Tuesday’s rugby news has Folau happy to play anywhere, Goru not going overseas, Hooper’s workload questioned and England impressive.
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Folau staying at 15
The much-debated Waratahs outside centre battle is set to be won by Rob Horne, with Kurtley Beale at 12. Folau has only just returned from an ankle injury in the World Cup and will play his first match since the World Cup final when NSW take on defending champions the Highlanders in a trial on Friday at Queenstown.
“At this stage I haven’t really spoken in-depth to Daryl positional wise, so I think at this stage No.15 is the most I’m most comfortable with,” Folau said. “If I get that chance to have a go at No.13 I’ll be very excited about taking that opportunity, but at this stage I’m just worried about making sure my ankle is right.”
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Reds talk down Goru rumours
The Reds have said there was no truth in French reports that their star Japanese recruit Ayumu Goromaru will join European champions Toulon next season. France’s Canal Plus on Sunday said fullback Goromaru, who rose to fame during last year’s World Cup, had signed a one-year deal with the option of a second year with the lavish-spending French outfit.
He is set to make his Super Rugby debut in just under two weeks’ time with the Reds. French reports last week named him as world rugby’s best paid player, saying he was earning 200,000 euros per month, mostly from sponsorships and endorsements.
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Hooper’s workload concern
Michael Hooper has emphasised that he will have to reassess his workload to make sure that he does not burn out, now that there is chance that both David Pocock and Liam Gill will not be playing in Australia next year. Hooper’s only real challenger for the number 7 jersey will now be Sean McMahon, with the depth at the position decimated.
Hooper, who has played more minutes of Super Rugby and international rugby than any other player in the past three years, said: “Workload is a consideration of every player these days, there’s a lot a footy to be played so you need to be smart about how you stay on the field.”
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England defeat Italy
England centre Jonathan Joseph has run in an impressive hat-trick in a pitiless 40-9 Six Nations victory over Italy that took England top of the Six Nations standings after back-to-back away wins. “I was pleased by the way we put them away,” head coach Eddie Jones said.
“We could easily have scored 60 points but by the end we were quite direct. I thought we were quite brutal in the second half.” England join France on four points from two wins and return to action in two weeks at home to Ireland, while Italy host Scotland in what already looks likely to be the usual wooden spoon decider.
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