Thursday’s rugby news has Nick Phipps saying the Wallabies will not be affected by Super Rugby performances, a grand final for the Rebels, ARU announce new headquarters and No Leigh Halfpenny in Wales squad.
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Phipps Confident
Nick Phipps says there is no correlation between Super Rugby and International rugby and the performances of the Australian franchises will not affect the Wallabies.
“Obviously each country wants their teams to be going really well and the Aussie teams have got a bit of work to do — there’s a few mid-table at the moment,” Phipps said.
“But the team dynamics that you have when it comes to an international team are so different.
“You’ve got so many different players, used to playing different styles and different psyches.
“That’s probably where we’ve got the advantage with Cheik, in how he’s able to bring a group together and the mental side of the game, the application that you need to win Test matches and fight and scrap for every game that you get in the Wallabies jersey, is something that I believe is quite an advantage that we’ve got.
“You’ve still got to have your 15 best players on the field and then it’s up to the coaching staff and the program to make sure that they’re going well against the other countries.”
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Grand Final for Rebels
Rebels flanker Sean McMahon has compared this weekend’s clash against the Brumbies to a grand final.
“To us, this is basically a grand final match,” McMahon declared.
“This will basically determine where we end up in this competition.
“There is nothing better than versing the Brumbies as they’re a strong side and this is really going to be a big game.”
McMahon said he was also looking forward to coming up against David Pocock.
“I like locking horns with most backrows and it is always good to lock horns with the likes of David Pocock,” McMahon said.
“He is one of the top class flankers in the world and locking horns with him is always fun and a challenge.
“They (the Brumbies) been together awhile and they just play tough footy.
“It is round the corner, it is forwards hitting it up and their backs just execute.”
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New ARU Headquarters
The ARU have announced the development of the Australian Rugby Development Centre which will act of the headquarters for the ARU as well as a training base for the Wallabies, Sevens and junior representative sides.
The ARU has partnered with the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) to build the ARDC,with the university to use one level as a research base for its sports exercise and management programs.
“For us it’s about collaboration and communication and that’s a huge benefit that the Super Rugby sides currently have, with all the elements of their franchises being in one location,” said ARU high performance manager Ben Whitaker.
“It means we can share knowledge from the Wallabies and Wallaroos to Sevens and national youth teams in one place and everyone feels close to all parts of the organisation.
“We want to make we open up the facility and knowledge to the whole rugby community.
“No facility, however special, is going to be a magic fix but having a central home that is purpose built around performance is obviously advantageous.
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No Halfpenny for Wales
Leigh Halfpenny has been left out of Wales’ squad to tour New Zealand and for their warm up match against England.
Halfpenny has not played since last September, when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the last warm-up for the Rugby World Cup.
He had more surgery on the knee last month, setting back his recovery at his Toulon club.
Wales coach Warren Gatland said Halfpenny would not be considered without any matches under his belt.
Squad: Rob Evans, Tomas Francis, Paul James, Gethin Jenkins, Rhodri Jones, Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Kristian Dacey, Ken Owens, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau, James King, Dan Lydiate, Ross Moriarty, Josh Turnbull, Sam Warburton (captain), Gareth Davies, Rhys Webb, Lloyd Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Rhys Priestland, Jonathan Davies, Tyler Morgan, Jamie Roberts, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos, Matthew Morgan, Tom James, George North, Eli Walker, Liam Williams
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