clash against Argentina.
Fellow Australian Tom Richards and South Africans Joost van der Westhuizen and Naas Botha were also on the list of players now among a list of the greatest of all-time. The pair are the latest of 15 Australians in the Hall of Fame, alongside players like Horan’s teammates John Eales ,George Gregan and David Campese.
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Jones rejoins Super Rugby
The Stormers have announced that Eddie Jones will take over as their new head coach from the start of the 2016 Super Rugby season. The former Brumbies, Reds and Wallabies coach was also Springbok technical advisor at the 2007 World Cup and takes over from Allister Coetzee, who moved to Japan after the Stormers’ SA Conference-winning 2015 Super Rugby campaign.
“Eddie was always on my mind in terms of potential external candidates and it’s a massive coup that we have signed a coach of his ability — his coaching credentials and achievements speak for themselves,” Stormers Director of Rugby Gert Small said. Jones will arrive in Cape Town at the conclusion of his World Cup commitments.
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