Monday’s rugby news has a Wallabies prop out of action, Woodward going home, the Waratahs cashing in on success and the All-Blacks squad named.
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Wallabies face prop crisis
The Wallabies have been forced to call in Waratahs tighthead prop Paddy Ryan after learning that Ben Alexander will be ruled out of the upcoming series against France with an ongoing nerve compression issue in his neck. While Alexander was able to push through the pain at Super Rugby level, coach Ewen McKenzie opted to rest the Brumbies prop against the powerful French scrum.
“While not a sinister issue, [the injury] can significantly influence performance due to the impact it has on a player’s overall strength,” McKenzie said, adding that this period of rest was necessary to enable Alexander to get his body right for the rest of 2014. [/one_half]
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Woodward back to NZ
Melbourne Rebels fullback Jason Woodward will leave the franchise at the end of the season after signing a two-year deal with the Hurricanes. The New-Zealand born Woodward, who became the Rebels’ leading point-scorer during Saturday night’s 37-10 loss to the Brumbies, cited the desire to be close to family and compete for an All-Blacks jersey as deciding factors in his decision.
“It’s a massive goal for me, and to be eligible and have a shot at that as of next season means a lot to me and I’ll give that the best crack possible,” said Woodward, who would have been eligible for Wallabies selection after his third Super Rugby campaign in 2015. [/one_half]
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Tahs finals run worth big bucks
The Tahs struggling finances could be given a boost from their recent form, with the securing of home finals providing a $1 million windfall. With three rounds left in the Super Rugby season, NSW are now top of the Australian conference, and second overall behind the Sharks, who have no more home-games and a zero-point bye remaining.
A home semi-final is said to be worth $450,000, while a Super Rugby final at ANZ would net the franchise around $800-900,000. The location of the matches will favour the top seeded teams so a strong run into the finals would be key for the Tahs, who recorded a $96,325 loss in the last financial year. [/one_half]
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All Blacks squad named
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has announced his 31-man squad for the upcoming three-Test series against England this June. The squad features 1,125 Test caps but notably excludes Dan Carter who remains on his sabbatical from rugby. New additions to the team will include uncapped players Highlanders centre Malakai Fekitoa and Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu, while experienced back rowers Jerome Kaino and Victor Vito return after stints playing abroad.
Hansen praised the much improved English side upon naming his squad, saying, “Stuart Lancaster has built depth in his side and a strong culture, so they will be a formidable opponent and one we are very excited about playing.” [/one_half]
