Monday’s rugby news has the Tahs playmakers under pressure, the Brumbies injury toll mounting, Horwill returning and Burgess switching positions.
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Foley and Beale to step up
Waratahs playmakers Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley have faced criticism for the team’s lack of attacking spark against the Stormers this weekend, with the pair told to lift their play against the Hurricanes next match. Centre Adam Ashley-Cooper said the Waratahs did not play “smart enough footy,” against the Stormers, saying that when their primary offence was stifled the team’s directors did not do enough to “change up the point of attack.”
The defeat has left the Waratahs in 10th position on the Super Rugby table, and they blew the chance to close the gap on Australian conference leaders the Brumbies, who had suffered defeat in Auckland the night before.
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Brumbies told to soldier on
The Brumbies have taken a substantial injury toll out of Friday’s loss to the Blues, with flyhalf Matt Toomua (ankle) and prop Scott Sio (knee) ruled out for at least a month. They join other influential Brumbies Tevita Kuridrani, Jesse Mogg, Rory Arnold, Fotu Auelua and Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin in the team’s rehab group.
Captain Stephen Moore emphasised that the team must not use injuries as an excuse for poor performances at this stage of the competition. “It’s always tough after you lose and we’ve got a few injuries which is always disappointing. But we need to remain positive and just have to get up for [this weekend],” he said. The team will have to field a vastly different backline though, with rookie James Dargaville likely shifting to 12 with Christian Lealiifano at flyhalf.
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Horwill returning
The Queensland Reds have summoned exiled veteran James Horwill for their clash against the Cheetahs in South Africa. Former Wallabies skipper Horwill was initially excluded from Queensland’s 27-man squad for their two-week tour after copping a one-game ban when sent off for the second time this season.
Graham clarified that his initial decision to leave Horwill behind was not intended as punishment, saying the act of bringing an ineligible player would have unduly hampered the team’s capacity to train and prepare in South Africa. Graham also described James O’Connor as a ’70-30′ chance of facing the Cheetahs.
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Burgess moved to 6
Bath are contemplating keeping Sam Burgess in the back-row after he started at blindside in their 29-19 win over Newcastle on Friday night. Burgess has had an underwhelming start to his union career playing at centre, but Friday’s match may suggest his talents are better used at backrow.
“We’re pleased with the way Sam played,” said Bath coach Mike Ford of the former South Sydney NRL star. “He’s not the finished article by any means but he will get better and we’ll probably look to keep playing him in the back-row.”
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