Author: Zeb Holmes
Tuesday’s rugby news has the Reds playing coy about JOC rumours, the scale of French poaching revealed, the Force battling with injuries and the Crusaders seeing the return of star internationals. [one_half last=”no”] O’Connor signing unconfirmed The Queensland Reds have distanced themselves from yesterday’s reports that James O’Connor has signed with the team on a two-year deal, putting the former Wallaby in theoretical contention for a World Cup call-up. “At this point all that is speculation,” said Reds coach Richard Graham, adding that the team will announce their 2015 recruitment when the timing is suitable. Graham revealed last month he was “open…
Monday’s rugby news has the Tahs dealt an injury blow, Larkham promoted, Lachlan Mitchell retiring and SBW set for an earlier than expected union return. [one_half last=”no”] Tahs suffer big injury in big win The Waratahs will be without captain Dave Dennis for the rest of the season after scans on Sunday confirmed that the NSW captain will need surgery this week after rupturing his ACL during the 36-8 thumping of the Brumbies. Mitchell Chapman will be drafted back into the side after his return from an ankle injury, with Stephen Hoiles another likely candidate to fill the gap in…
Friday’s rugby news has Toomua’s defence called upon, Cummins wary of the revamped French team, the IRB hoping to keep superstars for Rio and some changes to the Welsh Test team. [one_half last=”no”] Toomua asked to step up in D Wallabies playmaker Matt Toomua has been tasked with the momentous job of stopping French outside centre Mathieu Bastareaud, who weighs in at around 120 kg. The Australian 12 will find himself sliding onto Bastareaud and will be called upon to limit the line-bending fast ball that the Frenchman frequently creates. “He is obviously a strong carrier,” Toomua said, adding, “it’s not just his…
Thursday’s rugby news has the ARU stepping up on concussion research, more concerns about retaining Aussie stars, the under-20s knocked out and the English team making changes . [one_half last=”no”] ARU address concussion issue After the ARU took the positive step of appointing national concussion specialist Ryan Kohler as the Wallabies dedicated match-day concussion doctor, Ewen McKenzie has said that Australia should be “leading the way in what’s right and wrong” on the growing issue of head injuries. The ARU has also recently increased its in-game “head bin” protocol from five to 10 minutes, to meet IRB recommendations. McKenzie said that players of his generation…
Wednesday’s rugby news has changes to the Wallabies, Charles making an incredible debut, a very large Frenchman returning and some Springbok corrections. [one_half last=”no”] Three changes for Wallabies As expected, Ewen Mckenzie has made three forced changes to the starting Wallabies lineup to play the second Test against France. Former captain James Horwill will run-on for Sam Carter (ankle), Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau replaces Stephen Moore (knee) and Western Force workhorse Ben McCalman slots in at No.8 for Palu (ankle). Ewen McKenzie said of the replacements, “They understand what Test rugby is all about and will be determined to make the most of the…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Palu’s ankle issues, Izzy looking abroad, Burke talking up the new and improved Wallabies and Chiliboy Ralepelle caught doping. [one_half last=”no”] Palu doubtful Wycliff Palu is in serious doubt for the second Test of the French series after missing training on Monday afternoon with an ankle problem. Palu could be the third casualty to come out of the 50-23 win at Suncorp, after skipper Stephen Moore (knee) and lock Sam Carter (ankle) were also injured. In-form Western Force No.8 Ben McCalman looms as the replacement at no.8, while former skipper James Horwill and hooker Tatafu-Polota-Nau are also set to receiving…
Monday’s rugby news has Moore’s devastating injury, Hooper propelled into the role, Larkham warning of a tough second Test and the All Blacks taking a nail-biter. [one_half last=”no”] Moore shatters knee In a tragic blow for the Wallabies and their new captain, Stephen Moore will miss the rest of the year after rupturing his ACL and MCL in the early stages of Saturday night’s 50-23 win over France. Moore will undergo a knee reconstruction and will be replaced by Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau. “The whole year is gone … he’s obviously shattered,” coach Ewen McKenzie said. “It leaves a bit of a void…
Friday’s rugby news has Moore backing a booze ban, Foley excited for his new challenge, Cruden given the nod against England and Giteau to lead the World XV team . [one_half last=”no”] Moore backs Wallaby prohibition New captain Stephen Moore has backed the Wallabies booze “agreement” with team management that the players will only drink alcohol on the night of the game (after full-time) during the upcoming three-Test series against France. The alcohol ban is part of the ARU’s new Wallaby Tour Guidelines, which is also said to include an array of behavioural, dress and other requirements including a purported curfew. The guidelines were obviously driven by concerns…
Thursday’s rugby news has a French setback, Palu calling for Australian aggression, another forced retirement due to concussion and a bit of All Blacks complacency. [one_half last=”no”] French captain sidelined In a crushing blow for the French team ahead of Saturday’s opening Test against Australia, captain Thierry Dusautoir has been ruled out with injury. Dusautoir is suffering a bicep issue, with coach Philippe Saint-Andre saying, “We preferred to give him another week to fully recover because we need players at 100 per cent.” As a result, Montpellier’s 34-year-old prop Nicolas Mas has been named captain, while South African-born Bernard Le…
