Author: Zeb Holmes
Thursday’s rugby news has a radical plan to save the ARU, Quade talking up the Reds mental dominance and a star All Black dropped. [one_half last=”no”] ARU considering pooling s15 funds The cash-strapped ARU are apparently considering merging the Rebels, NSW and Queensland Reds to pool assets and cut costs. This centralised model would follow New Zealand, where the Super franchises control their administrative and membership operations but cede control to the NZ Rugby Union on issues including high performance. The idea has found a vocal critic in Melbourne Rebels boss Rob Clarke, who yesterday declared the operation ‘an absolute joke.’…
Wednesday’s rugby news has a massive change to the Tahs starters, another Wallaby overseas, disarray in the Sevens and a French star dropped. [one_half last=”no”] McMeniman to Japan Western Force second-rower Hugh McMeniman will leave Australian Rugby at the end of the Super Rugby season to play for the Honda Heat in Japan. The news, just weeks after Ben Mowen’s announced departure, may intensify an inquiry into the ARU’s eligibility rules. Although the switch may just be an understandable crash-grab by McCmeniman after he underwent a ‘pretty ruthless’ shoulder surgery. As for the rest of the Force, back-rower Ben McCalman…
Daily rugby news is back, featuring the Tahs dismal attendance, Cooper shaping up in defence, a Six nations injury update and devastating news for the Bulls. [one_half last=”no”] Tahs try to win back fans Despite their impressive round 1 victory over the Western Force, the Waratahs will be disappointed with the dismally small crowd at Allianz stadium. Only 16,091 fans turned up to watch the sunny Sunday afternoon game which had no clashing sporting events. Not even the star-attractions of a magnificent Israel Folau and a returning Kurtley Beale could rouse the fan’s interest. Crowd favourite Tatafu Polota-Nau believes the…
The week’s rugby news has the Brumbies playing it cool, Berrick appealing for Test inclusion, Beale praising his NSW coach and the women’s sevens victorious in Rio. [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies not panicking After suffering an upset home loss to Queensland in Saturday’s Super Rugby season opener, Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fisher has decided to emphasize the positives to come out of the match. ‘It’s not as if you’ve got to reinvent the wheel next week. We had a lot of the game, we just couldn’t close things out,’ Fisher said after the 27-17 defeat. The Brumbies failed to capitalize on…
The week’s rugby news has Quade’s silver lining, the Brumbies risking Kuridrani, Skelton pushing for a starting spot and some French discord brewing. [one_half last=”no”] Cooper cleared of serious damage Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper has undergone X-rays over the weekend which have cleared him of any neck fracture, although he remains in doubt for the Reds’ opener against the Brumbies on Saturday night. Cooper is suffering from a restrictive kink in his neck after being hit hard in a tackle by Lopeti Timani during the Reds’ 18-13 trial loss to the Melbourne Rebels at Ballymore. ‘We really have to see…
This week’s rugby news has positive signs for Pocock, more uncertainty in the NSW backline, McCabe eyeing another return from injury and Ireland’s continued dominance at the Six nations. [one_half last=”no”] Pocock getting back to best Brumbies captain Ben Mowen has lauded the trial performances of returning star David Pocock, claiming that Pocock has regained his Test form. The former Wallaby flanker showed no signs of the devastating knee injury that pulled him from the 2013 season, with Mowen asserting, ‘It was hard not to keep an eye on him (during the game) because he was turning over so much…
Monday’s rugby news has the Tahs struggle at 10, Marshall given a vote of confidence, O’Connor coming home and an Irish victory at the Six Nations. [one_half last=”no”] Tahs consider playmaker battle The Waratahs’ recent 33-28 loss to the Melbourne Rebels in Saturday’s trial match has intensified the side’s selection dilemma at five-eighth. Coach Michael Cheika gave positive assessments of both new recruit Kurtley Beale and incumbent Bernard Foley, the main contenders for the position. Beale played the first 60 minutes, predominately at 10, with Cheika crediting the former Rebel for being ‘sharp’ and making ‘a few incisive breaks.’ But…
Friday’s rugby news has SBW’s return to rugby, the Brumbies saving their financial skin, two ACT players awaiting career-changing medicals and the fans name their world XV. [one_half last=”no”] SBW returning to Chiefs Sonny Bill Williams will leave the Roosters after the 2014 NRL season and return to the Chiefs ahead of the 2015 World Cup. Williams has signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), also making him eligible for selection in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where rugby sevens will make its debut. NZRU chief executive Steve Tew was delighted by the deal,…
Thursday’s rugby news has a possible league convert, Welsh rugby in more trouble, Northampton fined for George North release and Cipriani back in favour. [one_half last=”no”] Fifita considering code-switch Cronulla Sharks prop Andrew Fifita has reportedly met with Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, considering a switch to rugby union. Fifita is off-contract at the end of the year and will be in high demand after making his NSW Origin debut in June and then featuring in the Kangaroos’ successful World Cup campaign. Fifita has also recently switched management camps and is now working with Sutherland Shire accountant Greg Willett, who also…
Wednesday’s rugby news has the Waratahs pre-season matches, Fardy trying to stay a Brumby, Benji’s return and Warran Gatland extending his Wales coaching deal. [one_half last=”no”] Tahs go country for pre-season The Waratahs have locked in their three pre-season matches for the 2014 Super Rugby season. The team’s pre-season schedule features matches against the Rebels on the Victorian border at Albury, the Blues at Allianz Stadium and the Highlanders in Newcastle. NSW coach Micheal Cheika saw that the team’s road trip was a good opportunity to strengthen their connection to rural areas, asserting that the NSW country can expect more…
