Tuesday’s top rugby news has Benji finally joining the Blues, McKenzie encouraging attacking rugby, Rathbone criticizing the Brumbies style and some big name signings.
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Benji signing imminent
Benji Marshall will join the Auckland Blues either today or Wednesday. The former tigers playmaker met on Monday night with his manager Martin Tauber, who has effectively ruled out the Waratahs, Rebels, French and Japanese rugby clubs. Marshall has now set his sights on an All Blacks jersey in time for the 2015 World Cup.
Blues coach John Kirwan saw the 28 year old as an an option at five-eighth, inside centre or fullback. While All Blacks coach Steve Hansen remained diplomatic about Marshall’s place in national considerations, he did comment, ‘He’s a world-class rugby league player and a world-class athlete and, by all accounts, listening to the media and listening to him talk, he seems to be a very good character.’ [/one_half]
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McKenzie wants running rugby
Ewen McKenzie has promised to encourage his players to express themselves on the pitch and win matches the ‘Australian way,’ through skill rather than structure. ‘If players see an opportunity, you want them to take it. You don’t want to shut that down and just kick the corners and it’s 0-0,’ McKenzie said yesterday. A barometer of McKenzie’s plans will be his selection at five-eighth. Although Cooper is widely tipped to return to Wallaby gold, Matt Toomau’s impressive finals run may force the coach’s hand.
McKenzie also finalised his coaching staff on Monday, appointing Queensland Reds colleague Jim McKay as attack coach, while defence coach Nick Scrivener and set piece coach Andrew Blades will continue in Link’s Wallabies set-up. [/one_half]
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Rathbone condemns boring Brumbies
Brumbies winger Clyde Rathbone has lamented his side’s cautious style, saying it was ‘poetic justice’ that the more attacking Chiefs side were crowned Super Rugby champions. He went on to say that a victory by the Brumbies would not be ‘healthy for the game’ because of their refusal to play football, especially in the last 15 minutes.
In response, rugby’s governing body must do more to encourage try-scoring rugby, dis-incentivising teams from trying to ‘strangle’ their way to the top. The veteran winger saw that White was merely taking the smartest option with the current rules, adding, ‘The rules allow teams to play that way, we need to force teams to have to play more… We’re in the entertainment industry, we’ve got to score tries.’ [/one_half]
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Faletau re-signs
Toby Faletau has re-committed to the Newport Gwent Dragons and Welsh rugby for another two years, despite reports of ‘fierce competition’ from other European clubs. Faletau’s deal extends until the 2016 World Cup, bucking a trend that saw Jamie Roberts, Dan Lydiate and George North all leave Welsh rugby in recent weeks.
In other signing news, Bulls and Springboks star Jacques Potgieter has signed for the Waratahs. The massive flanker will complete a six-month Japanese Rugby stint before joining the Tahs for their 2014 and 2015 seasons. This tweet comes from Potgiester’s agent:
I can confirm that @JacquePotgieter has signed a 2yr contract with @NSWWaratahs to play 2014 & 2015 #Super15 @InTouchSports @BlueBullsRugby
— James Adams (@James_Adams007) August 5, 2013
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