Thursday’s rugby news has no Matt Giteau at Wallabies training, Hayne reacts to no offer from the Waratahs, Laurie Mains slams the Springboks and the Chiefs receive a boost.
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Giteau Still Missing
Matt Giteau is the only main overseas based player yet to join the Wallabies ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Toulon have reportedly threatened to not honour contract payments if he goes and plays for the Wallabies
Drew Mitchell, Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Adam Ashley-Cooper are among 40 squad members already training with the Wallabies in Sydney.
Uncapped players in the squad include Waratahs prop Tom Robertson, Rebels forward Lopeti Timani and Western Force recruit Bill Meakes.
The Wallabies will soon move their training to the Central Coast to continue their preparation for the Rugby Championship.
“The only reason I’ve returned from France is because they finally followed through on my request to have camp on the coast,” Adam Ashley-Cooper said.
“I am always proud and honoured to say that I was born and raised on the Central Coast. The people, culture and beaches are some of the best in the world.
“I know Wallabies players love getting out and about around the country and visiting towns out of the major cities, but I guess this one is extra special from me because I’m returning home.”
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Hayne Responds
Jarrad Hayne’s manager Wayne Beavis has responded to the news that the Waratahs will not offer Hayne a Super Rugby contract.
Beavis says Hayne is still open to switching codes but all offers will be considered.
“We never talked to the Waratahs, we only talked with the ARU and we remain open to all offers,” Beavis said.
“When the time comes, I will sit down with Jarryd, put all the offers in front of him and he will make a decision then.”
Hayne is still a good chance of returning to the NRL with his former club the Parramatta Eels but Beavis has revealed that “there has been no formal offer from Parramatta”.
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Mains Slams Springboks
Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains has criticised South Africa’s quota system saying the Springboks days of being “top competitors are over”.
“When I coached over there I could see the reason for it (a quota system),” Mains told foxsports.com.au.
“It was a genuine attempt to create opportunities for the black and coloured players and I respected that, because there hadn’t been big numbers of them.
“The ones that are playing at the top level now are getting the advantage of what happened in the late 90s, early 2000s, when they first brought in this system at Currie Cup level.
“It no longer needs to be there, it should now revert back to the best players get selected because all of the players in South Africa in the last 15-18 years have had opportunity to develop.
“It should go back to straight merit selection and then we would have a world power in South Africa again.
“You can’t go on forever favouring the position of one colour against another.
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Boost for Chiefs
The Chiefs have been boosted by the inclusion of Sam Cane for this weekend’s must win clash against the Hurricanes.
Cane was ruled out of last week’s match against the Stormers due to concussion.
“He’s bounced back really well,” Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said.
“We thought it was pretty minor and he was grumpy that we took him off but it was the right call and we’re confident he will be ready to go.”
Stephen Donald has been ruled out with a shoulder injury whilst All Black Seta Tamanivalu will return from a knee injury.
“Seta will be pretty important. He’s a big man who carries hard and he draws a lot of attention so it’s nice to have that option with Beaver (Donald) being no good.”
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