Thursday’s rugby news has positive injury news for the Brumbies and Tahs, Larkham lamenting a lack of patience towards Benji and a Bulls lock suspended.
[one_half last=”no”]
Brumbies reinforcements arrive
Wallabies inside centre Christian Lealiifano is set to reclaim his starting 12 jersey at the Brumbies for the first time since off-season ankle surgery, pushing Pat McCabe to the bench. The Brumbies would be keen to get the soon to be off-contract Lealiifano back on the field, with the star 12 being linked to French rugby and the Rebels.
Stephen Larkham’s side will also see the return of lock Sam Carter from knee ligament damage, replacing rookie Tom Staniforth, while veteran flanker Tom McVerry will earn his first Brumbies cap from the bench. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Beale and Palu probable inclusions
After yesterday’s scare, it now appears that Kurtley Beale is almost certain to start in Friday’s match against the Blues. The Waratahs playmaker completed the full 90 minute session after an ankle injury kept him out of Tuesday’s training. “He was looking good, looking quick and very elusive, so it’s good signs for us,” said five-eighth Bernard Foley.
The Tahs boast an unchanged starting lineup from the side which defeated the Bulls at Eden park, with the addition of Wycliff Palu, who will travel to Auckland as part of an extended bench. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
Larkham laments Benji move
Brumbies coach and legendary Wallabies five-eighth Stephen Larkham has said that Benji Marshall’s spell in union was mismanaged and the league star “just needed time” to transfer his talents to union. Larkham, who started his rugby career as a scrumhalf and then fullback, commented that the intensive role as a union flyhalf straight out of the gate was a significant obstacle.
“As a playmaker, you need a couple of years. You wouldn’t give him just six months to get his head around it,” he said, distinguishing the switch from that of successful converts Israel Folau and Joseph Tomane. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Van der Merwe given three weeks
Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe has been suspended for three weeks for punching Paddy Ryan in the 75th minute of the team’s loss to the Waratahs over the weekend. The SANZAR judicial hearing on Wednesday was heard by Adam Casselden, who placed van der Merwe’s action in the mid level offence range.
This was attributed to the fact that Ryan’s vulnerable position at the base of the collapsed scrum meant he could not protect himself. Due to the lock’s relatively clean disciplinary record, the usual five week entry point was reduced to three weeks.
[/one_half]
