Friday’s rugby news has Moore backing a booze ban, Foley excited for his new challenge, Cruden given the nod against England and Giteau to lead the World XV team .
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Moore backs Wallaby prohibition
New captain Stephen Moore has backed the Wallabies booze “agreement” with team management that the players will only drink alcohol on the night of the game (after full-time) during the upcoming three-Test series against France. The alcohol ban is part of the ARU’s new Wallaby Tour Guidelines, which is also said to include an array of behavioural, dress and other requirements including a purported curfew.
The guidelines were obviously driven by concerns following last year’s incident in Dublin- which involved six players being suspended and nine more being reprimanded for a night out in the lead in to a Test match. [/one_half]
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Foley living the dream
Wallabies playmaker Bernard Foley has expressed his excitement at being handed the Wallabies no.10 jersey, hoping that his Super 15 form will pull him through the pressure of driving the national side for the first time. “It’s a great exciting challenge, calling the shots a bit for the national side, and something you dream of,” Foley said. “Hopefully I don’t let the occasion overwhelm me, it’s just back down to business.”
Foley has steadily rose up the Australian playmaker ranks over the last two years. Through sevens, picking up a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth games, to Super Rugby at fullback and now stepping up to Wallaby 10. [/one_half]
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Cruden retains 10 jersey
Despite suffering six weeks out of Super Rugby with a broken thumb, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has chosen incumbent fly-half Aaron Cruden, confident that he will step up against the young English team. Cruden returned from injury two weeks ago and has overcome pressure from the in-form Beauden Barrett to start on Saturday.
“He’s had a couple of games under his belt and he’s back to his cheeky self around here, so we just think he’s ready to go,” Hansen said. 31 year-old Jerome Kaino will also come back into the starting side after his stint in Japan, replacing the injured Kieran Read, while Cory Jane takes over the no.11 jersey with Julian Savea unavailable. [/one_half]
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Giteau to lead World XV
Former Wallabies flyhalf Matt Giteau will lead the experienced World XV side to play the Springboks on Saturday in Cape Town. The Toulon recruit will be returning to the field after his team’s Heineken victory and will join former Australian team-mates James O’Connor and Drew Mitchell to form an impressive backline.
Full team list (15-1): James O’Connor; Drew Mitchell, Rene Ranger, Wynand Olivier, Hosea Gear; Matt Giteau (capt), Rory Kockott; Roger Wilson, Steffon Armitage, Mamuka Gorgodze; Alistair Hargreaves, Juandre Kruger; Carl Hayman, Craig Burden, Sona Taumalolo [/one_half]
