Author: Tim Hoar
Thursday’s top rugby news sees wheelchair rugby results, no resolution to Heineken Cup issues, Tuquiri’s move confirmed and a couple of youngsters leaving their home countries. [one_half last=”no”] Steelers lose Tri-Nations opener The first game of the Tri-Nations wheelchair rugby tournament currently being played at St Mary’s Cathedral square in Sydney has seen the Australian Steelers go down. A crowd of approximately 3,000 people saw the world number one Americans defeat the Steelers 56-43. A game high 22 goals from Australia’s Ryley Batt was not enough to get the Steelers over the line after the Americans had surged ahead in the…
Wednesday’s top rugby news sees the return of Fat Cat, John Connolly blasting Wallaby selections, Graham Henry calling for Argentina in Super Rugby and Tuilagi’s prank [one_half last=”no”] Return of Fat Cat Along with the return of captain James Horwill, the recall of Benn Robinson was the big news to come out of Ewen McKenzie’s touring party being named yesterday. The coach has urged Fat Cat to grab the opportunity with both hands and make one of the prop spots his own. ”He has to make hay while he can” McKenzie said ”He has to find a point of difference…
Friday’s top rugby news sees Messam ruled out, the return of Madness, Nathan Grey joins the Tahs coaching staff and the Maesteg Rugby Club fire. [one_half last=”no”] Messam a late withdrawal The All Blacks have been forced into a late change for Saturday’s Test with flanker Liam Messam out with a hamstring issue. Stepping up for the Kiwis will be the Blues’ Steven Luatua, a man with only 10 minutes test rugby experience, compared to Messam’s 22 caps. That 10 minutes of experience for Luatua came back in June, during the All Blacks 24-9 victory over France in the third…
Thursday’s top rugby news sees Mowen praising Link’s strategy, Connolly encouraging Folau to chase the ball more, new racial quotas in South Africa and Dan Braid named Sale captain. [one_half last=”no”] Mowen praises Link’s strategy It has been much publicised that Ewen McKenzie sports a pretty outstanding record against kiwi teams in Super Rugby over recent years. According to Ben Mowen, there is a fair chance that Link’s strategic hold over opposition from across the ditch will continue. The Brumbies’ skipper said of McKenzie’s strategic approach in the Wallabies camp that it is “a very Australian way of thinking in…
Wednesday’s top rugby news has fly-half updates for the Wallabies and All Blacks, the wheelchair rugby Tri-Nations and Benji responding to his critics. [one_half last=”no”] Toomua rumoured to be Fly-Half The big rumour doing the rounds, predominately reported via The Daily Telegraph, is that Matt Toomua is set to be named at fly-half in this weekend’s first Bledisloe test. Many were predicting that Reds’ fly-half Quade Cooper would get first crack at the number 10 jersey under new coach Ewen McKenzie. But he now looks likely to be involved from the bench on Saturday night with the Brumbies’ Toomua making…
Thursday’s top rugby news has Anae’s Wallaby call-up, the Boks pondering overseas based players, Sio looking to pack down against an idol and more on the concussion issue. [one_half last=”no”] Anae called up to Wallabies squad In the end, not even 40 players were enough for Ewen McKenzie’s first Wallabies squad. Injuries to a number of key players have seen Reds youngster Albert Anae drafted into the national squad for the first time. Tatafu Polota-Nau has been ruled out in the short term while Peter Kimlin will be having surgery on a broken thumb, which means Anae gets his chance.…
Friday’s top rugby news has Mogg’s sacrifice, Giteau open to a return, the Brumbies preperation and the All Blacks getting to grips with the new scrum laws. [one_half last=”no”] Sacrifice pays dividends for Mogg It has been a meteoric rise for Jesse Mogg over the last couple of years. In 2011 Mogg was playing club rugby for Wests in Canberra and at the invitation of Jake White, training with the Brumbies. Struggling with injury, White told Mogg that he should sit out the grand final for Wests to give himself a better chance of scoring a Brumbies contract. Reflecting on…
Thursday’s top rugby news has Toomua targeting Cruden, Faingaa out of Wallabies squad, Nonu looking to patch things up with the Hurricanes and a Super Rugby final sell-out. [one_half last=”no”] Toomua out to target Cruden One of the features of Matt Toomua’s season for the Brumbies has been his defence, in particular his ability to put big hits on his opposite number. Morne Steyn of the Bulls definitely found this out over the weekend. Speaking yesterday, Brumbies assistant coach Stephen Larkham said that they will be looking for more of the same in this weekend’s final when Toomua lines up…
Wednesday’s top rugby news focuses on the Brumbies’ wingers, the Bulls facing a mass exodus overseas and the French to tour in 2014. [one_half last=”no”] Tomane re-signs with Brumbies It has been a good year for Joe Tomane with two Tests against the Lions and a Super Rugby Final coming up this weekend. The winger is understandably enjoying his time in Canberra and has just signed a new contract to extend his stay in the capital until the end of the 2015 season. Coach Jake White is obviously a fan of Tomane. When the South African arrived in Australia to…
Friday’s top rugby news has the Brumbies’ unity, Quade Cooper on lessons learned, Matt Toomua keen to remain loyal and a study into the health impacts of the game. [one_half last=”no”] Unity the key for Brumbies In the lead-up to this weekend’s Super Rugby semi-final, Jake White has revealed the pride he feels that his rag-tag team have come so far. ‘I remember looking around and thinking, ‘Gee, what have I done?” White said yesterday, recalling the team’s first training camp together. What White has done is build a talented yet raw group of players into a Super Rugby force.…
