Monday’s rugby news has the Super Rugby awards, Michael Hooper cleared to play, Lachie Turner signing with Toulon and All Blacks announce their squad for the Bledisloe Cup.
[one_half last=”no”]
Super Rugby Players Awarded
David Pocock, Michael Hooper and Liam Gill were amongst the players who received awards at their club’s presentation night’s over the weekend.
David Pocock picked up three awards after he was named the Brett Robinson’s Players’ Player, along with Best Forward and fan’s choice, the Stallion of the Year.
Gill was awarded the Stan Pilecki Medal for players’ player of the year whilst Sean McMahon has been named Player’s Player for the Melbourne Rebels.
Michael Hooper has claimed his third consecutive Matthew Burke Players’ Player Cup at the Waratahs’ Awards night. Folau was named Best Back while Will Skelton was awarded Best Forward. Wycliff Palu received the Waratah Medal for his outstanding contribution to the club and wider rugby community.
[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]
Hooper Cleared … Again
Michael Hooper has been cleared to play in the first Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand after a SANZAR Appeals Committee unanimously dismissed both appeals brought by SANZAR and the ARU.
The Committee dismissed the appeal brought by SANZAR after they found the Judicial Officer was correct in the exercise of his discretion that the incident was low-end.
Michael Hooper was looking forward to finally focusing on the Wallabies preparations for the weekend.
“Glad it’s wrapped up and I can really look forward to this week and moving forward into the first Bledisloe,” Hooper said.
“It’s been a little bit tough but I have been preparing as if I’ve been right to play and I’ll be trying to get into the team for this week.”
[/one_half] [one_half last=”no”]
Turner Signs with Toulon
Lachie Turner may have played his last match for the Queensland Reds after signing a short term deal with Toulon.
Turner, 28, is off contract with the Reds and has signed for a four-month tenure to cover the expected absences of Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell and South African winger Bryan Habana at the World Cup.
Turner has been told that there may not be space for him in the Reds squad next season so immediately took up the opportunity to play in France and perhaps earn a full time contract.
“This is an opportunity for him to earn money and play some rugby,” Reds coach Richard Graham said.
[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]
AB’s Squad Announced
The All Blacks have made a couple of changes to their squad for the Bledisloe Cup.
Highlanders winger Patrick Osborne comes into the squad whilst Tawera Kerr-Barlow in place of Andy Ellis.
“It’s more for the future really, with Waisake out three months and Cory still struggling with his injury, we just wanted to make sure we had someone else that has been in the environment, so if we end up going to the World Cup and needing some outside players, and those two guys weren’t available, we’d have someone whose been here and feels comfortable,” said Steve Hansen.
“So it’s a bit of pre-planning really.”
Loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett will miss the trip to Sydney because of “family” reasons while Hansen said he would not risk playing Ma’a Nonu if he had not recovered from a shoulder injury he suffered against the Springboks.
Squad: Dane Coles, Hikawera Elliot, Keven Mealamu, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Tony Woodcock, James Broadhurst, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Victor Vito, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Daniel Carter, Colin Slade, Lima Sopoaga, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Israel Dagg, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Patrick Osborne, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.
[/one_half]
