Author: Zeb Holmes
Friday’s rugby news has the Force making changes, a No 8 battle looming, the JOC rumour mill and an injury blow to the Chiefs. [one_half last=”no”] Force make injury replacements The Western Force have made three enforced changes for their match against the Melbourne Rebels. The team have lost three big-name starters in Sam Wykes (rib injury), Alby Mathewson (ankle) and Luke Morahan (hamstring). In response, second-rower Adam Coleman will make his run-on debut, with Ian Prior starting at halfback and Paddy Dellit returning to the right wing. While dismayed at the loss of his regular starters, coach Michael Foley…
Thursday’s rugby news has the Wallabies gearing up for the Spring Tour, the Rebels looking for big signings, Folau fit and a JOC injury downgraded. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies look for mental edge on tour With the year’s Test schedule announced, Ewen McKenzie has immediately looked towards the Spring Tour fixtures, saying that wins over England and Wales could give Australia a psychological edge over their World Cup Pool B competition. “You can create pressure and you can create doubt and confusion and questions over playing style,” McKenzie said. The Wallabies coach said the key to winning a World Cup was…
Wednesday’s rugby news has a call for a Southern hemisphere competition, Palu out, Benji struggling and England trying to compete with the Top 14. [one_half last=”no”] Mehrtens calls for NZ/Aus coup Former All Black flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens has called for Australia and New Zealand to break off from Super Rugby and form their own competition. Mehrtens cited the difference in time zones and the travel difficulties as the biggest problems in the existing structure. “We might have lost a little interest in playing South African teams, and ultimately the future of this competition might be more localised round time zones,” wrote Mehrtens.…
Tuesday’s rugby news has more comment from the Folau saga, the Brumbies trying to start an Anzac tradition, the Force overcoming injury and Weepu back on the field. [one_half last=”no”] Burke slams ARU decision Former Wallaby fullback Matt Burke has chimed in on the ARU’s controversial decision to condemn Israel Folau to the sidelines despite the fact that the Tahs club doctor had given him the all-clear to play this weekend. While the ARU have said that they were just looking out for Folau’s safety, Burke has said that there is no way NSW would have risked playing their back…
Monday’s rugby news has the ARU holding Folau back, Moore let off for his punch, the Reds low on backs and a major injury to Brad Thorn. [one_half last=”no”] Folau sidelined by ARU The ARU have taken control of the immediate playing future of Israel Folau after ruling him out of Saturday’s match with the Western Force. “The decision-making process takes into account all factors around an injury, including the risk of re-injury, further serious complications and permanent damage,” said the ARU’s chief medical officer, Warren McDonald. “We continue to be comfortable with our decision, which was centred on player…
Friday’s rugby news has a young star stepping up for the Brumbies, SANZAR concluding their Cheika investigation, the Rebels emphasizing structure and the Hurricanes without a coach. [one_half last=”no”] 19-year-old to start for A.C.T Brumbies rookie Tom Staniforth is set to make his Super Rugby debut, with the 19 year old tasked with facing off against James Horwill and the Queensland Reds at Suncorp on Friday night. The 19 year-old part-time pub glassy has been brought in as a replacement for the injured Sam Carter (knee) but could be pushing for a regular spot. “He just tears in and he has done…
Thursday’s rugby news has the possible ANZAC XV, some Reds reinforcements, Foley giving some coach-on-coach banter and two second-row legends facing off. [one_half last=”no”] ANZAC XV in the works Australia and New Zealand are working hard to assemble an ANZAC XV match at Suncorp Stadium next year to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign. Former ARU boss John O’Neill has called for a one-off blockbuster between an Anzac XV and the Lions at Twickenham after the World Cup. There is also the option to pick a World XV team similar to the side set to play South Africa on June…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Lachie Turner out, the Brumbies adding some weight to the pack, Palu sidelined again and a World XV assembled to play the Boks. [one_half last=”no”] Lachie Turner sidelined The Queensland Reds have suffered another blow to their dwindling backline stocks, as winger Lachlan Turner is now set to be out of action for at least five weeks with loose ankle cartilage forcing a clean up surgery. “It is disappointing to lose Lachie (Turner),” coach Richard Graham emphasised. “He has been playing very well and has offered some versatility among the back three.” Queensland back-ups will have to…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Hooper optimistic about the Bledisloe, Hayward becoming an Aussie, a Highlander suspended and Toulon giving more referee criticism. [one_half last=”no”] Hooper talks up Bledisloe chances Michael Hooper believes that the Wallabies are ready to reclaim the Bledisloe, with the national team set to be boosted by the improved form of the Aussie conference during this years Super Rugby competition. “The difference is last year every Australian team did better than the year before,” Hooper said. “It’s too early to talk about how this season will pan out but the players are there, the depth is there.”…
Monday’s rugby news has a call for more NRL players, Cheika realistic, the crowds leaving the Brumbies and a massive All-Black injury. [one_half last=”no”] Jones wants more poaching Eddie Jones has called for the ARU to step up its efforts to sign NRL stars given the tremendous success of Israel Folau. Jones’ first choice superstar would be Greg Inglis, but the former Wallabies coach insists there are many Origin-level stars who would be worth considering. ‘Look at all the best athletes in Australia at the moment, they all go to NRL and Aussie Rules,’ he said. Jones also emphasised the…
