Thursday’s rugby news has a mixed bag for Wallaby injuries, JOC criticised, Cheika sympathising with the Scottish and the English warned over their coaching situation.
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Wallaby trio struggle through
Centre Matt Giteau, who hurt his ribs in last weekend’s victory over Wales, returns to training on Wednesday but David Pocock and Israel Folau are still in doubt after missing the session. Folau is trying to shake off an ankle problem that forced him off in the 33-13 win against England and appeared to restrict his movement against Wales.
Pocock, a massive boost to the Wallabies breakdown, is still battling a calf muscle injury that saw him leave the Wales game early. “Giteau didn’t train yesterday but is okay to train today,” Cheika told reporters. “The other two we read as we go.”
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JOC slammed by Martin
Ex-Wallabies fullback Greg Martin has given a scathing criticism of the controversial ex-Wallaby James O’Connor, calling him the ‘Justin Bieber of Australian rugby‘ and ‘an immature twat’ among other things. An on-field spat with former Reds teammate Adam Thompson during this year’s Super Rugby campaign highlighted for Martin exactly why O’Connor was no longer needed at the Reds.
O’Connor was the second-youngest player to debut for the Wallabies, at just 18 in 2008, and Martin said his failure to make the most of his ability would be the most damning aspect of O’Connor’s career.
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Cheika sympathises with Scottish duo
Australia head coach Michael Cheika has admitted that he feels sorry for suspended Scotland duo Ross Ford and Jonny Gray, who have had their World Cup ended after each received three-week bans for a tip-tackle on Samoa’s Jack Lam.
Cheika said: ‘I haven’t seen the incident but I feel for them. It’s the World Cup, you have worked hard for it and when you get to possibly three finals to play, you miss out.” The Wallabies coach nevertheless said that Scotland will be just as formidable an opponent, with the spectacle of the World Cup encouraging the team’s replacement forwards to step up.
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English warned over Lancaster
Former England rugby chief Martyn Thomas has said he warned the RFU that Stuart Lancaster was the wrong choice as head coach before the appointment was made four years ago. Lancaster, who was named England coach shortly after Thomas exited the RFU in 2011, has taken a large part of the blame for the early exit of the hosts from the World Cup.
Thomas said England would still be vying for a place in the final if they had reappointed former England coach Clive Woodward. “He had not played or coached the game at the top level and does not have the technical experience or expertise to cut it at international level,” Thomas said.
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