Thursday’s Rugby News has Foley in, The Quade out, JO’C back in training and Matt Hodgson becoming pensive.
[one_half last=”no”]
Foley Return
You know that saying, “you don’t what you’ve got til it’s gone?”. I think Kanye said it first.
In his absence, that’s what Bernard Foley has been reminding everyone about. He’s now back in action, picked in the Waratahs XV to face the Rebels this weekend, after recovering from concussion.
“It’s something that when you first initially get the head knock you think you’ll be right in a week, but obviously (that’s not what happened),” Foley told rugby.com.au.
“It’s my first concussion and it’s just symptoms that have lingered, especially after I’ve pushed [myself] in training sessions, it’s just pulled up not too well, you feel a bit dazed and a bit out of it.”
“Head issues are something that we have to take with the highest of importance and treat it carefully,” he continued.
“Every player’s individual and they’ve got to be honest and know their own bodies and report it properly because that’s where long-term injuries exist.”
Asked by the press about how well he could execute the Waratahs gameplan – pass it to Izzy – Foley said:
“I think [playing Folau at fullback] is a way to get Israel into the game in a position he knows and the way that teams are going to look to try and not kick him the ball or keep him out of the game.”
“It’s a great challenge for Israel to get into the game but also to be effective for the team and just be lively in the back there.
“He attracts a lot of defenders in that front line and in that back field, his ability to sniff around and pop up where he sees a hole is phenomenal.”
[/one_half][one_half last=”yes”]
Coopz Out
The Quade has been stung with a three-week spell on the naughty step after the Sanzaar Wheel-o-discipline landed on ‘3’ yesterday.
The Quade was pulled up by the Sanzaar disciplinary committee after he confused, for about the fourth time in 3 months, a man’s neck for his chest.
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Mark Martin, the Judicial Committee accepted the guilty plea of the Player under Law 10.4(e) Dangerous tackling of an Opponent,” read a statement.
“With respect to sanction the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid range entry point of six weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player’s admission of guilt, his remorse and the fact that the Player had a good disciplinary record having not come under notice since 2012, the Judicial Committee reduced the suspension to three weeks.”
“The player is therefore suspended for three weeks, up to and including Saturday, April 8.”
In human words, this means Quade will miss out playing: the Jaguares; the Hurricanes; and the Brumbies. His next available game will be against the Kings in Brisbane.
[/one_half][one_half last=”no”]
JOC In Training
James O’Connor is back in training with his French side Toulon, reports rugby.com.au.
Presumably Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal feels global embarrassment O’Connor has suffered due to his decision to dye his hair peroxide blonde, coupled with the minor infraction of being arrested for cocaine possession, was punishment enough for the troubled teen star 26-year-old.
Ali Williams, O’Connor’s unlucky chum, has been booted by his club (Racing 92, who let’s face it, don’t have much in the way of dignity either) and is set to face court in Paris over the charge of buying drugs in the near future.
The two of them are also set to face the displinary committee of the Ligue National de Rugby on 12 April.
At the time, O’Connor’s boss said this:
“He is a kid who has problems, who is 26 years old,” Boudjellal said. “I will not kill him either. Whatever decision I would take, I will consider everything. I’m not here to destroy him.”
[/one_half][one_half last=”yes”]
Hodgo Don’t Know When
Western Force stalwart Matt Hodgson doesn’t know quite yet what he’s gonna do in the future, says the paper of choice of West Coast plebains, the West Australian.
Hodgson, who is slated to start his first game of the season against the Crusaders this weekend, is coming off injuring his hamstring,
“These next three weeks are pretty important for me,” Hodgson said. “I’ll probably sit down and have a chat to my family and the club and see where my head’s at.
“The body’s ready to go,” continued the man who is rumoured to be the real life inspiration for comic book character Juggernaut. “It’s just whether the head’s going to be in it.
“I want to finish on a good note. I don’t want to linger. I’m playing each game and each block as it comes.”
This is also the first season in a while he’s not captain of the Force, with that honour being voluntarily passed on to Ben McCalman and Heath Tessman.
“It’s a weird thing when you lose that authority as captain. The young blokes sort of start speaking to you as being part of their group,” Hodgson said.
“It’s re-energised me and I’m enjoying my footy.”
[/one_half]
