Author: Hugh Adams

Friday’s rugby news has two uncapped players named in the Wallabies squad, Tatafu Polota-Nau injured, Nick Phipps responds to Graham Henry’s comments and Conor Mitchell signs with the Australian Sevens team. [one_half last=”no”] Uncapped Played Named Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has included two uncapped players for the Wallabies tour to South Africa and the UK. Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu and Rebels winger Sefa Naivalu will llok to earn their first test cap against Argentina or South Africa. Naivalu became eligible to play for the Wallabies on September 18 and Cheika has been impressed by the young winger. “Obviously we’ve been watching him…

Thursday’s rugby news has Daryl Gibson feeling sorry for the Sunwolves, Sefa Naivalu set to be named in the Wallabies squad, Super Rugby to expand again and Steve Hansen calls for an ultimate Southern v Northern hemisphere match. [one_half last=”no”] Gibson Sorry for Sunwolves Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has expressed sympathy for the Sunwolves after it was revealed that they will travel over 100 000km throughout the Super Rugby season and play just four matches in Tokyo. “You looked at the Sunwolves schedule this year and thought: “Those poor blokes”. They’ll either be on a plane or all over the place. It must be…

Wednesday’s rugby news has the 2017 Super Rugby draw released, Tom Robertson wanting more, Julian Huxley to coach in the Shute Shield and Chris Ashton charged with biting. [one_half last=”no”] Super Rugby Draw The Super Rugby draw has been announced for the 2017 season. All Australian teams will face the Jaguars; however, none will face the Sunwolves from Japan. The Rebels start their season with a Thursday night game and will need to face three New Zealand teams within the first four rounds of the competition. The Queensland Reds have an easier start than in previous season facing the Sharks at home…

Tuesday’s rugby news has Wallabies changing mental attitude, Bob Dwyer praises Morgan Turinui, Steelers win gold at the Paralympics and Waisake Naholo named in the All Blacks squad. [one_half last=”no”] Wallaby Mental Shift Wallabies halfback Will Genia says the Wallabies need to let go of their anxieties in order to compete and win against the likes of the All Blacks “In all honesty, I think it’s probably more a mindset shift than anything else,” he said. “A lot of times you go into those games thinking or knowing it’s going to be hard, thinking about recent history and things that have happened, games…

Monday’s rugby news has David Pocock ruled out for the remainder of the Rugby Championship, Michael Cheika hits back at Graham Henry’s comments, Will Genia relishing being back in the Wallabies and NZ journalist expresses concern for the game. [one_half last=”no”] Pocock Out Wallabies number 8 David Pocock has been ruled out for the remainder of the Rugby Championship with a broken hand. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika saw the damage to Pocock’s hand in the dressing room at half time. “The hand was swollen and hard to move. We had to take David off because he’s always the type of guy who wants…

Friday’s rugby news has Rob Simmons back in the starting team, Tim Horan calling to keep the Cooper-Foley combination, a global rugby calendar in discussions and Tomas Cubelli to start for the Pumas. [one_half last=”no”] Simmons Back Rob Simmons has been called back up to the Wallabies starting team replacing Kane Douglas who has been dropped from the match day squad. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika explained his decision to drop Douglas. “He wouldn’t be averse to be saying that I don’t think he’s been to the form that he can show and he’s obviously shown that form very well in the past for us,…

Thursday’s rugby news has Israel Folau happy at fullback, Tomas Cubelli sending snapchats to Wallabies, Alby Mathewson leaves the Western Force and Jones calls out All Blacks weaknesses. [one_half last=”no”] Folau Happy at Fullback Israel Folau says he is comfortable at fullback despite constant debate surrounding which his best position is. “If I have to fill in that place (centre) for whatever reason then I’m more than happy to but otherwise I’m pretty comfortable where I’m at, playing fullback for the team,” he said. Folau also praised the new players that have come into the Wallabies this season. “Those guys that have come…

Wednesday’s rugby news has the Wallabies ready to take on the Pumas, Adam Coleman persisting, Michael Cheika undecided about Marika Koroibete and Sunwolves get a new coach. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies Ready for Pumas Former Puma and current Wallabies scrum coach Mario Ledesma says Argentina are a new beast and will be a tough challenge for the Wallabies this weekend. “My last game was five years ago so that’s how much I know from them now, I mean I’ve never been involved with this coaching staff,” he said. “Most of the players could be my sons. “When I played we didn’t throw the ball…

Tuesday’s rugby news has David Pocock praising Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley finding his own path, Kyle Godwin ready to make test debut and All Blacks slam niggling Wallabies. [one_half last=”no”] Pocock Praises Hooper Wallaby backrower David Pocock has defended fellow backrower Michael Hooper after many have called for the ‘Pooper’ to be dismantled. “I really enjoy playing alongside Hoops,” Pocock said before the team’s first training session of Test week. “His workrate his huge and just the metres he gets through and the ground he covers are pretty impressive. “On selection issues, you’ll have to talk to the people who make the…

Monday’s rugby news has five players called up into the Wallabies squad, Will Genia eyes 2019 World Cup, Christian Lealiifano to possibly move into coaching and Michael Hooper wins fourth consecutive Matt Burke Cup. [one_half last=”no”] Players Called Up Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has called up five players in the Wallabies 33 man squad to replace Adam Ashley-Cooper (France), Matt GIteau (ankle), Rob Horne (shoulder), Ben McCalman (shoulder), Matt Toomua (concussion). Rory Arnold, Kyle Godwin, Luke Morahan, Sefa Naivalu, Henry Speight will join the squad in preparation for the Wallabies test match against the Springboks this weekend. Sefa Naivalu doesn’t become eligible for Wallabies selection…

