Thursday’s Rugby News sees Baabaas squad changes, players considering futures, the NRC finals makeup, and a big plan by English rugby.
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Potgeit-nah
Sorry Baabaa and Tahs fans, but unfortunately we won’t get to see Tahs legend Jacques Potgieter on the field against the Wallabies this weekend.
The big Saffa is almost regarded as a cult figure to many Tahs fans, and rightly so: he was an important part of the team that went on to win their first Super Rugby title. However, Potgeiter has now been ruled out for Saturday’s clash with injury.
Don’t worry though, his expected replacement is also as warmly regarded at Tahs HQ: a certain Wycliff Palu.
According to rugby.com.au, this isn’t the only injury concern plaguing Alan Jones‘s side: Michael Ruru and Sef Faagase have also been ruled out due to injuries sustained in Tuesdays narrow 27-24 victory against the Classic Wallabies side in Lismore. Those two were particularly influential, so their loss may prove to be an important one.
The Baabaas are expected to name their starting 23 later today, with Quade Cooper almost guaranteed a starting role.
Meanwhile, it is understood the Wallabies will rest a lot players and will field a younger side, which should make for a more fascinating contest at the SFS.
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When in doubt, throw money at it
It is an interesting time to be an English rugby fan. Not that we really care much about what happens in England, but the world’s richest rugby union has set itself a challenge: to become the UK’s most dominant and strongest sport.
Aspiring to be “the world’s leading rugby nation,” the RFU plans to invest a record £443 million into the game, an increase of 30 per cent on its last four-year Strategic Plan. It isn’t exactly encouraging when you’re also the birthplace of soccer, but, as a wise man once said: better to aim high.
RFU also plans to win the Men’s World Cup in Japan in 2019, the Women’s World Cup two years later, multiple Six Nations titles, and both the men’s and women’s sevens at the 2020 Olympic Games.
The Football Association over there has had a tough time of it from an off-field perspective, so the RFU couldn’t have timed their run any better.
“The aim is not to be the biggest sport in England but the strongest in the way we go about our business,” Stephen Brown, the RFU chief executive, said to the Telegraph.
“On the field, the aim is to win Six Nations titles. We are not planning to come second. We want to deliver the game of our lives.
“We are on the same page. We want to win the Rugby World Cup and reach world No 1. It would be odd for the union not to be ambitious. You are either ambitious or you are not. Our two views [Eddie Jones and the RFU] are complementary and appropriate.
“We are building that recipe and need to have Plans A, B and C ready. Eddie wants to leave a legacy, a system that the next head coach can pick up. We are in a good place [as regards succession plans], probably better than in the past.”
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Ins and Outs
It’s an interesting time back home in the Wallabies camp. With multiple big name players resting from the Baabaas match this weekend, there has been plenty of buzz around young and returning talent.
First of all, is James Slipper. He’s been having a blinder for top-of-the-table Queensland Country in the NRC, and a few up in the Sunshine State have wondered about when he will be eventually returning to Green and Gold duties.
But, after watching the Wallabies beat the All Blacks after Country’s big win in Fiji, Slip admit’s that while a call up would be nice, he’s just happy to be playing rugby.
“If I get an opportunity to play (this weekend), I’ll go with both hands but i’m not really expecting too much,” he said to rugby.com.au.
“I’m just here to pick up all the plays and stuff again.
“Whether they take me on tour or not, just to bring me in and keep me fresh mentally.
“I’ve only played about 50 minutes of rugby since the injury. I’ve got a lot of work to do, I know that and I’m just happy to be a part of the squad going into the Baabaas game.”
Second, is Billy Meakes. Meakes has been hanging on the periphery of the Wallaby squad for a while now, and with the Baabaas game approaching now would be a ideal time for him to prove himself. While Michael Cheika has not announced the squad yet, Meakes really hopes to make use of his abilities at 12, and hopes he can finally make an impact in the national side.
However, he has also been contesting with another problem, one that many Western Force players are dealing with: where to go next.
“I’m pretty sure I know where I want to go, we’re just trying to figure out contractually all the last, finer details and hopefully we can get it all sorted in the next couple of days and get an announcement before the end of the week,” he said to rugby.com.au.
“There was a fair bit going on, it was a pretty lengthy process but I’m delighted I can try and move on eventually and get stuck into next year.
Melbourne is apparently high on the list of many Force players, and for Meakes, it’s for one obvious reason: Dave Wessels.
“Dave’s been amazing this year,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with him, I think he’s a fantastic coach and for Melbourne, that’s a huge win for them.
“If Melbourne’s where I decide to go next year, it’d be awesome to continue that relationship with him and I’m sure there’s a lot of boys that are thinking the same.”
Finally, we come to another Force player, Ben McCalman.
McCalman still has another year on his contract, meaning that he SHOULD be guaranteed a position in an Australian Super Rugby team.
“I don’t know yet (where I’ll play in 2018) but I’ve got a year left in my contract so it’ll be in Australia, next week we’ll know where that will be,” he said to rugby.com.au.
For McCalman, he hopes to break back into the Wallabies side with the Baabaas match, after he spent several months recovering from a difficult thumb injury.
“Everyone had their own theory about what was happening,” he said.
“I think I just tried to come back too early so the body started to think that being fractured is a normal function for my scapula.
“The right amount of time off, along with a few other different rehab approaches seems to have paid off and now I’m back in camp and enjoying it.
But, he admitted that having that time off helped a lot for him, and after having two games for Perth Spirit, is happy to be back on the field and in camp.
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Crunch the Numbers
Before we get into all things NRC, here’s a interesting note: according to current crowd estimates, there’s been over 64,000 people who have come through the gates this year to watch the 32 NRC matches that have been played.
While it’s still pretty small in the greater scheme of things, it’s already nearly 10,000 more that the overall total of both the 2015 and 2016 seasons, respectively. And there’s still one more round and a finals series to play. It’s been a good year for this little comp so far.
GAGR favourite Brett McKay has crunched some numbers for the final round for Rugby.com.au, In it, he examined who still had a chance of making the finals, and what the potential positions could be.
The Melbourne Rising, Greater Sydney Rams and Sydney Rays are all out of the race, and will mostly be looking to play for pride this weekend (except for Melbourne, who’s season finished last week).
Queensland Country are automatically guaranteed a top-two finish, and will be facing a desperate Perth side this weekend in Ipswich. The Spirit are most outside chance of making the finals. They could finish as high as third, but luck has to really fall their way. Stranger things have happened. Also, the Horan-Little Shield is up for grabs for the last time this year on this match.
The Canberra Vikings are the only other team who can finish in first, and they will have a tough assignment when the play the Rams at TG Millner on Sunday, in what will be the last competition rugby match in Sydney for 2017. If they lose, they could fall as low as third, meaning that regardless, they will play in the finals this year.
The same can’t be said for the Fijian Drua. While they sit in third and face the Rays this week in Suva, they have lost a lot of their international players to national duty. The Rays also beat the Spirit last weekend (in Perth) which is no mean feat. Add in that they could fall as low as 6th, and their maiden finals berth hangs on the performance of this weekend. NSW Country and Brisbane City playing this weekend helps their cause, but not much.
The Eagles and City will square off in Orange as the second Sunday match. This match effectively decides fourth place: the loser goes home. Country currently hold fourth, and should they win would be the only NSW team in the semi-finals. They could leapfrog the Drua should the Fijians lose to the Rays.
As for City, sitting in fifth place, it’s now or never. You either win and earn the Toast Rack, or you lose.
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