Tuesday’s rugby news has a new halves combination floated, more Wallabies brought in, the Springboks facing court action and Japan’s RWC under threat.
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Mehrtens backs Foley
Former All-Blacks playmaker Andrew Mehrtens has come out in support of Bernard Foley’s claim to the Wallabies number 10 jersey, asserting Foley is the most well-rounded fly-half available and that much of the uncertainty at the position is due to coach Michael Cheika not wanting to appear biased in favour of his Waratahs players.
Mehrtens, a former kicking coach at the Waratahs, also said that Foley would be best complimented by a combination with Matt Giteau at inside centre. The former All-Black emphasized Giteau’s skills in organizing the Australian attack as well as Matt Toomua’s vulnerability as he tends to fly out of the defensive line.
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Wallabies bring in cavalry
Taqele Naiyaravoro, Sam Carter and James Hanson are joining the Wallabies in the United States as part of a 34-man squad for Sunday’s Test against the USA in Chicago. All three players were involved in last week’s camp in Sydney and may get some game time in the one-off Test against the US Eagles in Chicago on Saturday.
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Springboks face legal battle
The two-time champion Springboks could sensationally be banned from participating at the Rugby World Cup, should a court action in South Africa succeed this week. The Agency for New Agenda party is taking the SARU to court in Pretoria, arguing that the government’s policy on transformation was not met with the mostly white Springboks’ squad.
“The action is a public duty to defend our constitution and to consign to the rubbish bin of history all vestiges and remnants of racial bigotry,” the ANA president said. Last week, Meyer said he had met requirements by naming nine players of colour, achieving the minimum quota of 30%, making the legal action unlikely.
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More worries for Japan
Former ARU chief John O’Neill fears World Rugby’s “ultimatum” to Japan to submit a new road map for the 2019 World Cup could be a precursor to stripping the tournament from the Asian nation. Last month Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered plans for Tokyo’s National Stadium re-drawn, robbing the tournament of its key venue.
“The strategic imperative is blindingly obvious that if World Rugby wants to live up to its objective of being a truly world game, then every effort and every ounce of energy must be directed into ensuring Japan does host 2019,” O’Neill said. World Rugby has demanded Japan submit a new venues plan and an updated budget by September.
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