Thursday’s top rugby news sees Mowen praising Link’s strategy, Connolly encouraging Folau to chase the ball more, new racial quotas in South Africa and Dan Braid named Sale captain.
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Mowen praises Link’s strategy
It has been much publicised that Ewen McKenzie sports a pretty outstanding record against kiwi teams in Super Rugby over recent years. According to Ben Mowen, there is a fair chance that Link’s strategic hold over opposition from across the ditch will continue. The Brumbies’ skipper said of McKenzie’s strategic approach in the Wallabies camp that it is “a very Australian way of thinking in terms of strategy. We know we often come up against bigger blokes and better athletes but our ability has always been to outsmart them”.
There is no doubting that Link’s winning record of approximately 75% against New Zealand sides over the last few years is a mighty effort. Whether or not that transfers across to a winning record against the absolute best of the kiwis remains to be seen.
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Connolly urges Folau to seek out ball
Moving from the current Wallaby coach to a former one, John Connolly has urged Israel Folau to increase his work rate in looking for the ball if he wants to excel as an international winger. Folau is expected to be named on the wing for this weekend’s first Bledisloe Cup clash, continuing his meteoric rise in his new sport.
Whilst Connolly believes that in a one on one situation, Folau is the best in the world he has the tendency to drift out of the game “it is only his first year in the game so he is obviously growing, but I would like to see him go searching for the ball a great deal more than he has been” Connolly said. Hopefully as he continues to learn the game, Folau continues to turn in more performances like the one he delivered in the first test against the Lions.
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SARU introduces new racial quotas
Racial quotas are a controversial issue in South African sports and will spark debate as long as they exist. The South African Rugby Union has determined that teams in the domestic Vodacom Cup competition will from next year be required to fill a racial quota. The quota is quite specific as well, not merely dictating the number of players of colour in the squad. Rather, teams will need to have at least seven players of colour in the matchday squad, at least five of them must start and at least two of them must be playing in the forwards.
In announcing the decision, SARU President Oregan Hoskins said “this decision to introduce measurable targets underlines SARU’s commitment to transformation”. The desired outcome from the governing body is that more players of colour will find their way into Currie Cup and Super Rugby squads as a result of the quotas.
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Former Red name Sale Captain
Former Queensland Reds flanker Daniel Braid has been announced as the new captain of the Sale Sharks. Braid, who managed 19 appearances for the Reds as well as playing for the Blues in Super Rugby, joined Sale in 2012. He has obviously made quite the impression too, being named captain after only 12 appearances for the club.
Commenting on the decision, Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Steve Diamond said “Dan is a not only a great player he is a natural leader and is very popular amongst the squad we have assembled at Sale Sharks for the coming season”. After only just avoiding relegation last season, Braid will be hoping to lead Sale a little higher up the table in his first season as captain.
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