Thursday’s top rugby news has Anae’s Wallaby call-up, the Boks pondering overseas based players, Sio looking to pack down against an idol and more on the concussion issue.
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Anae called up to Wallabies squad
In the end, not even 40 players were enough for Ewen McKenzie’s first Wallabies squad. Injuries to a number of key players have seen Reds youngster Albert Anae drafted into the national squad for the first time. Tatafu Polota-Nau has been ruled out in the short term while Peter Kimlin will be having surgery on a broken thumb, which means Anae gets his chance.
Coach Ewen McKenzie is a fan of Anae’s ability to pack down at either prop or hooker saying ‘his versatility is a real asset, while he also possesses the appropriate size and strength to adapt positively to the new scrum laws.’ While it would be surprising to see Anae make the final squad this time around, the call-up is a clear sign to the player that he is the national coach’s plans for the future.
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Sio preparing to face idol
Wallabies squad member Scott Sio has spoken of his respect for All-Blacks prop Tony Woodcock, who he considers an idol. It was just four years ago that Sio made the shift from the back row to the front of the scrum and since then the player he has studied the most is Woodcock. According to Sio, the prospect of packing down against Woodcock in a Bledisloe Cup match would ‘be amazing … If I got the opportunity I’d cherish it, for sure.’
Sio and his fellow props in the squad have predictably been spending plenty of time focusing on adapting to the new ‘crouch, bind, set’ scrum laws. The first Test between the Wallabies and All-Blacks will be the first time the rules have been in place for a Southern Hemisphere Test match.
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IRB Sticking with concussion test
Both this week and over the past couple of months, concussions in the game have been a recurring issue in the news. During this time, the Pitchside Suspected Concussion Assessment (PSCA) has come under plenty of fire, most notably when it allowed George Smith to return to the field in the third test against the Lions. Now the IRB has confirmed that whilst the test has some issues, they have no plans to abandon it.
The IRB has welcomed the recent comments of Dr Willie Stewart who believes there is a link between concussion and early onset dementia. Whilst vowing to incorporate feedback on the PSCA, IRB Chief Medical Officer Dr Martin Raftery insists the test will not be going anywhere saying it’s ‘not perfect, but nothing is, so, what do we do? Sit on our hands? … it has to be a step in the right direction.’
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Boks ponder overseas player issue
The Wallabies and All-Blacks choose to restrict selection to players contracted to local Super Rugby sides. Not so the Springboks, though, where one third of the recently named squad now play overseas. Discussing the issue, SARU CEO Jurie Roux concedes that they are considering limiting the number of players selected from overseas teams but that it is not a simple issue ‘within the context of a constantly changing industry that is fast developing into a global sport.’ Roux also confirmed that local players will always be given first shot, as long as selectors think they are up to it.
It will be interesting to see what approach the Boks take. Clearly a number of their best players ply their trade overseas. But allowing unlimited numbers of them to do so and still be selected for the Springboks, removes much of the attraction for playing for a local Super Rugby franchise.
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