Thursday’s Rugby News sees Miller and Newsome stepping up, Parahi becoming skipper, Fainga’a re-signing, and a legend retiring.
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Blooding the boys
The Waratahs have named their squad for their upcoming match against the Moon Dogs, and there’s a couple of notable inclusions in the squad.
One of the biggest ones is Will Miller. After debuting with the Rebels last year, Miller has continued to grow and mature through the Shute Shield and the NRC, and his inclusion in the Tahs starting lineup squad after five weeks of impressing on the bench seemed to be a case of not if, but when.
“We see Will’s selection as an opportunity to play two genuine fetchers,” Daryl Gibson said.
“We believe the game’s going to be played at a high intensity because of the way the Sunwolves like to play.
“Ball in play, they like to play fast, so we’ve opted for what we consider a really fast loose forward trio.
“Will’s been excellent for us in the last five games.
“So, it’s a really good opportunity for him to see what he can do for an extended period. He’s been an excellent Shute Shield player, he’s stepped up to this level and he’s someone we want to give that opportunity to.
“We believe in tandem with Hooper in this game, it can be something a bit different for us.”
The other big inclusion is Alex Newsome, who replaces Israel Folau on the wing, while Cam Clark takes Newsome’s spot on the bench.
The other winger, Taqele Naiyaravoro has also retained his spot for a third week, off the back of doubling between a try-scoring machine and an actual wrecking ball. But Gibson wants more.
“The longer we can keep him out there, the more destructive he can be,” he said.
“Certainly finished very well for us in the last two games, something different that he brings to our back three.
“I think part of his transformation is in losing that weight and keeping on top of that.
“It’s been well-documented, he was 136kg last year and too heavy, can’t move.
“Whereas at 124kg now he’s scoring the tries he is scoring and looking far more threatening. part of the equation for him is his physical condition and learning to play more minutes.”
Check out the Tahs squad here.
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Doing it for the boys
Well, we finally have a new Sevens captain to lead us into the Commonwealth Games: Jesse Parahi.
The inspired decision is one that came after the Mens sevens lost captains Lewis Holland (hamstring injury) and James Stannard (fractured skull one a one-punch attack).
And, according to Parahi, the motivation to play for both of them has the group more than motivated to perform in their own backyard.
“It was a huge loss for us to lose Chucky, and Lewi earlier on in the piece,” he said yesterday to rugby.com.au.
“It’s obviously a huge honour for me to get up there and captain the boys to a Commonwealth Games but obviously a big loss for our side.
“We’ll be going up there to do those boys proud.
“There’s been a whole lot of adversity thrown at us the last three weeks with Chuck and Lew and the news of Friendy (Andy Friend) (leaving the program).
“If anything, it’s bound this group together. We’ve got a stronger bond because of it and we’re going to go out there and do all those blokes proud.”
Andy Friend admitted that it was a tough decision to decide the new skipper, but in the end it couldn’t go to anyone else.
“We’ve got four leaders in our senior group – Lewis, Chucky, Jesse and Tommy Lucas,” he said.
“Jesse got the nod – it’s a tough one there, but he’s really grown in that leadership. he’s probably been a reluctant leader prior to this year, but (we’ve) given him the title of the leader, he’s really stepped up, shown a lot of maturity and I think it’s taken his game to a new level.”
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Saying farewell to the boys
Another career is set to come it’s end this year, with Pumas legend Juan Martin Hernandez announcing in a French newspaper that he will officially be retiring from rugby yesterday evening.
He finishes with an outstanding record of 74 caps for the Pumas, proving to be a key figure in the rise of Argentina in world rugby, and was a part of both of Argentina’s most successful World Cup campaigns in 2007 and 2015, that saw them finish in the semi-finals.
He also won the Top 14 twice with Stade Francais, and additionally played for Racing 92, Toulon, the Sharks in the Currie Cup, and finally, the Jaguares in Super Rugby.
So well regarded as he is by Argentinean rugby supporters, they even have a name for him: “El Mago,” meaning the Magician. Fair play, considering that he was shortlisted by World Rugby for being one of the greatest flyhalves ever to play the game.
The decision to retire comes of the back of a knee injury he suffered from last month.
“The cruciate ligaments aren’t affected but it’s very painful and the demands of Super Rugby don’t allow me to play in this competition diminished,” he said to French Newspaper Midi Olympique.
“So I’ve decided to stop playing rugby. There you go, it’s finished.
“I didn’t want to have any regrets, I think I wanted the end to come on a rugby field.”
While the playing boots may be hung up, Heranandez won’t necessarily turn his back on a coaching career.
“We’ll see!” he said.
“First of all I’ll take six months off for me and my children.
“I’m going to be a normal father, taking the little ones to school in the morning and collecting them in the evening.”
Well played mate. Congratulations on an outstanding career.
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Re-signing with the boys
The Brumbies have secured a young gun for the next two years, with exciting hooker Folau Fainga’a putting pen to paper and staying till the end of 2019.
The young gun has impressed so far this season, after getting on the Brums radar off the back of a solid season with the Canberra Vikings in the NRC.
It’s an impressive achievement to already be re-signed, considering he’s only played four games for the club, and he was meant to be a backup to hooker Josh Mann-Rea.
“We are delighted that Folau has signed a two-year contract with the club,” Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said to rugby.com.au.
“He brings great energy, is very dynamic in both attack and defence and his set piece game is developing nicely.
“Folau was a standout player in the NRC with the Vikings last season and he has produced that form in his first few games of Super Rugby on the back of an excellent pre-season.
“He has quickly become a popular member of the group and it is pleasing to see him take the opportunities he has been given.
“If he continues to work hard on all areas of his game I am confident he has a long career ahead of him at Super Rugby level.”
Folau himself seemed pretty chuffed with staying on in the nation’s capital, adding that:
“The Brumbies is a special club to play for and I have been made to feel so welcome to Canberra by everyone involved and, in particular, the loyal Brumbies supporters.
“I look forward to an exciting future.”
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