Thursday’s rugby news has the ARU stepping up on concussion research, more concerns about retaining Aussie stars, the under-20s knocked out and the English team making changes .
[one_half last=”no”]
ARU address concussion issue
After the ARU took the positive step of appointing national concussion specialist Ryan Kohler as the Wallabies dedicated match-day concussion doctor, Ewen McKenzie has said that Australia should be “leading the way in what’s right and wrong” on the growing issue of head injuries. The ARU has also recently increased its in-game “head bin” protocol from five to 10 minutes, to meet IRB recommendations.
McKenzie said that players of his generation were “wonderfully naive” to the risks associated with rugby, adding that the ARU had reacted responsibly to the growing body of research surrounding contact sports and concussion. The issue has gained particular international attention in the wake of footage of Toulouse player Florian Fritz being urged back out to play after saggering off the field with a concussion. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
IRB won’t help us keep Izzy
While chief executive Brett Gosper has said that he sympathises with the plight of the ARU in its struggle to retain their superstars, the IRB will not help national bodies in their battle against cashed-up French clubs. Gosper said that the IRB is conscious of preventing an imbalance in world rugby but doesn’t believe that the threat of French clubs like Toulon have reached “Armageddon” proportions of the kind that would require assistance
“The IRB is not in a position to say, ‘you’re going to lose a marquee player – here’s a cheque’. “That’s just not how the IRB operates,” Gosper said. The only assistance that could be given is in the creation of a new compensation system at World Cup time to deal with market forces. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
Aussie u-20s miss out on semis
The Australian under-20s side have just missed out on qualifying for a semi-final spot at the junior rugby world championships. Australia opened the tournament with a 36-17 win against Argentina, but lost against England 38-24.
Australia than defeated Italy in their final pool game 29-3, but were eliminated by New Zealand on points differential, as the host nation crushed Scotland 54-7. This win gave New Zealand the final semi-final spot as the best runner-up across the three groups, with England, Ireland and South Africa each qualifying by finishing first in their pools. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
England bring in reinforcements
With 15 new players available from Premiership finalists Northampton Saints and Saracens, head coach Stuart Lancaster has made five changes to the starting line-up against New Zealand. Particular interest will centre on Manu Tuilagi’s shift to the right wing, where he will mark Julian Savea in what shapes as an explosive match-up. Tuilagi’s move paves the way for the Six Nations midfield pair of fit-again second five-eighth Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell.
As expected, Danny Care will re-form his halves partnership with Owen Farrell, who assumes the first-five duties from Freddie Burns. The other starting changes feature Tom Wood at blindside, in place of former Highlanders flanker James Haskell, who drops out of the squad, and Marland Yarde lines up on the left wing in place of Jonny May. [/one_half]
