Monday’s rugby news has a new-look Wallabies squad, a healthy and reportedly disciplined Lions & a possible call-up for Beale.
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Three new additions to Wallabies squad
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made three injury-enforced changes to his preliminary 25-man British & Irish Lions squad. Rebels halfback Nick Phipps, Waratahs lock Kane Douglas and Western Force loose forward Ben McCalman have been called up following injuries to second rower Sitaleki Timani (broken thumb) and in form back-rower Scott Higginbotham (shoulder) over the weekend. This unfortunate news follows reports that Reds winger Digby Ioane is still undergoing rehab for a cartilage issue in his left knee.
There are still six more names to be added to the preliminary Wallabies squad on 11 June but Deans’ pool of Test-ready players is steadily dwindling as the Super Rugby season continues to take its physical toll.
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Warburton’s return has Lions at full strength
To make matters worse, the British and Irish Lions were reported at full health by their medical chief on Sunday, surviving their heated encounter with the Barbarians unscathed. Although Dr James Robson reported that captain Sam Warburton was subject to ‘further assessment’ on a minor ligament strain sustained in training more than a week ago, it appears that he will be available for the Lions match against the Western Force on Wednesday
Prop Gethin Jenkins and flanker Sean O’Brien, who both sat out the Barbarians match with a calf strain and bruised knee respectively, took part in a light training on Sunday. As a result, coach Warren Gatland will have a fully-fit squad to choose from come Tuesday’s team announcement.
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Lions won’t respond to punch-ups
Perhaps the most interesting news to come out of the Lions’ tour opener was Warran Gatland’s proclamation that his team will not respond to any Australian hostility in the forthcoming weeks. During the Lions rout, young fly-half Owen Farrell was involved in an ugly punch-up with his Saracens club-mate Schalk Brits.
Emphasising the need for a discipline among his players, Gatland has stated, ‘sometimes that sort of thing happens and you need to take one for the team. You get whacked and you can’t retaliate.’ These are brave words for anyone who remembers the 2001 series. Duncan McRae and Justin Harrison have immediately put their hand up for inclusion into the Waratahs squad.
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Beale stakes his claim for Wallabies inclusion
It appears that Kurtley Beale will be rushed back into the Wallabies, being invited to train with the extended squad after playing a reasonably successful 80 minutes for Randwick in a losing effort to Sydney University on the weekend.
Randwick president and Wallabies legend, Simon Poidevin, has stated that he would have no hesitation about playing Beale against the Lions. ‘He is a gifted athlete, he is fit and he has an X-factor the Lions would worry about,’ Poidevin said. While Poidevin’s word is generally taken as gospel, it is unsure how Kurtley’s inclusion will fit in with the Rebel’s recent statement that Kurtley, RUPA and the ARU have agreed ‘it is in Kurtley’s best interest and welfare to remain in Sydney around his support network for the foreseeable future.’
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