Friday’s rugby news has Adam Ashley-Cooper returning to France, Quade Cooper officially signs with the Reds, Rod Kafer criticises referees treatment of Wallabies and Wallabies line up in the NRC this weekend. [one_half last=”no”] AAC Returns to France Wallabies winger Adam Ashley-Cooper will not play again this year’s Rugby Championship after deciding to return to France. Ashely-Cooper will return to his French club Bordeaux to prepare for the Top 14 season which will start in the coming weeks. Bordeaux president Laurent Marti has previously expressed his frustration after signing Ashley-Cooper under the assumption he would not be available to play for the…

Thursday’s rugby news has Kane Douglas shrugging off eye-gouge incident, Dan Crowley calling to end the Pooper, NRC goes blue for prostate cancer and Springboks squad announced for Australasia tour. [one_half last=”no”] Douglas Shrugs it off Wallaby lock Kane Douglas has shrugged off the controversial incident of Owen Franks appearing to eye-gouge him in last Saturday’s test match. “I probably didn’t realise how bad it looked until after the game (when watching it on TV),” Douglas said. “My eyes were fine and it all happened so quickly I was on to the next thing in the game. “I didn’t think of it like that.…

Tuesday’s rugby news has Quade Cooper going back to the Reds, Reece Hodge going the distance, injuries to the Springboks and Beauden Barrett signs with New Zealand rugby. [one_half last=”no”] Cooper to Reds Quade Cooper is set to be unveiled as the latest Queensland Reds signing by Wednesday. Cooper left the Queensland Reds at the end of 2015 and played for French club Toulon as well as some Australian Sevens. Cooper is expected to have signed a three year deal with the Reds. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has said this week that the Cooper-Foley combination is worth sticking with. “The two playmakers…

Monday’s rugby news has the ARU to make an official complaint, Cheika to stick with Cooper and Foley, Steve Hansen saying the Wallabies will not win the Bledisloe Cup before 2020 and Argentina earn their first win over South Africa at home. [one_half last=”no”] ARU to Make Complaint The Australian Rugby Union will make an official complaint to World Rugby’s integrity unit over a meeting between referee Romaine Poite and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen before the Test, without the Wallabies knowledge or invitation. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was also left frustrated with the lack of communication Wallabies captain Stephen Moore was able to have with Poite.…

Tuesday’s rugby news has the Wallabies saying they can beat the All Blacks, defence can be easily fixed, no mentality problems and injury hit All Blacks call up replacements. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies Can Beat AB’s Wallabies vice captain Michael Hooper says the Wallabies can still beat the All Blacks despite being embarrassed by a 42-8 thrashing in Sydney. “I believe we can beat these guys any week,” Hooper said. “The players we’ve got, the coaching staff we’ve got and the want to beat these guys and not just fill in the numbers… “Mate, we want to go out there and throw everything we’ve…

Monday’s rugby news has injury updates for the Wallabies, no positives according to Michael Cheika, disappointment to drive Wallabies for the second test and Dane Coles praised by Steve Hansen. [one_half last=”no”] Injury Fallout Matt Giteau is set to miss the rest of the Rugby Championship with an ankle syndesmosis injury. “Matt’s got a bit of a break in his leg, at the top of his leg I think and a bit of a fracture in his ankle,” said Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. “So he’s done a pretty good job on his leg.” “He’s disappointed but he’s also very realistic. “He’s a pro, he still…

Friday’s rugby news has Michael Cheika making changes to the Wallaby team, Wallabies shave heads for Lealiifano, backrow balance is just right and All Blacks respect Wallabies. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika Makes Changes Michael Cheika has made a number of changes for the first Bledisloe Cup match on Saturday night. Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Will Genia and Kane Douglas have returned to the starting team after sitting out the June test series. Scott Fardy has been replaced by Ben McCalman at blindside flanker whilst Sean McMahon was not considered for selection after breaking his nose. Team: Scott Sio, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons,…

Thursday’s rugby news has Israel Folau prepared for the high balls, Quade Cooper’s x factor, Liam Gill officially moving to Toulon and Beauden Barrett to start for the All Blacks. [one_half last=”no”] Folau Prepared Israel Folau says he will be prepared for the high balls if the All Blacks decide to kick in Saturday night’s first Bledisloe match. “You can’t really do much if the kicks are pinpoint accurate,” Folau said. “My job during that time is obviously to catch the ball and after that, if it is a good kick, they get time to get defenders right on you. My first job…

Wednesday’s rugby news has Israel Folau happy to play wherever, Bledisloe life and death, Cam Clark signs with the Waratahs and George Moala injured. [one_half last=”no”] Folau Happy Wherever Israel Folau says he is happy to play outside centre or fullback for the Wallabies but it is becoming likely that coach Michael Cheika will keep the star player at the back. “To be honest, I really enjoy playing both but it’s quite nice to know that there’s just one role I [will] play,” Folau said. “If it is fullback then I’m happy to be playing there. “It’s obviously a position I’m very familiar…

Tuesday’s rugby news has Michael Cheika hitting back, new Wallaby finishers to replace Kurtley Beale, Brisbane City name their NRC squad and Wallabies stronger with Mick Byrne. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika Hits Back Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has hit back at All Blacks coach Steve Hansen after he said Cheika has “enough problems of his own”. “I don’t know why he’s upset or what he’s upset about, that’s up to him,” Cheika said. “For us, we know how we’re thought of; they think we’re no chance to do anything. “And they’re validated, we haven’t beaten them for ages in the series, so it’s understandable…