Tuesday’s Rugby News has Mack the Mason’s reaction, Stephen Moore knowing a thing or two about the Brums, the Force fellas feeling funny, and a new coach for Gloucester.
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Mack the Mason
Mack Mason is feeling a bit here and there since receiving an “out of the blue” call-up on the weekend.
“It was definitely out of the blue,” Mason, who’s a QUEENSLANDER, told rugby.com.au.
“I was at club training that night, just watching and he called me and said ‘You’ll be playing this week’ and I was in shock and then nerves hit me, then the excitement, so it was just like waves of different emotions hit me.
“Running out there, my nerves started [chip] kicking in a bit.”
Mason, a Cairns boy (QUEENSLANDER!!) captained the 2014 Churchie team, who went the season undefeated.
“It’s a bit natural,” Mason said, when quizzed about the natural QUEENSLANDAAA poise he showed on the weekend.
“Growing up I was the eldest, so being the bossiest and always telling them what to do. At school, we had a really good school team and I was captain there.
“Just being captain in the younger grades really helps and keeps you composed and know what you have to do for the players around you.”
Mason also revealed that Folau, a fellow QUEENSLANDAaAaAa!!! (by way of Minto), Dave Horwitz and Andrew Kellaway helped him settle in.
“First half, I was a bit rusty, I probably just had to get my feet, find my feet get into the game, then second half I felt like I really belonged out there,” he said.
“It’s probably a credit to the players outside me helping me, telling me what to do, give it to them early or just play them up and you got guys like Israel Folau outside you, you can’t have a much better centre pairing than Israel Folau and Dave Horwitz.” Um, yes you could Mack – you could TWO Queenslanders outside you.
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The Moore You Know
Stephen Moore (who’s a QUEE-) reckons he has the inside scoop on how to beat the Brumbies, after playing there for the past couple of year. Um, they like rolling mauls?
“Winning games in the Australian Conference is critical when the standings are so tight,” Moore said, winking to the Courier Mail.
“I’ve been on the other side of it for seven seasons as a Brumbies player so I know how much they like playing at home and how important the local derbies are to them.”
“When they’ve won nine or so derbies in a row it shows how well planned they are for them,” Moore continued, tapping his nose.
“We have to dig in and go there with the same attitude and planning.”
Because he used to play at the Brumbies, the match on Satdi night will take on extra meaning for Moore.
“It takes me back to (2009) when I played my old Reds teammates in my first-season as a Brumby. I will be playing against mates and guys I respect like Scott Fardy, Benny Alexander and Sam Carter and we’ll all be striving hard for that win,’ Moore squeaked.
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Force Feeling Funny
Justin Chadwick, who ISN”T a part of the East Coast media Elite (they exist???), has dropped a bombshell – the Western Force players are being mentally affected by talk of a cut.
“Last week was probably the first time where you could see it was affecting a few of the boys,” Dane Haylett-Petty told the West Australian.
“It was the first time the pressure really came on the Force. It definitely influences a few of the boys. But everyone handled it quite well.”
“The tough thing is each week there’s been a new report of something that’s being leaked. Two weeks before it was the Rebels and the Brumbies and then last week it was the Force.
“Things are just popping up because there’s all this uncertainty surrounding it. At the moment we can’t really count on any information that’s coming out. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”
In case the Force don’t get axed, DHP reckons the Force can build something.
We’re definitely building something,” Haylett-Petty said. “We know just how talented the squad is and how much more depth we’ve had than any other year.
“A lot of the starting guys on the weekend have only got a handful of caps and they’re already performing. It’s exciting times, and definitely an exciting future ahead (if the Force survive).”
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Ackermann @ Gloucester
It’s a bit hard to put a positive spin on a bloke losing a job, but Laurie Fisher’s resignation from Gloucester now has two benefits: number one is that Laurie’s back home right when we need a good Aussie coach, and number two is that South Africa’s best coach is going to take up the hot seat.
Gloucester have announced that Lions chief, Johan Ackermann, is going to be their head coach from next season.
Gloucester’s Director of Rugby David Humphreys said this:
“We’re all delighted that Johan has agreed to become the next Head Coach of Gloucester Rugby. He is one of the top coaching talents in World Rugby, and it’s a significant coup for the club to recruit someone of his calibre.
“When we first spoke to Johan, we were struck by the enthusiasm and energy he displayed to take up the challenge at Gloucester but, once we had met with him, we knew he was the person we wanted to take the club forward.
“We were particularly impressed by his proven ability to take a team that has under-performed, and turned them into Championship contenders. Their year on year progression has been impressive and they are continuing that upward trend this season.
“The way that the Lions play in Super Rugby under his leadership has attracted many admirers around the world, as they have managed to create a winning brand but are also capable of playing an attractive style of rugby.”
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