Tuesday’s rugby news has the Waratahs preparing for the Western Force, Women’s Sevens finish third in Canada, RUPA boss happy with doctors judgement on Folau and Rene Ranger out for the season.
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Tahs Ready for Force
The Waratahs are already looking to the Western Force this week in a hope to get their season back on track.
The Force have been a bogey team for the Waratahs in recent years winning all three of their last encounters.
Waratahs assistant coach Chris Malone said that the Waratahs are preparing for a tough battle at the breakdown.
“It’s clear some of the patterns that have come out of the last few times they’ve played us, first and foremost we’ve got to be good around holding our own ball,” he said.
“They’re very good on the ground, they’ve got some great guys over the ball, so you’ve got to have a good balance there between trying to play but also not crucifying yourself in the wrong parts of the field.
“They’ve got a good recent history against us so it’s going to be another tough game in Perth.”
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Women’s Sevens Finish 3rd
The Australian Women’s Sevens team has finished third at the Canada Sevens.
The team defeated Spain 28-0 in the Cup quarter final and were defeated by England 15-5 in the semi final before defeating France 19-12 in the third place play off.
Head coach Tim Walsh was pleased with a number of individual performances.
“I was pleased with a few players that stood up over the weekend but the England game was one I really think we should have won. We created enough opportunities.
“I thought Chloe Dalton was outstanding over the weekend and was a player that applied herself really well. We talked to her about the areas we think she needs to improve, and like a student, has gone away and come back even better. Chloe showed physicality, good speed and her kicking technique and accuracy continues to improve.
“Dom du Toit was another I felt made good strides forward but I have full confidence in the entire playing group we have.”
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Folau was ok to Play
Rugby Union Players’ Association chief executive Ross Xenos was satisfied with the judgement of doctors to allow Israel Folau return to the field after suffering a nasty head knock against the Brumbies.
Folau appeared to have been knocked out cold within the first minute of the match after a head clash with Brumbies number eight Jordan Smiler.
According to World Rugby, if Folau lost consciousness at any point then he should not have returned to the field.
“If you’ve lost consciousness, then that’s enough for the match day doctor to say the probability of you being concussed was really high, therefore we’re not going to let you go back out,” Xenos said.
“In the absence of any other information, we’ve got to put our faith in the medical experts to look after players as best as they possibly can. It would appear all the right protocols and processes were followed and if the medical assessment was that he was not concussed and cleared to go back out to play, we have faith in that.”
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Ranger’s Season Over
Blues centre Rene Ranger has been ruled out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL in the Blues 23-18 win over the Sharks.
A spokesperson for the Blues confirmed it was a season ending injury.
Last week the Blues lost blake Gibson due to a fractured hand which will see him unavailable until June.
The Blues are also expecting to lose winger Rieko Ioane as he is set to join the New Zealand Sevens program.
The Blues are currently the last placed team in New Zealand and sit 11th on the ladder.
