RA changed their mind (or clarified position) apparently- no one in wider train on squad or Aussie A’s to play club rugby on run in to finals.Interesting, I know for fact there was a players and coaches video session on Monday night and JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) was included on the call, expected to play this weekend.
Maybe things have changed since then. Will be disappointed if Rugby Australia keep promising players and no one ends up turning out.
We shouldn’t be surprised it is often that fringe Wallabies (also junior Wallabies) are cocooned ahead of a RWC. You never get as many Super Rugby players back to clubland for end of season as you would expect - Rugby Australia directives, IR/CBA layoff periods, players being told to have off season surgeries, etc.
I don’t have a lot of sympathy for Brothers - please!!
If that’s the biggest concern you got life’s mighty fine.Issue for me is that clubs (not just Brothers) were being told that certain players were coming to play, and then having that change quickly.
Quade and Kerevi were only officially withdrawn from GPS a couple of weeks ago on the Friday afternoon. Nothing official was ever said about them but there was a general buzz that some proper Wallabies would be playing club rugby again.
Coaches have had phone calls with players who were going to play, to then have it change 24hrs later.
If that’s the biggest concern you got life’s mighty fine.
I agree - however, I believe Nela was (possibly over-optimistically) targeting a return for Brothers prior to heading to SA for the TRC. It would appear his recovery progress was the limiting factor, not the Wallabies' or his own intentions. You can understand why a player of his caliber would travel with the Wobs despite injury in a WC year.Re players being rested: I understand it from both sides, but in the case of Taniela, who's been publicly stating for months now he was to return via club, it only reflects poorly on him now for these false promises. Not to mention I think it's pretty unfair for a player who hasn't played in the best part of 9 months to have his first game back for the wallabies. You'd hate to be one of the fringe squad members with potential to get your first cap and not get a run because they're using a bench spot for a 10 minute "return from injury" stint.
I know this is slightly different issue to those Aus A squad withdrawals, but Rugby Australia needs to look at club football as an asset to it's professional players, not a risk.
Not over optimistic- that was the plan, RA changed the plan (as is their right with WC in mind)I agree - however, I believe Nela was (possibly over-optimistically) targeting a return for Brothers prior to heading to SA for the TRC. It would appear his recovery progress was the limiting factor, not the Wallabies' or his own intentions. You can understand why a player of his caliber would travel with the Wobs despite injury in a WC year.
I imagine the plan would have changed based on medical advice around his recovery progress, not just because RA wanted to drag it outNot over optimistic- that was the plan, Rugby Australia changed the plan (as is their right with WC in mind)