Monday’s rugby news has Lion’s injuries, Wallaby call-ups, an Aussie 20’s loss and charges of espionage.
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Lion’s injury woes
The Lions have suffered a spate of injuries, losing three key players before their first test match. Irish winger Tommy Bowe’s Lions tour was announced over after he broke a bone in his right hand during the 22-12 win over the Reds on Saturday and will require surgery. This news comes less than 24 hours after props Cian Healy and Gethin Jenkins were also ruled out of the tour with ankle and calf injuries respectively.
Gatland has demonstrated remarkable stoicism for a touring Lions coach, asserting, ‘I really feel for Gethin and Cian but we’ve got some real quality coming in.’ Props Alex Corbisiero and Ryan Grant have been recalled from international touring duties and explosive Irish winger Simon Zebo will join the Lions squad ahead of their game against Combined NSW/Queensland Country on Wednesday.
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Wallaby squad close to complete
An expanded Wallabies squad has assembled at Caloundra in Queensland on Sunday to continue preparations for the upcoming Test series. Among the players attending were Rebels fullback Kurtley Beale, Brumbies centre Pat McCabe, scrumhalf Luke Burgess, backrower Peter Kimlin and prop Scott Sio, all of whom have yet to be named in the squad.
Robbie Deans confirmed that Quade Cooper will not be among the final 6 players named in the 31-man Wallabies squad later today. Deans said watching Saturday night’s Reds-Lions match ‘probably just reaffirmed where we’re at.’ Meanwhile, Nic White has suffered a small fracture in his shoulder and will miss the next four weeks.
By our calculations, that leaves 30 players basically accounted for. Who should get that final Wallabies spot? Leave your choice in the comments below.
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Gatland makes spying allegations
Warren Gatland has come out with seemingly inevitable allegations of spying. The Lions coach said two members of his strength and conditioning staff ‘chased down’ a spectator filming a training session this week and forced him to delete his footage. After the Lions’ 22-12 win over the Reds on Saturday, Gatland said it was considered part of the efforts of the Australian team to build intelligence, including taping matches.
The Lions’ coach later clarified that the incident at NIB was unrelated to the Wallabies staff. The Lions may be on edge after their last visit to Australian in 2001, where Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen used Scott Johnson, now Scotland’s director of rugby, as a ball boy for early tour matches to decipher lineout calls.
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Aussie 20’s suffer devastating loss
And finally, the Australian under-20’s team has fallen in another close fought game to New Zealand 14-10. Australia, down 14-3 at halftime, dominated after the break to get within striking distance in the finale minutes. The stirring second half comeback was halted deep inside opposition territory by a vital turnover by New Zealand under-20s captain Ardie Savea to clinch the match.
Previewing the match, Welsh commentator Wyn Gruffyd remarked, ‘Australia know that if they lose this one to New Zealand they will be out of the competition and it will have been a very poor tournament from an Australian perspective.’ Australia will be hoping to secure a 5th place playoff to least better their 2012 performance, when the 20’s side recorded their worst result in the history of the JWC, finishing 8th after losses to France, England and Argentina.
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