Tuesday’s rugby news has the Waratahs rebuilding, David Pocock on track to return, Brumbies to lift for Highlanders game and Crusaders players injured.
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Tahs Rebuilding
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson is confident the Waratahs are heading in the right direction after blooding several new players in 2016.
“If we look at next year’s team, it is going to be youthful and those players are going to benefit from this year: Tom Robertson, Ned Hanigan, Jack Dempsey, Jed Holloway, Andrew Kellaway, David Horwitz, Jim Stewart,” Gibson said.
“Every team has to plan for those departures. NSW was a very stable team form 2014-15, there was perhaps four people leave from that time. Last year we lost 14 and this year we may lose close to (10). Those high number transitions have occurred and we have done well to usher in the new, expose them and we will go through a period now for the next 2-3 years where the team will be very stable.
“New Zealand teams have demonstrated they are prepared to take risks on young guys, and get them out there. They reap the rewards of that. Look at the Chiefs, the Blues, the Hurricanes, a lot of those guys who are performing well are in their first seasons.
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Pocock on Track
Brumbies flanker David Pocock is on track to make a return for the Brumbies in the finals after fracturing his cheekbone in the June test series against England.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said both David Pocock and Jordon Smiler were on track to be available for selection this weekend.
“It depends when we can get (a clearance) from the doctor. There is a time period from the initial injury that we had to wait for. Depending on when that is, we will make a decision,” Larkham said.
“He trained with us in the week and trained week, and to did Joran Smiler. They have to get cleared by the doctor but it looks like they’re on track to be in contention to be selected.”
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Brumbies to Lift
Brumbies backrower Scott Fardy has said that the Brumbies will lift when they face the Highlanders at home this weekend.
“We are very excited,” Fardy said.
“It’s the fourth year in a row we get to play in the finals and we are looking to what should be a good few weeks, but first and foremost we are looking forward to Friday night and getting a big crowd at Canberra Stadium.
“It’s huge for us. Every time we get a big crowd we get a result. You see the players lift.”
“It’s a one-off thing, a good opportunity for everyone in Canberra to come out and have a look at what we do and hopefully see off a few guys who have played a lot of games here.”
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Crusaders Injured
Crusaders test pair Nemani Nadolo and Joe Moody will not play against the Lions in Johannesburg after succumbing to injury.
Nadolo pulled his hamstring last week against the Hurricanes whilst Moody remains on the sidelines with nerve damage in his neck having missed the two last games as well.
Sam Whitelock (illness) and Andy Ellis (calf) will travel to South Africa despite missing the match against the Hurricanes.
Winger Johnny McNicholl will also travel with the team despite leaving the field with a dislocated finger.
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