Friday’s rugby news has the Tahs without their captain, some adjustments for the Brumbies, some advice for possible union convert Fifita and the IRB’s plan of attack for Japan.
[one_half last=”no”]
Dennis out for the Tahs
Waratahs captain Dave Dennis has been ruled out of Saturday’s rivalry match with the Reds after a knee injury sustained against the Force failed to recover in time. His place in the back-row will be taken by Stephen Hoiles, who last started for NSW on May 19, 2006. The absence of Dennis also sees Michael Hooper step up to the captaincy role for the first time at Super Rugby level.
For the Reds, centre Mike Harris has gone down with an ankle injury just two days out from the highly anticipated match. Coach Richard Graham is in the envious position of being able to replace Harris with former Wallaby Anthony Faingaa, who will try to stifle the attacking threat that is NSW 12 Kurtley Beale. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Brumbies make some changes
The Brumbies have made two changes to the team that went down to the Reds 27-17 last week. Wallabies outside centre Tevita Kuridrani has been pushed into the starting line-up, replacing Andrew Smith. Robbie Coleman, who is waiting to be cleared from a head-knock suffered in an ACT XV game last week, will likely replace winger Joseph Tomane, recently ruled out with an ankle injury.
Saturday’s match will mark the return of David Pocock to face his former Western Force team-mates. Laurie Fisher has said that he wants a transformed Pocock in 2014, asserting ‘He carries [the ball] very close to the ruck [running into] into brick walls.’ Fisher hopes to expand Pockock’s skill set, both to give him an attacking edge and increased longevity. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
Fifita warned: rugby no fun
Despite peaking the interest of both NSW coach Michael Cheika and the ARU, potential code-hopper Andrew Fifita has been warned by his Cronulla Sharks skipper Paul Gallen that he won’t be able to have any fun in rugby union. ‘He’s all about having fun – he’s the life of the party, the loudest bloke in the group,’ Gallen said. ‘I don’t think he’s going to be able to express himself in rugby union.’
The ultra-athletic Fifita is an interesting union prospect, also having played backrow in the Brumbies academy as a youngster. The play of Sam Burgess this year could indicate the potential of a mobile league prop to fit into the 13-man game. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
IRB building in Japan
IRB chief executive Brett Gosper expects the 2019 World Cup to stir the ‘sleeping giant’ Japan and raise the game’s profile just as the 2002 FIFA World Cup did for soccer when co-hosting with South Korea. Gosper did admit that it was a bold decision to award the World Cup to an Asian country with lower crowd attendance.
‘Japan is a rugby nation and while it is true the crowds are not what they once were, and a long way off what you need for a Rugby World Cup, there is a good knowledge and image of the sport here,’ he said. The IRB boss also thought that the success of the Japanese team at next year’s World Cup in England would be crucial in building the country’s fan base. [/one_half]
