Thursday’s rugby news has a French setback, Palu calling for Australian aggression, another forced retirement due to concussion and a bit of All Blacks complacency.
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French captain sidelined
In a crushing blow for the French team ahead of Saturday’s opening Test against Australia, captain Thierry Dusautoir has been ruled out with injury. Dusautoir is suffering a bicep issue, with coach Philippe Saint-Andre saying, “We preferred to give him another week to fully recover because we need players at 100 per cent.”
As a result, Montpellier’s 34-year-old prop Nicolas Mas has been named captain, while South African-born Bernard Le Roux replaces Dusautoir in the back row. The French coach made a few other surprising changes to his starting line-up, with Frederic Michalak returning to fly-half and the powerful Louis Picamoles relegated to the bench for replacement number 8 Damien Chouly. [/one_half]
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Palu ready for forward battle
Australian number 8 Wycliff Palu believes that the key to victory on Saturday is for the Wallaby forwards to impose themselves on the French pack, displaying aggression conspicuously absent during the 33-6 loss suffered when Palu last faced France in the the spring tour of 2012. “We got dusted up … they weren’t going too well and then they came out bashed us a bit,” Palu said. “We should be up for this one.”
Palu also expressed his surprise at being chosen in the starting line-up ahead of in-form Force back-rower Ben McCalman. But fellow Waratah Bernard Foley believes that Palu’s physicality will be key, saying, “Just to have him [there] is an enormous, uplifting prospect.” [/one_half]
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Concussion debate reignited
The dangerous effects of concussion have once again been highlighted as former Chiefs co-captain Craig Clarke has been forced to retire. Clarke, 30, has not played since he suffered his 10th concussion in 22 months in a Heineken Cup loss to Saracens in January.
Clarke joined Connacht on a three-year deal after leading the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013. While Clarke expressed dissapointment that he was never able to play for the All-Blacks, Connacht team manager Tim Allnutt emphasised the need for caution when it comes to concussion, saying, “As is the case with every player, the priority is his health and we’re thankful that every precaution has been taken here.” [/one_half]
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Retallick blanks on English team
Despite the All-Blacks emphasising the challenge ahead, lock Brodie Retallick failed to name a single member of England’s 23-man team when interviewed yesterday. When prompted, the 23-year-old Chiefs giant hesitated, before offering: “Michael Laws.” Retallick obviously meant Courtney Lawes, a highly regarded Northampton lock who will also not be playing on Saturday.
THe English team will field an inexperienced and unproven lineup, missing many of their big-name players including Lawes, Dylan Hartley, Owen Farrell, Chris Ashton, Ben Foden, Billy Vunipola and Tom Wood. All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu was a bit more on the ball when asked, saying that he looked forward to a tough battle against strong English midfielder Manu Tuilagi. [/one_half]