Friday’s rugby news has Link hoping to retain some players, Mowen explaining himself, Folau out and Tuilagi keeping his options open. [one_half last=”no”] Olympics can stop exodus Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie believes that the lure of French rugby will be sufficiently dulled by the prospect of an Olympic medal for national players. Many are expected to leave for France after the World Cup, with the Top 14 just signing a a $527 million broadcasting deal, allowing clubs to start the hunt for the best players around the world. ‘In terms of world events, the Olympics is the biggest thing going…
Thursday’s rugby news has more Cheika-related drama, the Rebels in trouble, the Aussie 20 team announced and a bold political statement by Toulon. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika under investigation In more Michael Cheika-related news, the Waratahs coach is now under investigation by SANZAR after a sideline incident in Durban. Cheika is alleged to have had a confrontation with a cameraman, objecting to the South African broadcaster Super Sport filming him shortly after the loss. The broadcaster’s spokesman Clinton van der Berg has said, ‘A couple of choice words were used. Where Super Sport draws the line is being threatened.’ In worse…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Pyle heading to France, proposed changes to tackling rules, Folau back and injury woes for the Blues. [one_half last=”no”] Pyle leaving Rebels After working his way into Wallaby contention as a standout for the Rebels over the past two seasons, second-rower High Pyle will leave Super Rugby at the end of the season to take up a lucrative two-year deal playing in France. Pyle is only 24, and has left the door open for a future run at the international stage but the loss of the talented and improving second-rower is disappointing for the Wallabies and…
Tuesday’s rugby news has the status of possible convert Fifita, the injury woes of the Force, suspensions from the weekend and Cheika barking back at Jake White. [one_half last=”no”] Fifita urged to reconsider union After league star Andrew Fifita had his 4 year, $3.5 million contract torn up by the Bulldogs, the ARU have said that any potential code switch should not be motivated by money. An ARU official said yesterday, ‘If Andrew wanted to talk to us, it would need to be for rugby reasons and not based on the earning capacity he could demand in league.’ Fifita had…
Monday’s rugby news has Jake White’s trash-talk, the Brumbies trying to attack, a disappointing end to the Hong Kong Sevens and an epic bombed try from a Japanese player. [one_half last=”no”] White goads Tahs Sharks coach Jake White has thanked Michael Cheika for inspiring the South African team to a renewed intensity in their 32-10 win over the weekend. The Sharks dominated the physical battle throughout the match, with White saying, ‘There had been a lot of talk in the media about [going] toe to toe and intensity and aggression, so I suppose I must thank Mike [Cheika] for making my team…
Here it is – the G&GR writers’ Super Rugby team of the week for round 7. With a split of two wins and two losses, including a shake-up of the Brumbies, who makes the team this week? [one_third last=”no”] 1. James Slipper With a few changes to the Brumbies front row, Slipper gets the nod this week. Held scrum steady and worked tirelessly at the breakdown. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. James Hanson Staked his claim on the Reds 2 jersey, showing off his strong ball-running and getting to a huge number of breakdowns. [/one_third][one_third last=”yes”] 3. Ben Alexander Didn’t play much but…
Friday’s rugby news has the Reds forced to make changes, Robinson talking up the Tahs, Higgers playing down star power and the latest on Weepu’s health concerns. [one_half last=”no”] Reds not panicking Reds coach Richard Graham has assured fans that there is ‘no desperation’ in the camp, despite a number of changes for this weekend’s match. Beau Robinson will be brought in for the injured Liam Gill at openside flanker, while Lachie Turner moves to full-back in the absence of Aidan Toua, allowing Dom Shipperley to regain his starting wing position. And in a surprising move, Saia Fainga’a was dropped to the…
Thursday’s rugby news has Larkham praising some NRC rule changes, more Rebels changes, Quade calling for better discipline and Sam Burgess set to play in the backrow. [one_half last=”no”] Larkham backs rule changes Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has praised the possibility of the National Rugby Championship increasing the values of tries to encourage attacking rugby. ‘Changing (reducing) the amount of points for penalties is a good idea,’ he said. ‘Making it more valuable to score tries is the key.’ The Wallaby great also said that the ARU should take the chance to address the issues of teams conceding penalties inside their…
Wednesday’s rugby news has the Brumbies getting healthy, Graham reacting to ref cautions, the Tahs making some changes and Kirwan criticizing the scrum laws. [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies backs return The Brumbies will have their Wallaby backline paring of Christian Lealiifano and Tevita Kuridrani available for Friday’s clach with the Melbourne Rebels. Kuridrani missed last week’s match after flying back to Fiji for a family funeral while Lealiifano is set to make his return after ankle surgery. It appears that coach Stephen Larkham will inject Kuridrani straight back into the starting line-up, displacing Andrew Smith at outside centre, but Pat McCabe will retain…
Tuesday’s rugby news has the exiting third tier developments, an injury setback for the Tahs and a founding Rebel out for the season. [one_half last=”no”] Third tier teams announced The National Rugby Championship, set to start in August, will feature nine teams over a nine-week regular season period. The competition will include two teams from Queensland, four from New South Wales, and one each from the ACT, Victoria and Western Australia. ARU chief executive Bill Pulver emphasised that the new competition will, ‘support the ARU’s objective to create additional compelling content for broadcasters with a quality local competition to rival…