Tuesday’s Rugby News has the two stooges getting up to mischief, Tongan Thor teary at his debut,World Rugby awards and Will Genia saying something or other.
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To BCC or not to BCC
Everyone had suspicions that the ARU were a club of bungling boys who may or may not have made a decision and possibly drawn out that decision in the most depressing and distressing way, but now we have proof that they are actually a club of bungling boys who made a decision that was drawn out in the most depressing and distressing way.
News has emerged that the ARU was emailin’ the Rebels about doing something or other TWO MONTHS before announcing the decision to axe the Force. If you cast your minds back, the ARU said the 48-72 hour thing, then didn’t say anything 3 days later, and then gave the impression that it was anyone other than the Force who they were gonna cut.
“A confidential email from chief executive Bill Pulver shows he was discussing the deal to transfer the Rebels licence from businessman Andrew Cox to the Victorian Rugby Union in June this year,” writes the West Australian, a Western Australian newspaper from Western Australia.
“The email, leaked to Seven West Media, was sent from Pulver to Cox and other RA management. Among key terms was that (foundation Rebels directors) Lyndsey Cattermole and Bob Dalziel would repay creditors to ensure the club was “debt-free”.
“That allowed the “put option”, used to transfer the licence from Cox’s Imperium Group to the VRU on August 4 when they bought 11,625,000 shares for $1.
“[The ARU] claimed it was blindsided when news of the sale leaked and said it had to approve any transfer or sale of ownership.
“Pulver stated in the June 28 email that another term of the deal was that: “Imperium exercises the put option to the VRU such that the VRU becomes the sole shareholder of the Rebels.””
But ah! The catch here is that Pulver has previously said he ain’t heard of no email, telling the Senate inquiry that the Force and Rebels were “live right until the final decision.”
Meanwhile, Cameron Clyne also told the inquiry that, “I have said there was a very real option that both teams were being considered right through until August.”
Oooh ah.
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Tongan Thor Ragnaruck
Taniela Tupou has been buzzing with the lads ever since he got his first Wallabies cap in what is hopefully his worst game as Wallaby.
The Tongan Thor – who would be the Australian Thor if not for copyright reasons – only learnt the words to the Australian anthem on the day before having to belt it out at Murrayfield. When signing the anthem, it started raining of his face, presumably for the Tongan Thunderstorm he had summoned.
It was funny this morning I was trying to learn the anthem before we sang it,” he told rugby.com.au.
“When I sang it I was just looking to the sky thinking (about) my family, mum, my sisters.
“I was crying when singing the anthem because I was thinking of my family and everyone that had helped me get to this point. I’m sorry I didn’t get the win for them.”
The Tongan Thor was himself summoned onto the pitch, after Sekope Kepu had decided to elbow a bloke in the face just before half-time. However, the next scrum didn’t come until the 53rd minute, when the Tupou was sent on.
“When Keps got the red card and Cheika said ‘Nela you’re’ on I can’t explain the feeling when I ran on,” he said.
“This is something I’ll remember forever. It’s so special and I’m so grateful for this opportunity from Australia.
“It’s a lot quicker…if you knock off for one second , you miss it. You’ve got to be on the whole time.”
“For me as a young boy of only 21 as a front rower it’s sort of 25 when you start your international career” he continued.
“I came on tour not expecting anything I was obviously lucky enough to get a chance…I promise to work hard and come back next year a better player.”
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Awards Etc
World Rugby had its awards do in Monaco – Monaco! – for some reason, and some people won awards and some didn’t.
Beauden Barrett beat Israel Folau, Rieko Ioane, Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje for Men’s Player of the Year, while fellow Kiwi Portia Woodman scooped up Women’s Player of the Year. Woodman’s Black Ferns won Team of the Year.
“I wanted to be better than I was last year, and I still feel I have plenty more to go,” Barrett snored in his sleep, according to ESPN. “[I’m] just one player amongst a great team. I get a lot of credit for a lot of things so I have to thank them.”
Meanwhile, Eddie Jones beat out Warren Gatland, Steve Hansen and Daryl Gibson for World Coach of the Year.
“I feel a bit embarrassed because we’re not the No. 1 team in the world.” Jones said. “Steve Hansen should be up here but someone has judged it another way.” Yep, righto.
Rieko Ioane one Breakthrough of the Year award, Joaquin Tuculet won Try of the Year, Joy Neville won Referee of the Year (#Justice4Gus), Perry Baker (the really fast fella) won Men’s 7s POTY, Michaela Blyde won Women’s 7s POTY, and the IRPA Special Merit Award went to England’s Rachael Burford and drumroll….New Zealand’s Richie McCaw!
Unfortunately, there was no award for Gutbusting Run of the Year (winner: Sean McMahon), Service to Rugby Lids (Tatafu Polota-Nau), Bum of the Year (Culum Retallick), nor Podcast of the Year (the Eggchasers).
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Genia Saying Something
Will Genia is keeping his eye on the big things, which makes sense that none of the small things were done right in the Scotland game. Passing to chest, passing backwards, making tackles, not shoulder charging peoples faces, that sort of thing.
“Honestly, we’ve made significant strides as a team, in terms of the culture of the group, in terms of how we want to play and continue to build on that self-belief moving forward,” Genia said, via rugby.com.au.
“While it was really disappointing, I don’t think we can let it overshadow all the significant gains we’ve made throughout the year.”
“On a personal point, I know I can speak for the rest of the team in saying that we were just really disappointed we couldn’t do the job for Steve and he spoke in the change room, which is quite special,” he added.
After passing anywhere but people’s chests on Saturday, Genia muttered something about belief.
“In the past, we’ve gone out there hoping we can crack teams and hoping that things come off but I think we have a genuine belief and understanding in how we want to play,” he said.
“Just continuing to build on that winning mindset, wanting to win every single moment and just that no excuses mentality.
“You really have to live those, particularly when it gets tough out in the field, and after the game as well.
“I could stand here and come up with a lot of excuses as to why we didn’t get the result (against Scotland) but they won because they played very well and they put us under a great deal of pressure and were able to capitalise on it.”
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