Author: The Disgruntled Victorian

Thursdays Rugby News sees Matt Toomua moving home, Slipper speaks up, Super Mario gets the top job and All Blacks ins and outs. [one_half last=”no”] MATT TOOMUA COMES HOME Matt Toomua could be in line to play for the Wallabies in Bledisloe one after the Leicester centre signed a deal with Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels for 2019. By signing with the Rebels, Toomua becomes eligible to play for the Wallabies should he be called up. Toomua moved to Leister in 2016 after the Rugby World Cup, a move that seems to have had a positive impact on…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Drew Mitchell back in camp, The Wallaroos name their squad, Quade Cooper the Highlander and Gardner a potential for the big game. [one_half last=”no”] RETRIEMENT THE RIGHT CALL FOR MITCHELL Drew Mitchell is back in Wallaby camp after a quick phone call from Michael Cheika asking the 71 test veteran to come for a run in Wallaby camp to help fill numbers and mentor the young blokes. Seems like a good deal right?  Anyone who remembers fitness sessions might disagree and after a double fitness session on Tuesday, Drew Mitchell might not agree either. “It…

Thursdays Rugby News is a slow news day that sees Simon Cron backing the Tahs, Hooper the Waterboy and Club Awards for Reds and Rebels. [one_half last=”no”] CRON BACKING THE TAHS Waratahs forwards coach Simon Cron fronted the media ahead of NSW home final on Saturday against the Highlanders. Cron spoke on how home ground advantage won’t make a difference for the Waratahs, but wants every tahs supporter to turn up on Saturday and how resting All Blacks against the Rebels may hurt the Highlanders. Cron was pretty inspiring talking about home ground advantage. “It doesn’t matter whether you are here…

Thursdays Rugby News sees no final game for Smith, Aon Uni Sevens expanding, Coleman’s in then he’s out, and some big names re-sign with Men’s Sevens. [one_half last=”no”] NO SWANSONG FOR SMITH George Smith’s time playing rugby in Australia has come to an end after the back rower missed out on selection for the Redsfinal game against the Sunwolves. After suffering a knee injury against the Blues, a knock that kept him out of the Reds win against the Rebels, it would seem that George Smith will be forced to watch his last game in an Aussie team from…

Thursdays Rugby News big names returning, NRC fixture announced, Rebel might return to sevens and NRC not the way back for Cooper or Hunt. [one_half last=”no”] BIG NAMES RETURN FOR BIG DERBY The Rebels and the Reds have listed some big name inclusions in what will shape up to be an important match for both clubs. The Rebels need this win to keep their finals hopes alive and both clubs want to make up for their loses from last week. The Reds welcome back Wallaby lock Izack Rodda, who was sorely missed when the Reds went down to the…

Thursday’s Rugby News has Folau banned, Rebels and Tahs name their squads, Rugby’s presence in Western Sydney and an International Captain Retires with another one Returning. [one_half last=”no”] FOLAU BANNED Israel Folau has been banned for one match following his citing for contact in the air during the third Irish test. Folau was yellow carded and later cited for making contact with Irish captain Peter O’Mahony when he was in the air. O’Mahony was stretchered off after he landed awkwardly. The citing commissioner, New Zealand’s Michael O’Leary, said Folau had “placed his left hand on O’Mahony’s chest”, which had pulled…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Hooper open to a report system, All Blacks injuries and returns, RUPA Boss joins the Rebels and Mike Brown’s sorry not sorry response. [one_half last=”no”] REPORTING INSTEAD OF CARDS Throughout the 2018 Super Rugby season the ‘cards’ have been a contentious issue, and after this previous weekends international games, they are more contentious than ever. After French fullback Benjamin Fall was controversially red carded for colliding with Beauden Barret in the air, there have been plenty of post match talks to review the card system. All Blacks coach Steve Hanson floated the idea of trailing…

Thursday’s Rugby News has Kellaway heading overseas, Latu speaks on the help he received, Andy Farrell puts the challenge out for Ireland and Folau recalls his AFL training in Melbourne. [one_half last=”no”] KELLAWAY ON HIS WAY ABROAD It appears another Australian player is heading overseas at the end of the season with Waratahs outside back Andrew Kellaway signing with the Northampton Saints for the 2018/19 season. Kellaway, who has played 22 matches for the Waratahs, was an Australian U20s star. In 2014 he set a try scoring record in the U20s Championship, where he scored 10 tries in 5…

Thursday’s Rugby news see a replacement for Uelese, NSW to field two teams in the NRC, Aussie U20s call in back up and Dave Wessels talks Rebels Vs Force [one_half last=”no”] LATU NAMED AS UELESE’S REPLACEMENT When Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese was ruled out of the June Series with an ruptured ACL, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika had to find a replacement. With our experienced hooker stocks running low, Cheika moved to select four-capped hooker Tolu Latu, the equal highest capped hooker in Australia. This would seem like an odd move for Cheika had he not already picked a handful…

Thursday’s Rugby News sees the Wallabies squad named, some not so surprising ‘bolters’, Samu may or may not be a Wallaby, and Cheika wants to rest some Brumbies. [one_half last=”no”] WALLABIES SQUAD NAMED Michael Cheika named his Wallabies squad for the June series against Ireland last night in a special on Fox Sports Kick and Chase. In the days to come every rugby outlet will break down every choice made by the coaches, commenting on who should and shouldn’t be in the squad (no Matt Philip really!) so this will be short and sharp like any good halfback. Cheika’s…

Thursday’s Rugby News sees the Rebel name squad against Sunwolves, Maddocks Re-signs, Lewis Holland Returns and Chieka looking to write a new history. [one_half last=”no”] DHP AND UELESE RETURN, GENIA STILL OUT Dane Haylett-Petty, Jordan Uelese, Super Sefa Niavalu and Ben Daly return to the match day 23 as the Rebels look to gain back-to-back wins against the Sunwolves on Friday at the Stockade. Haylett-Petty (Neck) and Uelese (Arm) both haven’t played since the match against the Bulls in Pretoria. With DHP back in at Full Back, Jack Maddocks moves back to the wing. Reece Hodge moves into…