Friday’s rugby news has Wallabies squad announced, Rugby World Cup referee’s appointed, Folau to Japan after the Rugby World Cup and teams named for the Super Rugby Final.
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Wallabies Squad Announced
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has announced his 45 man Wallabies squad ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Dave Dennis, Dean Mumm, Rory Arnold and Taqele Naiyavaroro were all included in the squad whilst Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, James O’Connor, Nick Cummins, Liam Gill and Luke Jones were left out of the squad.
“There’s three sets of props, three sets of locks and we’re going to go hard at it in the set piece when we’re up there,” said Cheika.
“We’re going to see who comes out the best and that competition will get us in the right frame of mind for what we’re going to come up against (versus) South Africa, which is going to be a big, nasty pack.
“That’s rugby, isn’t it? It’s about competitive nature and getting stuck into it, competing with your mates and then – once that decision’s been made – joining together to take on the opposition.”
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RWC Refs Announced
World Rugby has confirmed the referee appointments for the pool stages of this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Frenchman Romain Poite will control the Wallabies match with England at Twickenham in early October.
Craig Joubert will then referee the Wallabies match with Wales at the same venue.
“Refereeing is a very demanding discipline, both physically and mentally, so just like the teams, they will have to be at the very top of their game if they are to feature in the closing stages of the tournament,” World Rugby’s match officials selection committee chairman John Jeffrey said.
“Rugby World Cup is the biggest stage of all in our game, so for these match officials to have been selected in the first place is a great honour and a recognition of their talent, their hard work and their commitment”.
The referee appointments for the knock out stages will be made after the pool stage.
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Folau to Japan after RWC
Israel Folau has confirmed he will be using his newly signed flexible contract to play in Japan after this year’s World Cup.
“Very excited to confirm I will be a NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes player following the 2015 World Cup!!” he tweeted.
Folau will join South African internationals Handre Pollard and Eben Etzebeth at the club.
It is believed Folau will earn around $700,000 per season playing in Japan.
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Teams Named for Super Final
Both the Highlanders and Hurricanes have named a largely unchanged side from last weekend’s semi finals.
The Hurricanes only injury concern is Ardie Savea who damaged ligaments in his knee against the Brumbies last weekend.
HURRICANES (1-15): Reggie Goodes, Dane Coles, Ben Franks, Jeremy Thrush, James Broadhurst, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea/Callum Gibbins, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith (c), Nehe Milner-Skudder, James Marshall
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Brendon Edmonds, Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck, Alex Ainley, Mark Reddish, Elliot Dixon, James Lentjes, Nasi Manu (co-c), Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Patrick Osborne, Richard Buckman, Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith (co-c)
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