Wednesday’s rugby news has a new halves pairing, Moore taking a tough line, Carter stepping up and Kieran Read still suffering concussion. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies switch 9 and 10 Ewen McKenzie has named a new halves pairing to play the first Test against France, with starters Nic White and Bernard Foley set to step out of the shadow of Test regulars Will Genia and Quade Cooper. Number 10 Foley was picked above teammate Kurtley Beale and will also take main responsibility for the goalkicking. Meanwhile, Nic White will be starting his first match since his two game stint replacing Will…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Moore named captain, Wallaby preparations struggling, Genia out of favour and Burger off to Japan. [one_half last=”no”] Moore takes Wallabies top job After much speculation, Stephen Moore has finally been named Wallabies captain for the upcoming three-Test series against France, with Waratahs flanker Michael Hooper and team-mate Adam Ashley-Cooper named vice-captains. Moore immediately took the chance to call for Australia’s return to no.1 in the world rankings, comparing the Wallabies’ position in the Bledisloe Cup to the recent success of rugby league’s NSW Blues. “They took their preparation to a new level… If you develop some good habits…
Monday’s rugby news has a Wallabies prop out of action, Woodward going home, the Waratahs cashing in on success and the All-Blacks squad named. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies face prop crisis The Wallabies have been forced to call in Waratahs tighthead prop Paddy Ryan after learning that Ben Alexander will be ruled out of the upcoming series against France with an ongoing nerve compression issue in his neck. While Alexander was able to push through the pain at Super Rugby level, coach Ewen McKenzie opted to rest the Brumbies prop against the powerful French scrum. “While not a sinister issue, [the…
Friday’s rugby news has more captaincy speculation, a disappointed Dennis, some Brumbies changes and Guilford dumped by NZRU. [one_half last=”no”] Moore at short odds Stephen Moore is quickly becoming the favourite to be named the next Test captain, with former skipper Nathan Sharpe giving the hard-nosed Wallabies hooker his endorsement. While Moore does not have any experience captaining at Super Rugby level, being surprisingly beaten out by NSW recruit Ben Mowen in Jake White’s 2012 Brumbies side, Sharpe said that the long-term experience with the Wallabies was a more important factor. “I really like to see someone serve a long…
Thursday’s rugby news has Ben Smith praised, another Brumbies re-signing, a massive ban for a Canberra rugby player and Read back for the Crusaders . [one_half last=”no”] Ben Smith rated above Izzy Highlanders fullback Ben Smith would keep Israel Folau out of a World XV spot, according to Reds coach Richard Graham. “Ben Smith is, for me, the best fullback in the world on form,” Graham said of the perennial All-Black. “I think his ability to find space, carry the ball in both hands and set up people around him is very, very good.” The 27-year old Smith has cpontinued his form from last…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Speight almost in a gold jersey, Ben Lucas wearing no.10 for the Reds, the Waratahs New-Zealand baggage and another South African player unavailable. [one_half last=”no”] Speight starts Wallaby audition Fijian-born Henry Speight says he faces a three-game Wallaby audition after being named in Ewen McKenzie’s French squad despite being ineligible for Test honours until September. Speight has missed a large portion of 2014 with a broken jaw but was electrifying in seemingly every match before the setback. The next three games will also be vital for the Brumbies’ finals hopes, sitting one spot outside the top…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Horwill fined, Moore in captaincy talks, an ARU surplus and the European Player of the Year announced. [one_half last=”no”] Horwill hit with fine Reds captain James Horwill has been fined $2,500 for questioning the refereeing after his side’s Super Rugby loss to the Melbourne Rebels last week. “Once again we were robbed by a stupid refereeing decision,” Horwill said just after the final siren. The Reds had just suffered a three-point loss after the video match official brought play back and handed a penalty to the Rebels for a suspected eye gouge from Queensland forward Ed O’Donoghue that was later…
Monday’s rugby news has some Wallaby goal-kicking concerns, more travel for the Force, Mogg looking to club rugby and Giteau praised after Toulon victory. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies goal-kicking questioned The current Wallabies squad has raised questions about the team’s goal-kicking depth ahead of next year’s World Cup. With the historically pin-point Christian Lealiifano inconsistent this season, and the two five-eighth options Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale struggling against the Rebels on Friday, Ewen McKenzie has called for the urgent development of Australia’s kicking ranks. Lealiifano was at 80% last year but has kicked just half of his 24 attempts post-ankle…
Friday’s rugby news has all the fallout from the squad announcement , including the fly-half situation, captaincy rumbles, Gill’s disappointment and in international news, a signing blitz from Leicester. [one_half last=”no”] Beale in backline shakeup Kurtley Beale could be poised to wear the Wallabies number 10 jersey again after Ewen McKenzie announced his inclusion in the Test squad as a flyhalf rather than at inside centre, where he has been playing for NSW. Fellow Waratah Bernard Foley was announced as the only competing option at 10 after the forced injury withdrawal of Quade Cooper, with expected replacement Brumbies five-eighth Matt…
Thursday’s rugby news has TMO backlash, Rebels tactics, another former Wallaby against overseas exclusion and Wilkinson going into coaching. [one_half last=”no”] IRB extends TMO trial The IRB has extended the trialed enhancement of TMO power through to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, just as Reds lock Ed O’Donoghue was exonerated for an incorrect TMO decision against the Rebels on Saturday. Despite O’Donoghue being cleared, SANZAR refereeing boss Lyndon Bray said, “I can 100 per cent understand the decision they [TMO] arrived at.” Meanwhile, James Horwill will have until the end of the week to explain to SANZAR his comments that the Reds…
Monday’s rugby news has Cooper’s injury, the Brumbies and Tahs battling for spots, the in-form Burgess out for the season and a memorable punch-up in the Aviva premiership. [one_half last=”no”] Cooper injures shoulder Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper is set to miss a large part of next month’s home Test series against France after dislocating his left shoulder in the Reds’ 30-27 Super Rugby loss to the Rebels on Saturday. The 50-Test fly half was injured in the eight minute of the match, landing heavily on his shoulder in a Laurie Weeks and Tom Kingston tackle. Cooper will be hoping that…