Tuesday’s Rugby News has the Wallaby XV squad, new rule changes, James O’Connor talking about himself and the 2017 Brumbies Squad.
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Wallaby XV
The squad for the Wallaby XV/Australia A game against the French Barbarians in Bordeaux has been announced, with some blasts from the past being included.
Peter Kimlin (Grenoble), Mark Gerrard (Toyota Industries Shuttles) and Ben Mowen (Pau) have all been included in the 19-man selection is mostly made of up of fringe Wallabies. Nathan Charles (Clermont, formerly of Western Force), David Lolohea (Western Sydney Rams), Sef Fa’agase and Marika Koroibete (Rebels) are also in the mix.
Otherwise, the Wallaby XV is made up of players on the European tour who haven’t been called up to the Ireland squad and Australians from the Barbarians squad (with a few exceptions).
Mowen told rugby.com.au he’s excited to join the Wallabies, even if it’s a Wannabe Wallabies squad. “We all move on for different reasons but that love of Australian rugby never leaves us and this is one of those special times where for a brief moment we get to put on an Aussie jersey and play with that same spirit again,” he said.
The team will be coached by Scott Wisemantle (Montpellier assistant), Morgan Turunui (Rebels assistant), Chris Whitaker (Montauben assistant) and Justin Harisson (former Narbonne head coach), and the game will be streamed live on rugby.com.au on Friday the 25th at 6.45am AEDT.
Squad: Sam Carter, Nathan Charles, Jack Dempsey, Sef Fa’agase, Nick Frisby, Mark Gerrard, Andrew Kellaway, Peter Kimlin, Marika Koroibete, Jono Lance, David Lolohea, Ben Mowen, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Andrew Ready, Izaia Perese, Tom Robertson, Paddy Ryan, Will Skelton, Nic Stirzaker.
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Law Changes
Over the weekend, World Rugby introduced a few changes to the large Book of Rugby Facts. At the moment, these laws are at the trial stage and will begin to be tested next season.
Most of the laws are just attempts at tidying up the existing laws, or codifying laws that exist in practice. For instance, “a player who is attempting to bring the ball under control is deemed to be in possession of the ball” is a definition of possession that is more or less de facto anyway.
For that law change in particular, World Rugby writes, “This brings into law something that is already applied in practice. It means that a player “juggling” the ball does not have to be in contact with it at the exact moment of touching the touchline or the ground beyond it for the ball to be deemed to be in touch. This makes it easier for the match officials to adjudicate.”
There are a few more changes, such as changes to uncontested scrums – 3.6 (Uncontested Scrums) Add (h) Uncontested scrums as a result of a sending off, temporary suspension or injury must be played with eight players per side – which is being introduced to discourage the tactical appeal of an uncontested scrums.
Another change is changing penalty tries to an automatic 7 points, with no need for a conversion. All the changes can be checked out over here.
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JOC Lingering
James O’Connor had a chat with the SMH late last week, telling them to tell the world that he wants to have another crack at the Wallabies. O’Connor, who was at the Force, then the Rebels, then went overseas, then came back to the Reds, is now playing for Toulon.
“I want to be playing for the Wallabies,” says O’Connor. “I watch all the games and speaking to all the guys, it’s the pinnacle of rugby. It’s bittersweet as well because you want to be out there playing. For now, it is pretty tough. That burning desire is there to pull on that jersey again.”
The main thrust of the interview is O’Connor’s determination to right previous wrongs. “There’s definitely times I look back and I’m like, ‘Geez I wish I could have seen it from my perspective now’,” O’Connor said.
“My mindset now, I wish I could look back and make some other decisions. In terms of [the incidents] away from rugby, if you can’t laugh at yourself then what can you do? You can’t get down in the dumps and think what could have been. It’s not the way to live.
“You get older, your mentality changes, your goals in life change. You’re not just living for the weekend, you’re living to experience life.”
Currently visiting Mum and Dad on the Gold Coast, on the mend after injury his next playing for Toulon, O’Connor is wistful and also weighing up his options as his contract will expire soon.
“It’s just good to be able to sit back and give me some good motivation,” O’Connor said. “I started when I was 17. I’m nine years a professional now, so I’m getting old. I’m old but I’m young. Hopefully the body can take it to the next level too. I’m not sure exactly how long I’ll stay [at Toulon] or where I’ll go or what those sort of questions are but I think it definitely was the right move for me at the time with where I was.”
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Brumbies Squad
The Brumbies have announced their squad for the 2017 season, with Wallabies assistant Stephen Larkham set to stay at the helm.
The notable changes are the introduction of Wallaby Kyle Godwin, sevens star Tom Cusack and the Fainga’a twins, and the loss of David Pocock (sabbatical), Stephen Moore (Reds) and Joe Tomane (Montpellier). There’s also concern at flyhalf, after Matt Toomua left for England and Christian Leali’ifano still sick.
Interim CEO Phil Thomsom told rugby.com.au that “the coaching staff have their eye on a number of potential candidates for the upcoming season. Those players will get their opportunities to impress the coaches during pre-season.”
On a brighter note, this squad of 37 will include 9 current Wallabies and 1 current Puma.
2017 Brumbies Squad:
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Ben Alexander, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Nic Mayhew, Scott Sio, Faalelei Sione, Robbie Abel, Saia Fainga’a, Josh Mann-Rea, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Blake Enever, Tom Staniforth, Chris Alcock, Jarrad Butler, Tom Cusack, Lolo Fakaosilea, Scott Fardy, Ben Hyne, Jordan Smiler, Rob Valetini
Backs: Tomás Cubelli, Ryan Lonergan, Joe Powell, Anthony Fainga’a, Kyle Godwin, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Nick Jooste, Christian Lealiifano, Nigel Ah Wong, James Dargaville, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, Henry Speight, Lausii Taliauli, Tom Banks, Aidan Toua
Coach: Stephen Larkham
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