Thursday’s rugby news has the Brumbies in a funding battle, Robinson giving props, some NZ encouragement and a massive hit from an overseas Wallaby.
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Brumbies in ACT battle
With the expansion of the GWS AFL team, the Brumbies have a fight on their hands to retain their current share of ACT government funding. The GWS Giants have a 10-year, $23 million deal with the government to play four home games per season, with ACT Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones emphasising that the Super Rugby franchise must work hard to justify a bigger slice of funding.
“I’d like to get more share, but I have to have a program that’s worthy of that,” he said. “To date, the Brumbies haven’t been worthy of that, but I’m trying to change that.” Jones did, however, address the difficulty of displacing the government’s effort to establish AFL in the region.
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Robinson ready for front-row battle
Waratahs loosehead Benn Robinson has emphasised the skills of Ben Franks ahead of the team’s clash with the Hurricanes this weekend. Robinson is five kilograms less than his opposing prop, saying of the Franks brothers, “Both are very physical, both big, both very strong,” adding of Ben, “He has been around a while, so technically his game is right on point.”
The 72 Test Wallaby said that the Tahs pack were off their game last week in their 32-18 loss to the Stormers. He also emphasised that while much is often made of individual battles, the best way to gain dominance in the scrum is for the Waratahs to collectively bind strongly.
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Fitzpatrick rates Wallabies for RWC
All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick has placed some faith behind the Wallabies, saying that improved depth and discipline under new coach Michael Cheika will make the Australian team strong contenders at this year’s Rugby World Cup. “They always seem to get it right at World Cup time, they’re always very competitive,” he said. “I think Cheika’s been good for them.”
The Wallabies have not been in the greatest of form though, with a lean end of year tour seeing them drop to sixth in the world rankings, while the team will also have to advance through the toughest pool of the competition, featuring higher seeded teams England and Wales.
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Kimlin delivers massive hit
Former Wallaby has absolutely demolished Welsh international Leigh Halfpenny in Toulon match this weekend against Grenoble. Halfpenny reportedly suffered a minor dislocation that left him with sprains.
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