Thursdays Rugby News sees Force open to an O’Connor return, Cheika keeping his playmakers, Bob Dwyer compares Premiership rugby to Super Rugby and Nick McArdle interviews Karmichael Hunt
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A FORCE RETURN FOR O’CONNOR
A recent Instagram post from outcast Australian Rugby player James O’Connor indicated that the 28 year old former Wallaby wants to play in the 2019 World Cup.
This is a hard task for someone without a Super Rugby contract or having not played 60 tests.
ESPN are now reporting that the Western Force are prepared to offer the wayward player a road back to Australian Rugby. Force great and current Head of Elite Performance Matt Hodgson spoke to ESPN about the potential signing
“That’s the type of player we’re looking for,
“Obviously knowing James quite well, he’d potentially be one we’re looking at; I think he fits the criteria we’re looking at, especially leading into a World Cup year. Like James mentioned, [if] he is interested in coming back for the World Cup, then this is a good avenue and something we would potentially look at.”
Everyone knows about JOC’s off-field issues but it is has talent on the field that Hodgson and other coaches are looking at.
O’Connor’s Instagram post, ironically, suggest he has matured during his time in Europe and having time off with an injury has helped him find his focus again.
“James has come to realise himself, and I think that was always going to be the first step that was needed, for him to realise what he has done wrong in the past and where he wants to go in the future,” Hodgson said.
“So that’s a big step forward for him. Obviously words are one thing and actions are another, so we’ll see how that plays out.
“But I think we’ve got to look at this not at what James has done to the Western Force but what James could potentially offer into the future, and where he could sit on the radar as a player, because we all know he’s got the ability and he’s got x-factor to him. It’s whether James sees this as an avenue and a stepping stone in that direction.”
There are still some issues around the eligibility of Western Force players and Wallaby selection, with there still being conversations between RA and WSR officials.
The Waratahs and the Brumbies confirmed to ESPN they have no interest in JOC, and it is believed that neither do the Reds. The Rebels did not respond to the request from ESPN.
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BEALE, TOOMUA, HODGE, OH MY!
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing multiple times and expecting a different result, then Michael Cheika must be certifiably insane.
Whilst he isn’t expected to announce his team for the South Africa match until Thursday morning local time, it is believed that Cheika will again push forward with the playmaker combination of Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua, with Bernard Foley will continue his run as the bench warmer.
Reece Hodge is expected to continue his journey at outside centre. He believes that having all three playmakers in your squad can bring another level, something the Wallabies desperately need for Saturday night.
“Three world class players… a lot of their game is based on how well they communicate with the team and how well they direct the team around the paddock,” Hodge said.
“(Beale and Toomua) are starting to build a good combination there.
“I’d say it’s a rotating combination between the three and they all bring a hell of a lot to the squad.
“It’s exciting to think of the possibilities in terms of the opportunities they can create for us as an outside back group.”
Whilst Hodge may say there are exciting possibilities given the talent in the Australian back line, he also has one wordto sum up the lack of attack in previous matches.
“It’s frustrating, that’s the word that sums it up,” Hodge said.
“We all know what we can produce on our day but consistency is what’s killing us at the moment, both within the game and game-to-game.”
One player eager to find his consistency will be winger Marika Koroibete, who made is starting debut for the Wallabies 12 months ago against the Springboks. Where he then went on to score a double.
“I played my first start here and since then I have been in the starting XV and playing more with the boys.
“It’s given me confidence, knowing each other’s game.
“The last couple of weeks have been tough but I’m going to play my best and do my best for the team.”
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KARMICHAEL HUNT INTERVIEW
Banished Queensland Red Karmichael Hunt sat down with Fox Sports Nick McArdle to talk about his road to recovery, his vices and the importance of mental health.
Hunt has been exiled from both Reds and the Wallabies after being arrested for drugs in December last year, after he had a break out year with the Reds that saw him earn 6 Wallaby caps.
“But it just manifested in self destructive behaviour which was binge drinking, which led to other things.
“One thing I’ve learnt over the last six months is I need to start speaking up and admitting when things aren’t OK for myself.
“I’m not perfect, I’ve made mistakes,” Hunt told McArdle
“I think the one thing, over the six months, that’s been pretty clear to me is that I’ve just lacked care for my mental health.
“Since a 17-year-old, the only way I’ve been able to deal with stress in my life is just to cop it on the chin and move forward.
“And it’s manifested in ways where it’s got me in trouble.
“Binge drinking, alcohol use like that brings nothing but bad and along the years, the trip to the AFL put myself on the bottom of the pile.
“For me, the one thing that I always ended up getting in trouble with was I just bottled everything up, tried to deal with it, protect my family as much as possible from how I was feeling.
“And that it’s OK not to be OK.”
Hunt has begun his road to redemption, joining fellow exile Quade Cooper at Souths in Brisbane, and now playing for Brisbane City in the NRC as his hopes his form will help earn him a spot in a Red and eventually Gold Jersey.
“My dream world would be to run out there with the Reds again and play some footy for the Wallabies again,” Hunt said.
“That’s my dream goal and I’m doing everything possible to put myself in that position for next year.
It will be a hard journey for Hunt; given Reds coach Brad Thorn has taken a hardliner stance against drug use. Hunt is still contracted with Queensland and RA until the end of 2019, but there has yet to be much interest from other clubs regarding the 31 year old.
The full interview was seen on Kick and Chase on Fox Sports.
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SKINNY WILL SKELTON
There have been many shots taken at the fitness levels of Australian Rugby plays, and now World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer has taken aim.
Dwyer draws attention to the massive weight loss and increase in form by Will Skelton, who is currently playing for Saracens in the English Premiership after leaving the Waratahs last season.
On the Fox Sports Rugby Podcast, Dwyer was astounded that players like, Skelton, Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua have found a new level to their game in England, not Australia.
“And I’ve never had it more clearly driven home to me than when I watched Saracens on the tele a week or so ago and I saw Will Skelton in the Saracens team.
“Now he doesn’t look anything like the Will Skelton that played out there.
“The commentary team said he’s lost 20kg and he’s playing at 130kg.
“He goes to England… we thought they were soft and you could always run them around and beat them.
“And all our players that go there come back better now.
“So that’s an indictment on us.
“If Will Skelton can be 130kg and look like a million dollars… he looks fantastic and I watch the Premiership on the tele and all the players look in fantastic physical condition.”
Fitness has been a major factor for the Wallabies over the last two seasons, especially after photos emerged of Wallabies players doing hill sprints with their mouths tapped shut (most likely to stop complaining more than restrict breathing) last year.
This year during the Bledisloe matches the Wallabies looked unfit, often walking back to position, and Dwyer believes this is unacceptable.
“You’re allowed to run or you’re allowed to stand still.
“If you think you should be somewhere else, then get there in a hurry.
“If you think you’re where you ought to be, stay there.
“Ten minutes into the second half against New Zealand in Sydney, I saw five players in a diameter of about 10-12 metres, a small part of the field, five players walking.
“So New Zealand had the ball, they had 15 attacking and we had 10 defending.
“I said this is totally and absolutely unsatisfactory.”
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