Friday’s rugby news has Higginbotham mad, Cheika supporting the draft, Speight’s debut delayed and Japan now favourites for Super Rugby inclusion.
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Higginbotham tough enough
While rejected Rebels backrower Scott Higginbotham has admitted that he has elements of his game he has to work on, he has denied that toughness is one of them. Ewen McKenzie opted for Ben McCalman for this weekend’s Test, emphasising the Force number 8’s strength in close-quarters contact and at the breakdown.
“Of course, I feel I’m tough enough…it’s not my first season of football,” the 27-Test Higginbotham said. “Everyone has seen how I play and, of course, I think I’m good enough to start.” He added that he looked forward to coming off the bench and proving Link wrong. [/one_half]
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Cheika backs draft system
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has put his support behind a draft system as a means of spreading player talent throughout the Super Rugby franchises. The first-contract draft system, is just one of the methods the ARU is looking at to even the playing field.
Other proposals include the introduction of Super Rugby salary caps as well as regulation of how many players on each team can receive ARU top-up contracts, measures which Cheika disagreed with. “Instead of lifting the field and becoming more competitive, we would be bringing everyone back to a level of mediocrity” he said. “Super Rugby is a competition, not a development program.”
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Speight out for six weeks
Brumbies winger Henry Speight will have his Wallabies debut delayed again, out for six weeks due to a recurrence of his hamstring injury. The best case for Speight will be a comeback in the Bledisloe Cup match on October 18.
It will be more likely that his debut will have to wait until the November Spring Tour. ACT coach Stephen Larkham did assure fans, “Henry will definitely play for the Wallabies this year, there’s absolutely no doubt about that.”
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Japan set to join Super Rugby
It appears that Japan will become Super Rugby’s 18th franchise as previous front-runners Singapore have apparently lost favour with SANZAR bosses. Despite the displeasure at the travel requirements for a Japanese team, it is understood the tender process exposed doubts about the financial viability of a Singapore outfit.
“When you consider the foreign players that are already here, you can mix a few of those good foreign players with the Japan national team, it is a team that can be immediately competitive” Eddie Jones said.
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