Tuesday’s rugby news has Quade Cooper going back to the Reds, Reece Hodge going the distance, injuries to the Springboks and Beauden Barrett signs with New Zealand rugby.
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Cooper to Reds
Quade Cooper is set to be unveiled as the latest Queensland Reds signing by Wednesday.
Cooper left the Queensland Reds at the end of 2015 and played for French club Toulon as well as some Australian Sevens.
Cooper is expected to have signed a three year deal with the Reds.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has said this week that the Cooper-Foley combination is worth sticking with.
“The two playmakers were trying to work off bits and pieces when they did get the ball so they didn’t really have too much of a chance,” Cheika said.
“We’ll be persevering to build the combination up and work with that.”
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Hodge to go Distance
Latest Wallaby debutant Reece Hodge says he needs to improve his accuracy for his long range kicks.
Hodge was able to kick a penalty from inside the Wallabies own half but also missed one.
“It’s good to get a kick over but obviously we lost the game so I’m pretty disappointed in the scheme of things but I guess take the good with the bad,” he said.
“I’ve practised long range [kicking] in training, I guess that’s one of the strings to my bow so I’ll keep working on that and the more I can get consistent from that range [the better].
“Obviously I got one but also missed one, which let them off the hook a bit, so I was pretty disappointed in that.
“Just [need to] keep working on the consistency.”
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Springbok Injuries
The Springboks have suffered an injury blow with winger Ruan Combrinck likely to miss the rest of the Rugby Championship with a fractured fibula.
A South African spokesperson said Combrinck could be out until mid October.
Springboks flyhalf Elton Jantjies is also in doubt with a groin injury. He will have it scanned and assessed upon the team’s return to South Africa.
With South African flyhalves Patrick Lambie and Handre Pollard out due to injury, the Springboks may start veteran flyhalf Morne Steyn to play the Wallabies in Brisbane.
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Barrett Re-signs
All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett has re-signed with the Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby until the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
“I love playing for the All Blacks and representing my country in the black jersey and I’m loving my footy at the moment,” Barrett said.
“The All Blacks are an incredibly special team to be part of and I’m looking forward to playing my role and adding my small part to the legacy over the next few years.
“As well, with the Hurricanes we’ve built a great culture at the club and it’s an exciting time to be involved with a great bunch of guys and a quality coaching staff.
“Next year I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to help build on our success this year.
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