Monday’s Rugby News has the latest on Nick Phipps and the doctor incident, Bill Pulver’s thoughts on residency rule changes, Michael Cheika’s thoughts on the Wallabies discipline, and World Cup news.
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Phipps Warned
SANZAAR has wagged its finger at Nick Phipps, after the scrumhalf shoved over an Argentine medic during the Wallabies-Pumas game on the weekend (footage of which you can see here). The SANZAAR commisioner warned Phipps under Law 10.4(m), which governs “acts contrary to good sportsmanship..for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in his opinion do not meet the Red Card threshold for citings”, the SMH reports.
At the time of the incident, the referee decided to award Los Pumas a penalty for Phipps’ actions. While the strange actions of the medico haven’t gone unnoticed, in aftermath of the match Phipps, who earlier this year lobbed Malakai Fekitoa’s shoe for no good reason during the 2nd Bledisloe, has been copping a lot of traditional and social media heat.
When asked about the incident, Michael Cheika said: “I’m not quite sure what went down to be honest. No one was injured,” Cheika said. “Nick’s probably trying to get the ball, I really don’t know what was going through anyone’s minds. The ref dealt with it on the field. It’s probably a rare situation that you get, so he just dealt with it the best he could.”
Also, Cheika compared the Phipps incident to a similar situation between Mick Brown and defence coach Nathan Grey that happened during the June England series, summing up both events: “It happens, it’s usually a miscommunication or heat of the moment.”
On the other hand, Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade said he didn’t see the incident because he was far way. “We didn’t see it. We were far away,” Hourcade said. Oh.
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ARU Not Supporting Residency Change
ARU CEO Bill Pulver has outlined why his organisation will oppose any changes to World Rugby’s current residency rule. At the moment, if an uncapped foreign player stays in a country for three years – like Henry Speight – they then become eligible for that country’s national side.
In short, as the SMH reports, Pulver says any changes will “play into the hands of rugby league” also diminishing the hands of the southern hemisphere sides and strengthening the hands of the English and French clubs.
“In Australia I’d be concerned that if we pushed three years out to something greater than that we’d be playing into the hands of rugby league and other codes who would be picking them up immediately and don’t have international eligibility regulations to deal with,” Pulver said.
“In Australia the government lets you become a citizen in four years, so it would be a pretty bizarre scenario where you could be allowed by the government to be a citizen of the country but not allowed to play for their team. And to me a far bigger issue that World Rugby should be collectively dealing with is that the French and English clubs are raiding all of our countries of our players, which is having an incredibly disruptive impact on domestic competitions around the world.”
Current World Rugby vice-president Agustin Pichot – of Argentina, the only side at the last World Cup to not pick any foreign-born players – is seen as the lead reformist. It’s not too surprising to learn then that World Rugby was having a meeting in Argentina, whence Pulver has just returned.
The whole area of international eligibility was discussed, not just the residency rule, like proposals that would allow a tier-one capped player to play for a tier-two nation if they so wish. Currently, once a player is capped for an international 15s, 7s or ‘A’ side, they’re tied to that nation forever.
“From my own personal perspective it is something that I do have an appetite to review,” Pulver said of such proposals. “I’m way short of making a commitment yet but clearly, once capped, you are locked forever and I do wonder whether some flexibility, particularly with some of the Pacific Island players who, after a career overseas, are returning and may have completed their use-by dates in some of those countries.”
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More Edge, Less Penalties
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika wants his boys to aim at the jugular…but just sorta get away with it. He reckons referee Mathieu Reynal was a bit harsh on the high tackle calls during the Argentina game. Both Michael Hooper and Adam Coleman were given yellow cards, making the Wallabies play with 14 men for 20 minutes.
“I thought we were genuinely unlucky with the high tackle things,” Cheika said, according to Planet Rugby. “A few arms across shoulders, and to lose two players to that. They weren’t swinging and it was usually because someone had been stepped. But you’ve got to live with them and get on with it.”
However, Cheika also wants his team to have more ‘edge’ for when they next come around to Twickenham, to play England, in November. “I just want to have a bit more edge around everything…we need to start chasing what we want out of a game a little bit harder.” said Cheika.
“I though the three-nil series the way it worked out, I thought in two of those games we had a lot of ball and didn’t get the rewards. The team’s been changing so much, I probably didn’t realise it would change as much as it has.” “A lot of our guys have really stood up to be counted, and we’re creating some competition, and that should bring a bit of edge with it.”
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World Cup News
Ireland, France and South Africa have been confirmed by World Rugby as potential hosts of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. If you were thinking you’d read a brilliant article about the pros and cons of each nation’s bid, you’re not wrong.
(Oh yeah – Italy dropped out of the running a couple of weeks ago, so cancel those holiday plans, and/or planned and scripted negotiations with the significant other).
In a statement released on their website, World Rugby head honcho Bill Beaumont said: “We are delighted by the strong level of serious interest from unions and governments, which is clearly reflected in three strong and impressive applications.” Ugh, corporatese.
In other news, Argentina have announced their bid for the 2027 World Cup bid, with the UAR having come to an agreement with current Argie president Mauricio Macri.
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