Monday’s rugby news has Hooper supporting Beale, AAC making plans for Europe, a disappointing Sevens result and another Frenchman injured.
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Hooper backs KB
Michael Hooper has made the definitive move of publicly supporting Kurtley Beale as a representation of the Test playing group amid speculation over the future of Ewen McKenzie as Wallabies coach. “I hope KB stays with Australian Rugby Union,” Hooper said. “We are backing Kurtley. I enjoy having him around the team and he is quality on the field.”
Hooper and his vice captains approached McKenzie in Argentina asking that Beale not be sent home for his argument with (now former) Wallabies business manager Di Patston.
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AAC leaving after World Cup
Adam Ashley-Cooper appears set on leaving the Test arena after next year’s World Cup, expressing his desire to join Matt Giteau in Toulon. “I certainly see myself and my girlfriend heading towards Europe after the World Cup. I’m very happy career-wise with what I’ve been able to achieve,” Ashley-Cooper said.
The 30-year-old made his Wallabies debut in 2005 against South Africa and is now set to become only the sixth Australian to win 100 caps against the All Blacks next week
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Aussie Sevens disappointed
The Australian team have put themselves in a tough position, leaving the Gold Coast tournament in equal seventh place after being knocked out in the quater-final stage on Sunday. The team lost their final pool match to Fiji before being defeated by South Africa 12-10 to miss out on a semi-finals spot.
Fiji came out eventual winners, although they made it difficult in a nail-biting final. After racing to a 26-0 lead in the first half, they allowed Samoa to put on 24 unanswered points, just holding on for a 31-24 win.
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French 10 injured
French five-eighth François Trinh-Duc has been stretchered off while playing for Montpellier, with immediate tests showing a fractured tibia. The Montpellier captain was set to start in the French side for the November Tests.
Trinh-Duc will now be out for 3 to 4 months and adds to the injury woes of national coach Philippe Saint-André’, who will go into the next round of internationals without Morgan Parra, Sofiane Guitoune and Charles Ollivon, also injured in club action.
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