Tuesday’s rugby news has a close win for the Aussie schoolboys, another Lion heading overseas, surgery for Dan Carter and Chabal in trouble. [one_half last=”no”] Great win for Aussie schools The touring Australian Schoolboys team has defeated Ireland Under 18s 14-8 in miserable, wet conditions. Playing at the home of Ulster Rugby in Belfast, the match became a forward-dominated battle of field position. While the game finished a try apiece, the Australian schoolboys were able to capitalise on better ball control and set-piece execution, with Irish ill discipline at the breakdown gifting the Australians three penalty goals to one. The…
Monday’s rugby news has Folau given a free rein, the RFU working on concussion guidelines, Toulon chasing Welsh stars and a Springbok legend talking comeback. [one_half last=”no”] Folau free in NSW backline Ewen McKenzie has emphasised that he will not be telling the Waratahs where to play Isreal Folau next Super Rugby season. It is understood that Waratahs coach Michael Cheika likes the idea of idea of utilising Folau’s power at outside centre, as the go-to man in the backline like Sonny Bill Williams was for the Chiefs. Folau was a major attacking weapon for the Wallabies at fullback, with Link keen…
Friday’s rugby news has the ARU turning to the fans, bad news for the Brumbies and more Welshmen heading overseas as negotiations fail. [one_half last=”no”] ARU turn to social media The ARU have called upon rugby fans to submit possible law changes for use in the National Rugby Championship next year. ARU Bill Pulver has previously emphasised that a number of ‘innovative new rules’ would be considered for enhanced entertainment value. Already proposed changes have ranged from simply decreasing penalties and drop goals to two points, to the left-field idea of incorporating powerplays which could prohibit kicking. It has also…
Thursday’s rugby news has a legend’s support for the NRC, Beale back at training, Cummins honoured by RUPA and the retained uncertainty of Super Rugby. [one_half last=”no”] Mortlock backs NRC Former Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock believes that a successful National Rugby Championship is imperative to helping Australian rugby catch up to its two southern hemisphere rivals. ‘Without a doubt we’ve been crying out for this for a long, long time,’ Mortlock said. ‘New Zealand have got the ITM Cup, South Africa have got the Currie Cup. We don’t have any equivalent.’ The legendary centre also saw that ARU powerbrokers need…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Australia’s all-important third-tier established, Pulver discouraging Quade’s boxing, and a Chief’s front-rower considering retirement. [one_half last=”no”] Third tier finally established The ARU has announced that a national rugby championship will run for at least the next two years. The construction of a third-tier competition to rival South Africa’s Currie Cup and New Zealand’s ITM Cup was enabled by a broadcast deal, allowing significant savings for the cash-strapped ARU. ARU chief executive Bill Pulver indicated the key difference between the short-lived Australian Rugby Championship of 2007 and this new competition was cost. While the ARC demanded…
Tuesday’s rugby news has Pulver praising McKenzie’s discipline, hoping that the ‘novelty’ code clash will entertain, a new Rebels captain and Racing metro kicking the ball into the woods. [one_half last=”no”] Link ends ‘boozy culture’ ARU boss Bill Pulver believes that Ewen McKenzie’s hard-line stand has galvanised the team, finally instilling a suitably professional culture. Link’s actions against O’Connor and then the ‘Dublin Six’ indicates a more disciplined stance than former coach Robbie Deans, who presided over a number of late-night incidents involving high profile players like O’Connor, Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper. Pulver said the move was important ‘to…
Monday’s rugby news has a battle of codes, an emotional Sevens victory, more Heineken Cup shambles and Warburton’s final offer. [one_half last=”no”] Code clash set for 2014 The Wallabies will play the Great Britain rugby league team in a $10million hybrid-game at Wembley stadium next year. Organisers are expecting to raise $20 million through gates, corporate sales, TV, sponsorship and merchandise for the highly anticipated match. The codes will be paid $5million each and the players will earn around $50,000 each for a one-off appearance. After NRL boss Dave Smith showed little interest in a Wallabies v Kangaroos match, Bill…
Friday’s rugby news has the Rebels on the defensive, more Welsh stars heading overseas and a tough loss for the Aussie schoolboys. [one_half last=”no”] Rebels change tactics Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan is radically altering his team’s game-plan ahead of the 2014 season. At McGahan’s instruction, the Rebels will look to develop a smothering defensive style, following the lead of last year’s second place Brumbies. While the coach was confident in the Rebel’s attacking flair, McGahan asserted, ‘It doesn’t matter too much what we do with the ball if our defence and breakdown work is not up to standard.’ Renowned…
Thursday’s rugby news has Australia accepting Championship challenge, the IRB awards, Cheika scouting young stars and the European breakaway competition struggling for ideas. [one_half last=”no”] Link unfazed by tough 2014 schedule For the third year in a row, Australia will begin the Rugby Championship with back-to-back matches against the world champion All-Blacks. But coach Ewen McKenzie says there’s no point making excuses for the tough draw, maintaining that with the improvement exhibited on the Spring Tour, and a number of Tests against France in June, the Wallabies should be in the ideal shape to break their current hoodoo. ‘It’s not…
Wednesday’s rugby news has Lealiifano’s injury concerns, Cooper’s 2014 pre-season bout, McKenzie’s upcoming selection difficulty and the South African quota dilemma. [one_half last=”no”] Lealiifano to have surgery Wallabies centre Christian Lealiifano will have ankle surgery next week but the Brumbies worryingly don’t know when the star playmaker will return to action. Although it is presumed that Lealiifano will miss the opening rounds in February, doctors are yet to confirm the extent of the damage, creating the possibility of more games missed. While playing through pain for most of 2013, it remains unclear whether Lealiifano will need a plate inserted or…