Monday’s rugby news has Ben McCalman awarded the Nathan Sharpe medal, the ARU open to a Pacific test, South Africa hammer the World XV and the Maori All Blacks defeat Fiji.
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McCalman Awarded Medal
Western Force backrower Ben McCalman has been awarded the Nathan Sharpe medal for 2015 for his outstanding season with the Force this year.
McCalman was also awarded the Geoff Stooke Award for a second successive season for his efforts both on and off the field.
The Western Force’s team of the decade was also revealed as apart of their 10 year celebration.
Team of the Decade: Pek Cowan, Brendan Cannon, Kieran Longbottom, Sam Wykes, Nathan Sharpe (c), Matt Hodgson, David Pocock, Ben McCalman, Alby Mathewson, Matt GIteau, Nick Cummins, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell, Cameron Shephard
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ARU Open to Pacific Test
CEO of the Australian Rugby Union Bill Pulver has expressed intentions to play a test match in the Pacific but admits it could be a couple of years away.
Calls for Australia to play in the Pacific came after the All Blacks played their first ever match in Apia against Samoa last week.
“It’s definitely on the cards,” Pulver told AAP in Sydney.
An historic test match could be a few years away due to the fact that World Rugby plans its schedule years in advance.
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SA Smash World XV
South Africa have smashed the World XV in Newlands 46-10 overnight.
The South African’s sent a strong warning to the Wallabies scoring seven tries in total with a hat-trick to Willie Le Roux and a double to Damian de Allende.
Jean De Villiers has been left out of the Rugby Championship squad whilst he accumulates game time in the domestic Currie Cup competition.
Forwards: Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss, Heinke van der Merwe, Warren Whiteley.
Backs: Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jan Serfontein, Morne Steyn
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Maori AB’s Beat Fiji, Nadolo Injured
The Maori All Blacks have maintained their 12 year unbeaten streak with a 26-27 win over Fiji in Suva.
Fiji were ahead 26-10 but the Maori All Blacks scored 17 unanswered points to steal the win.
Powerhouse winger Nemani Nadolo scored for in the corner for Fiji but soon left the field with a suspected rib injury.
Highlanders backrower Elliot Dixon scored for the Maori All Blacks after scoring the week before as well in the Super Rugby final.
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