Monday’s rugby news has the Waratahs staying in NZ, Gill eventually making his way back to Super Rugby, Pocock not distracted and a French victory.
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Waratahs withstand earthquakes
The NSW Waratahs plan to continue their Super Rugby pre-season camp on the South Island of New Zealand despite an earthquake which hit nearby Christchurch on Sunday. Coach Daryl Gibson’s side were climbing Little Mount Peel – about a two hour drive from Christchurch – when news came through of the earthquake.
No serious injuries were reported this time and early reports suggested the city’s infrastructure has mostly held up. “We didn’t feel anything thankfully, we were up too high,” Gibson said. “Hopefully no one’s injured. We’re really lucky that we’re all safe and accounted for.”
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Gill coming back to Aus
Flanker Liam Gill has told teammates he wants to return to the Reds after his French fling. “There’s always disappointment when players leave the club,” captain James Slipper said. “But in saying that, Gilly’s done a lot for the club…I’m sure it’s not the last time we see him in a Queensland jersey.”
Gill was the glue that often held the outgunned Reds together last year and teammates saw it that way as well. His vote tally (420) as the landslide winner of the Pilecki Medal topped the combined tallies of Greg Holmes (184) and James Hanson (179), who placed second and third.
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Brumbies still on track
Stephen Moore has emphasised that any prolonged contract negotiations with star flanker David Pocock will not be a distraction to either the Wallaby flanker or the club as a whole. The Brumbies had hoped for a resolution before the start of the Super Rugby season in a fortnight, but there appears to be little rush for Pocock to make one of the biggest contractual calls of his professional career.
“It was disappointing that it came out the way it came out,” coach Stephen Larkham said. “Poey and his manager wanted to keep it quiet and tell the right people before it came out.” Moore, Matt Toomua and Pocock, were all vital in the Brumbies close-run 2015 campaign and they all could be gone next season.
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France win close Six Nations match
Defending Six Nations champions Ireland are struggling with injuries after a brutal 10-9 defeat by France. Coach Joe Schmidt was already crippled by a raft of injuries which saw the Irish take to the field against Wales in their opening 16-16 draw last week with just three starters from the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina.
Openside flanker Sean O’Brien suffered an upper hamstring injury, lock Mike McCarthy a concussion, winger Dave Kearney a shoulder injury and fly-half Sexton also had to come off late on in what turned into a war of attrition played out under heavy rain.
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