Friday’s rugby news has Rod Kafer calling for full time assistant coaches, Karmichael Hunt in doubt for the remainder of the season, Nick Phipps dropped and Todd Blackadder a contender for Reds job.
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Full time Assistant Coaches
Former Wallaby Rod Kafer has called for full time assistant coaches for the Wallabies.
Attack coach Stephen Larkham is also the head coach of the Brumbies whilst defence coach Nathan Grey is also an assistant coach at the Waratahs.
“Michael Cheika’s an excellent coach, Steve Larkham, Nathan Grey, Mario Ledesma are all excellent coaches, but really only the two of them out of the four are full-time and that puts pressure in preparation,” Kafer said.
“The Wallaby coaching staff, the two who are working with their provincial teams, their focus is really on the provincial teams until you finish, and then you step away and it’s two weeks before the first Test match.
“England have done their preparation in April-May to come over here and play against the Wallabies.
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Hunt in Doubt
Reds back Karmichael Hunt may have played his last match of the season as he continues to struggle with a groin injury.
Hunt has not played since the Reds loss to the Crusaders on May 6 and with just three rounds left in Super Rugby, it is unlikely he will play any more games.
“It’s one of those really funny sort of injuries — they just linger,” Stiles said.
“It’s genuinely, I hate to say it, a week-to-week thing just to see how the strengthening in it goes and what range of movement he has.
“It’s just the nature of that injury, they’re very well-documented those injuries, they linger, and then it gets to a point where bang, you’re good to go.”
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Phipps Dropped
Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps has been dropped for Matt Lucas as the Waratahs take on the Sunwolves this weekend.
Returning winger Taqele Naiyaravoro also comes into the starting side for departed winger Zac Guildford.
Dave Dennis moves to number eight to make way for Will Skelton and Dean Mumm in the second row.
WARATAHS (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Reece Robinson, Israel Folau, Rob Horne, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Bernard Foley, Matt Lucas, Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper, Jack Dempsey, Will Skelton, Dean Mumm, Tom Robertson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Paddy Ryan
Reserves (two to be omitted): Hugh Roach, Jeremy Tilse, Angus Ta’avao, Sam Lousi, Wycliff Palu, Ned Hanigan, Nick Phipps, Dave Horwitz, Tolu Latu, Matt Carraro
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Blackadder to Reds?
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has emerged as a contender to take over the Queensland Reds head coach job next season.
Blackadder was reportedly interviewed for the job this week.
He coached the Crusaders to the 2011 and 2014 Super Rugby finals and has led the Crusaders to top spot this season.
Blackadder’s move to Queensland could potentially be blocked by the Australian Rugby Union as two of Australia’s biggest franchises would be run by New Zealanders with Daryl Gibson already coaching the Waratahs.
Other candidates for the job are also believed to be Stuart Lancaster, Matt O’Connor and Nick Stiles.
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