Friday’s rugby news has more gaps in the Brumbies, Tapuai to be more assertive, the Tahs in a must-win and reports of sleeping pill abuse from the 2011 RWC All Blacks.
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Kuridrani out of Stormers clash
Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani has announced that he will be unavailable for this weekend’s match against the Stormers as he will be flying back to Fiji for a family funeral. ‘There’s no choice [when family comes first], Tevita’s going home to attend a funeral and that’s what family does,’ Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fisher said.
Fisher also emphasised that there was no temptation to rush back Christian Lealiifano to deal with the loss. Lealiifano is slowly returning from ankle surgery to match fitness, but will test his contact progression with the Tuggeranong Vikings this weekend. Instead, Andrew Smith will most likely fill in at 13. [/one_half]
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Tapuai told to step up
Reds coach Richard Graham has called upon new starting centre Ben Tapuai to lift his game against the Lions this weekend after minimal impacts in the first two games of the season. The seven-Test Wallaby was quickly replaced by the explosive Chris Feauai-Sautia, but has been given another chance in the 13 jersey after a CFS hamstring injury.
‘For me, I want to see him be assertive in that outside channel, whether that’s carrying the ball, his defence or communication,’ Graham said. The Queensland coach has also brought Albert Anae into the starting side as a replacement for prop Ben Daley, who recently suffered a knee injury. [/one_half]
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Waratahs looking to bounce back
The Waratahs are painting this week’s match against the Rebels as a must-win, with the team coming off a tough inter-conference loss to the Brumbies and a testing two match South African tour around the corner. ‘It’s an absolute given that you’ve got to win your home games in this competition and, if possible, get those bonus points,’ NSW assistant coach Daryl Gibson said.
While Gibson was disappointing in last weekend’s performance, he also saw the wake-up call as a blessing, calling the result, ‘a reminder that we’re not as good as we think we are and what is required to do well in this competition.’ The Tahs will be focusing this week’s efforts on halfback Luke Burgess and No.8 Scott Higginbotham.[/one_half]
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All Blacks reveal RWC binge
The NZRU have admitted that two high profile All Blacks abused sleeping pills during the 2011 World Cup. Chief executive Steve Tew said Israel Dagg and Cory Jane had ‘let themselves down’ when they mixed sleeping pills with alcohol and energy drinks on a night out in Auckland just before the All Blacks’ quarter-final against Argentina.
Radio New Zealand has reported that the sleeping pill cocktails remained ‘prevalent at Super Rugby level.’ Tew disputed this widespread abuse, saying that the NZRU had no plans to introduce testing for sleeping pills alike the NRL. [/one_half]
