Monday’s top rugby news has Warburton’s dodgy hamstring, Horwill sweating an IRB investigation, a possible Benji code-switch and Sevens dominance for the Kiwis.
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Warburton in doubt for series decider
Lions captain Sam Warburton has undergone scans on his injured hamstring on Sunday, putting him in grave doubt for next weekend’s third Test against Australia. Warburton, who had a stellar game two, was assisted from the field 68 minutes into the 16-15 defeat.
‘Coming off in a Test match like that is devastating,’ assistant coach Andy Farrell said. ‘As a captain, you want to be there for your troops and lead from the front.’ Warburton’s hamstring issue was the only injury suffered by the Lions in Melbourne. Players already on the injury list, prop Alex Corbisiero (calf) and Jamie Roberts (hamstring), will return to training on Wednesday and are likely to play in the series-deciding third Test.
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Horwill sweats on stamping review
Wallabies captain James Horwill faces another judicial hearing today after the IRB took the unprecedented decision to appeal the ruling given by one of its own officials. The IRB’s New Zealand-based judicial officer Nigel Hampton previously cleared Horwill of stamping on Lions lock Alun-Wyn Jones in the third minute of the series-opener, determining that there was no evidence of deliberate or reckless foul play.
The IRB have now asked Canadian arbitrator Graeme Mew to review that decision in a new hearing via video conference. ‘I’m hoping not to think about that,” Horwill said. ‘I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it, if I come to it.’
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Benji looking at switching codes
Benji Marshall has been targeted as a possible union convert by Auckland Blues coach John Kirwan, who met with Marshall’s manager in Sydney this week. The West Tiger’s five-eighth is thought to be unhappy in rugby league after being stripped of the Kiwi captaincy and benched at the Wests Tigers this year.
Marshall is expected to decide during his club’s 6-18 June bye period whether to accept an upgraded offer from the Tigers or set his sights on playing in the next Rugby World Cup and 2016 Olympic Sevens. ‘I think he’s pretty serious about a change of scenery.’ Kirwan said.
How would Marshall fare in the 15-a-side game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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New Zealand crowned Sevens champs
New Zealand have won both the men’s and women’s titles at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens. While Gordon Tietjens’ All Blacks team have been a dominant force in the IRB World Series Sevens, they last won the World Cup in 2001. However, they were decisive 33-0 winners over England in the final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium in wet, muddy conditions.
The Kiwi women’s team had earlier beaten Canada 29-12 and the results mean that New Zealand are now world champions in rugby 7s and 15s in both sexes. The Australian men’s side finished equal fifth, after losing their quarter final clash with England 21-17, while the Australian women went on to win the Plate final.
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