Monday’s Rugby News sees the Wallabies squad selected, an Alan Jones outburst, Sydney University claiming the Shut Shield and SA Rugby in financial trouble.
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Wallabies Chosen
Michael Cheika has recalled June series debutants Caleb Timu and Brandon Paenga-Amosa to his 31-man squad for Tests against South Africa and Argentina.
Paenga-Amosa was a strange omission from the squad which travelled across New Zealand for the Bledisloe, with Folau Faingaa being thrown into the deep end for his first cap.
The Reds hooker had a decent enough hit out for Brisbane City on Sunday afternoon and headed straight to Wallabies camp and Timu is already on his way to the Gold Coast, with him and his ridiculously high knees staring for Queensland Country in their win over Canberra at Viking Park on Saturday.
Rory Arnold has also been recalled to the squad to add some grunt up the middle.
These tests come as must wins for the Wallabies as we need to learn how to turn positive moments into a winning game. Fast.
The two biggest inclusions come in the form of injured duo Israel Folau (ankle) and Taniela Tupou (hamstring), who have both been named but will be racing the clock to prove their fitness in time for Saturday’s clash with the Springboks.
The full squad is listed below:
SQUAD
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa (25 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Rory Arnold (15 Tests , Brumbies, 28)
Adam Coleman (25 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Folau Fainga’a (1 Test, Brumbies, 23)
Ned Hanigan (13 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)
Michael Hooper (c) (84 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 26)
Sekope Kepu (96 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 32)
Tolu Latu (8 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 25)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (3 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
David Pocock (71 Tests, Brumbies, 30)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (84 Tests, Leicester, 33)
Tom Robertson (23 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 24)
Izack Rodda (9 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Pete Samu (5 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Rob Simmons (87 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Scott Sio (47 Tests, Brumbies, 26)
Caleb Timu (2 Tests, Queensland Reds, 24)
Lukhan Tui (9 Tests, Queensland Reds, 21)
Taniela Tupou (4 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)
Backs
Tom Banks (1 Test, Brumbies, 24)
Kurtley Beale (76 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Israel Folau (66 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Bernard Foley (60 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 28)
Will Genia (92 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)
Dane Haylett-Petty (23 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 29)
Reece Hodge (29 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 23)
Marika Koroibete (13 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)
Jack Maddocks (2 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 21)
Nick Phipps (66 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Joe Powell (4 Tests, Brumbies, 24)
Matt Toomua (35 Tests, Leicester/Melbourne Rebels, 28)
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Jones under Fire
Rugby identity and well known loud mouth Alan Jones has come under fire for a stunning, unprovoked attack on a female journalist according to news.com.au.
The former Wallabies coach took the extraordinary step of singling out rugby.com.au reporter Beth Newman in a seething column for The Australian, where he did not back at the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and its chief executive Raelene Castle.
Jones’ personal attack on the ARU website reporter has attracted an angry backlash from rugby commentators.
The 75-year-old 2GB radio host labelled Newman a “hack” and claimed she was unqualified to be commenting on the Wallabies after reading her reports in the official program of the Wallabies’ 40-12 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night.
On a personal level, these comments disgust me. Jones is a character which many love and many hate however these types of actions aren’t positive for our game. I’m all for constructive criticism, but this is not that.
Jones’ bizarre comments about Newman came after he also gunned Castle with accusations that the Kiwi administrator “knows nothing about the game”. Righto Alan.
The shock jock appeared to link his view — that Castle’s administration doesn’t understand the real issues Australian rugby is facing — with the copy Newman produced for the official match-day magazine, a bizarre link that makes little snse.
Other commentators believe Jones’ attack on Newman was motivated by other motives.
Jones wrote in his regular column for The Australian that Newman was a “paid mouthpiece” of the ARU.
“I picked up the rugby program for the Test match last Saturday in New Zealand,” Jones wrote.
“The world of rugby was present at the game. They would read the program. And some hack, Beth Newman, is writing on Australian Rugby. You guessed it — she’s a paid mouthpiece for Australian Rugby.
“How the hell would her utterly irrelevant musings represent an appropriate evaluation to the world of the state of the Wallabies? And what on earth must the rest of the world think about us when such drivel passes for authoritative comment.”
Moving on.
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Shute Shield Final
Sydney University have broken a five-year Shute Shield drought with a cruisey 45-12 victory over Warringah in front of a passionate crowd of 15,500 at North Sydney Oval.
Wallaby and Waratah Jake Gordon spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald before the final, speaking about the pain of the 2016 grand final defeat to Norths and the mission his teammates were on.
“To get this reward is really pleasing,” Gordon said. “I got given the ball, lucky enough. No one was watching me so I’d thought I’ll take a quick tap and see how we go. I was lucky enough to get that and the other one goes to the forwards.”
Australian Rugby Veteran Mark Gerrard was pulling on a jumper for the last time, and was bitterly dissapointed not to get the win for Warringah.
“We knew were in the game at half-time,” said Warringah reserve and former Wallaby Mark Gerrard. “We wanted that. You live and learn. Don’t take away that we were poor, they were bloody good. That’s the end of the story.”
University were led by a number of Super Rugby players in Paddy Ryan, Tolu Latu and Dave McDuling up front, setting a platform for the side.
“It was one of those finals performances you dream of but it’s probably the last one in your mind,” said University coach Rob Taylor. “That was the dream scenario – to run in comfortably towards the end. We were hoping for 50 scrums today. The boys delivered there.”
It was University’s first Shute Shield win since 2013 and one they deserved after a season in which they finished minor premiers.
“It’d be pretty close to the most special that one,” said Ryan. “When you’ve got a side with good preparation and prepared well and is led well, it’s about turning up on the day.”
What would have really stung Rats fans was Nick Phipps’ pass to Latu, from one Wallabies representative to another, late in the match to put the icing on the cake.
It’s almost like the shouldn’t be playing at that level.
“I work on that with Tolu, he runs a super line like that,” Phipps said. “The least I could do was put it on his chest. It was good for him to get over the stripe, he did so much in that game.
“It’s good for the soul. I started with this club in 2007 and this is the club that gave me everything. I came to the club as an average first XV player from school and they gave me the opportunity to be where I am today.”
Well done University.
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Financial Trouble
Cash-strapped SA Rugby told the Portfolio Committee of Sport and Recreation in parliament on Tuesday that it had suffered a net loss of R62million in 2017.
EWN Sport reported that this was due to the failed 2023 World Cup bid, which resulted in a loss of sponsorships money of about R38.5million, while the the costs involved in getting the Cheetahs and Kings into the Pro14 is said to be R33million.
In November last year, South Africa lost to France for the right to host the 2023 World Cup.
It’s a double whammy for the Union, having dealt with Super Rugby changes in a different way to Australia.
A whole heap of money must have been pumped into administrative costs, player contracts, entry fees, transport and legal support as they moved two teams across the globe to a different competition.
A brave move from the Union and one which could pay off in the long term, but a costly one at that.
The negativity continues around South African rugby and a result this weekend would provide a much needed shot in the arm.
Likewise, Australian Rugby is in a similar position, making this weeks clash a must win for both teams.
SA Rugby’s cash reserves are now R15.7million, having once stood at R68million.
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