Thursday’s rugby news has the Boks reacting to Wallaby lineup changes, some changes to the All-Blacks side, the incoming scrum laws facing criticism and news from the Top 14 race.
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Meyer praises Wallaby line-up
Ewen McKenzie’s new Wallaby line-up has been given the Springbok tick of approval. South African coach Heyneke Meyer has emphasised, ‘It’s a really full-on attack team, without talking them up too much, I truly believe it is one of the best back lines we have faced, not just this year.’ With Quade Cooper being promoted to the starting No.10 position and Israel Folau shifted to fullback, Link should be able to play a more expansive style.
Further changes include the crowd-favourite ‘Honey Badger’ Nick Cummins moving onto the wing, and Sekope Kepu returning to tighthead prop with hopes of steadying the Wallaby scrum. As for the Springboks, only one recent change has been made, with Zane Kirchner starting at fullback to replace Willie Le Roux, who moves to the wing at the expense of Bjorn Basson. [/one_half]
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All Blacks finalise team
As speculated yesterday, Ma’a Nonu will not play in the All-Blacks’ next Test against Argentina due to an ankle injury, leaving room for Francis Saili to make his long awaited international debut. ‘We have complete faith in his ability to do the job. He is a very exciting, young player who has a multi-talented skillset that should suit Test rugby,’ said coach Steve Hansen. Saili’s inclusion is one of three changes to the team which defeated Australia in the second Bledisloe match.
Dan Carter will return to five-eighth with prop Charlie Faumuina coming in for Owen Franks, who has a calf strain. The All Blacks bench will also see the return of Beauden Barrett from injury to replace Colin Slade along with prop Ben Franks, who joins the replacements after Faumuina’s promotion to starter. [/one_half]
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New scrum laws facing criticism
Lions hooker Tom Youngs has come out against the new scrum laws, believing that they place hookers in unnecessary danger. Youngs emphasised the competitive disadvantage for attacking scrums, where the requirement to hook makes the No.2 more vulnerable. He also saw the nostalgia connected to the straight feed as potentially dangerous, asserting, ‘when blokes used to hook for the ball 15 years ago, everyone around him in the scrum was a lot lighter than they are now, probably less powerful, too.’
Despite some criticism from Youngs and others, the IRB has restated their support of the new rules and its important effects on player safety and the free-flowing excitement of the game. Referee Wayne Barnes, for example, recently emphasised, ‘Spectators, the media, players are crying out saying you need this – and there is pressure on referees to deliver it.’ [/one_half]
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Giteau shines in Top 14 race
Showing that he still has the goods, former Wallaby playmaker Matt Giteau has scored 27 points in Toulon’s 62-12 thrashing of newly-promoted Brive. Giteau’s tally included two tries, seven conversions and a penalty in a blowout win that moves Toulon to second in the French Top 14. Toulon are a point behind Clermont, who solidified their lead on the competition table with a crushing 55-0 victory over a weakened Bayonne side.
Clermont’s run into the finals will be hindered by the loss of No. 8 Elvis Vermeulen. The French international will miss the next four months due to a herniated disc which will require an operation. The 34-year-old Vermeulen has had a history of back troubles, with a similar injury keeping him out of contention for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
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