Thrusday’s rugby news has the ARU insisting AAMI Park will be in good condition, Israel Folau making Kuridrani a better player, Reds hoping to unlock Sautia and Dave Hewett puts his hand up to be the next Crusaders coach.
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AAMI Park Will be Good
The ARU has insisted that AAMI park will be in suitable condition for the Wallabies test match against England there in June.
AAMI park officials attributed the poor surface to a combination of higher than usual humidity over summer and a heavy workload — 30 games in three months in three codes.
Ground staff have replaced almost 30 percent of the surface this week.
ARU general manager Rob Clarke has faith that the pitch will be in good condition for the Wallabies test match.
“We have been talking to AAMI Park and the Melbourne Olympic Park Trust for the last six weeks because it was then that it started to show some signs of wear and tear,” he said.
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TK Pressured by Izzy
Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani says Israel Folau’s move to centre has pushed him to become better.
“It was good to go up against Izzy, it was very challenging for me to play him at outside centre,” Kuridrani said.
“He’s a very talented guy, anywhere you put him on the field he’ll always play well. Even before he played No.13 it was always a challenge for me to play better every week.
“A big thing for me is to keep improving and getting better, regardless of who’s there as well. I’ll never relax and think I’ve got the jersey.
“But having someone like Izzy really does have you on your toes and I do think it will help me get better.”
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Reds to Unlock Sautia
Queensland Reds coaches Nick Stiles and Matt O’Connor are looking to unlock Chris Feauai-Sautia’s potential in the same way they have unlocked Samu Kerevi’s top form.
“Chrissy is on the cusp of realising his massive potential and he will cash in at one point,” O’Connor said.
“He can be genuine world class and you do see it because there wasn’t a run where he didn’t break the first tackle against the Highlanders.
“It’s not always obvious to TV viewers how hard he is working off the ball and improving his defensive capabilities.’’
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Crusaders Next Coach
Former All Blacks prop and Crusader assistant coach Dave Hewett has put his hand up to replace Todd Blackadder at the end of the Super Rugby season.
Blackadder will step down at the end of the season after eight years in the job and applications to replace him close on May 11.
“It’s certainly something I would like to put my name in the hat for,” he said on Wednesday.
“Obviously there are some quality individuals who are going to do the same thing and there will probably be some people who will put their name in the hat that we haven’t even considered, but I would certainly like to be considered.”
Fellow assistant Tabai Matson, Canterbury coach Scott Robertson and Hawke’s Bay mentor Craig Philpott have all also expressed interest in the job.
