Monday’s rugby news has more scrum woes, Cheika still positive, Pocock protesting and the Springboks suffering a major RWC setback.
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Wallaby scrum dominated
The disappointing European Tour has been capped off by a 26-17 loss in which the Wallaby scrum was decimated by the superior English pack. England scored both of their tries to number 8 Ben Morgan on the back of their dominant scrum work and Australian coach Michael Cheika flagged a complete overhaul of the set piece before the World Cup
“We need to change some things, technique and strategy,” Cheika said, having spoken to IRB referees bosses last week about any preconceptions of Wallaby weakness. “Maybe we are just a little bit too honest in the scrum … there are some personnel we are going to look at as well.”
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Cheika retains optimism
Despite suffering their third straight loss, Cheika has claimed that the European Tour was overall a success, citing the implementation of his coaching style and the process of getting to know the players.
The Wallabies are in the group of death at the World Cup, coming up against England and Wales in the pool stages. With only two of these teams to advance, failing to get out of the pool rounds would be a huge disaster for Australian rugby. Cheika may take some solace in the return of a number of current or past Wallabies next year, including Stephen Moore, David Pocock, Scott Fardy, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Wycliff Palu and James O’Connor. [/one_half]
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Pocock arrested at protest
Former Wallabies captain David Pocock has been arrested at a coal mine protest at Maules Creek NSW. Pocock and local farmer Rick Laird had been chained to an excavating machine for 10 hours when they were arrested by officers of the local police force.
The ACT Brumbies flanker is a known environmental activist, and has devoted much of his past two years on the sidelines to the protection of national parks and state forests.”I would be doing this regardless of what career I had,” Pocock emphasised. “It is part of being a human being and taking on the challenges we face as a society.”
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De Villiers in doubt for RWC
Jean de Villiers has suffered “significant” knee ligament damage and may not recover in time to captain South Africa at next year’s Rugby World Cup. The centre dislocated his knee cap in the Springboks’ 12-6 loss to Wales in Cardiff on Sunday and scans have revealed the damage is extensive, although a cursory Youtube viewing would be sufficient for such a diagnosis (not for the squeamish if that wasn’t already obvious).
De Villiers had previously injured his knee during his Springboks debut against France in 2002 and did not play for the national side again for almost two years.
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