Thursday’s top rugby news has the Brumbies not changing tactics, a proposed world club championship, Farr-Jones on Link and a tragic playing death. [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies to tempt breakdown fate When playing a side that features Morne Steyn taking the shots at goal, it is generally advisable to keep it ultra clean around the breakdown. Especially when said game takes place at altitude meaning Steyn is able to knock them over from about 400 metres out. However, acknowledging the fact that his side was guilty of giving away the most penalties in Super Rugby this year, while also being one…
Wednesday’s top rugby news has Richie burying the hatchet, Mortlock’s advice, Benji looking likely for the Blues and the French fullback attacked. [one_half last=”no”] McCaw buries Cooper hatchet Every time they meet, whether in the Test arena or Super Rugby, there is plenty of hype built up around the animosity between Richie McCaw and Quade Cooper. Most of it emanates from the incident in 2011 where Cooper kneed the All Blacks captain in the head, as well as some choice words that McCaw had for the Reds number 10 in his autobiography. According to McCaw, however, the situation is ‘something…
Thursday’s top rugby news has more on Benji, the All Blacks to face Japan, Bernie dishing out some finals wisdom and the return of Richie McCaw for the Crusaders. [one_half last=”no”] McCaw to start from bench Richie McCaw has been named to play against the Queensland Reds this weekend from the bench. Returning after just the one club game this year, the addition of the Kiwi icon is one of three changes for the Crusaders. Luke Romano replaces Tom Donnelly in the starting side while Adam Whitelock’s inclusion on the bench at the expense of Telusa Veainu makes for four…
Wednesday’s top rugby news has Marto’s attack on Benji, Reds trio re-sign, Halfpenny in demand and a top ref calling for rule changes. [one_half last=”no”] Marto rubbishes Benji Benji Marshall can be thankful that Greg Martin is not involved in recruitment activities for the Blues or Waratahs. After it was announced that Marshall would be seeking a release from his contract with the Wests Tigers to join a Super Rugby franchise, Martin let fly with an almighty spray on Triple M. Amongst other things, Martin stated that “we don’t want you”, presumable speaking for the entire Rugby community before saying…
Tuesday’s top rugby news sees ‘Super B’ edging closer, more concussion concerns, a Reds’ injury update and words exchanged over Beale. [one_half last=”no”] Time for ‘Super B’? Players from the ARU’s national youth academy were yesterday advised that it would be shut down, leading many to believe a ‘Super B’ tournament will be set up for 2014. The proposal would see sides from the five Australian franchises play a season of home and away games. The academy, set up by David Nucifora, had been controversial. It was criticised for making Super Rugby coaches less likely to pick young players, as…
Friday’s top rugby news has the NRL looking at cap exemptions for Izzy, White on why Smith was benched, Richard Brown leaving the Force and a growing push for global calendar. [one_half last=”no”] NRL ponders Izzy exemptions The saga concerning where Israel Folau will play in 2014 continues to roll on. It appears that the review of the NRL salary cap currently taking place may be looking at ways to poach Folau back to the 13-man game. The Australian is reporting that serious consideration is being given to allowing players signed from Rugby to be either partially or fully exempt…
The Warringah Rats will this week look to pull off a second win against the defending champions when they host Sydney University in the ABC TV match of the round (3pm). The Rats’ 23-18 Round 4 victory stunned the Students and this Saturday, they will be looking to pull off a repeat of the 2005 Grand Final that saw the 10,000-strong Rat Park crowd erupt after their team secured its inaugural first grade title with a 29-23 win over the favoured opposition. Currently sitting tenth on the ladder, a win against second-placed Uni would re-energize the Rats’ 2013 campaign says…
Thursday’s top rugby news James O’Connor’s unhappy week, Gatland on the unity of Australian rugby, Pulver on Jake White and the return of Richie McCaw. [one_half last=”no”] Not a happy week for O’Connor James O’Connor is one of the most talented players in Australia, so it seems almost absurd that the Western Force are really the only side considering signing him for next year’s Super Rugby season. In further worrying news for O’Connor, Force player Ben McCalman has voiced concerns within the side about how O’Connor would fit in with the club’s culture. McCalman was quick to praise the youngster’s…
Wednesday’s top rugby news has more coaching news of both the Wallabies and Rebels variety, as well as the latest on the rumours of Benji Marshall heading to the Waratahs. [one_half last=”no”] Link on Quade and JOC In the flurry of media that followed his unveiling as Wallabies coach, Ewen McKenzie opened up about two of the most contentious players in our code – James O’Connor and Quade Cooper. Many believe Cooper is a certainty for the no. 10 jersey the next time the Wallabies run out and McKenzie did nothing to play down that possibility, while trying to be…
Do you rate them like we do?