Tuesday’s Rugby News has some back three injury dramas, a captaincy conundrum, refs actually admitting they were wrong and an English centre injured.
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Injury bug hits back three
Wallaby fullback Jesse Mogg will undergo season-ending reconstructive surgery on Thursday. Mogg has been battling a lingering shoulder injury which sidelined him for three weeks during the the Super Rugby season. After starting the opening two matches of the Rugby Championship, the 24-year-old was benched after some shaky performances in favour of Israel Folau.
To make matters worse, winger Nick Cummins is in doubt for the upcoming Wallaby tour after breaking his hand in their victory over the Pumas. While the injury is serious, Cummins has two weeks to recover before the Wallabies’ game in South Africa. These knocks to the back three could signal a call-up for Brumbies winger Joe Tomane, who has been overlooked for recent matches despite starting during the Lions series. [/one_half]
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Dwyer’s view
Former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer has called on Australian selectors to retain Ben Mowen as captain over the returning James Horwill for the upcoming two week tour of Argentina and South Africa. ‘I don’t think James is as effective a leader as Ben. He doesn’t exude that quiet authority or respect for the players and the referee that Mowen exudes,’ said Dwyer. Horwill has been the first choice Wallabies captain when fit since the 2011 Tri Nations decider.
Dwyer also asserted that Will Genia must stay on the bench, praising White’s performance during the Pumas victory. He went on to describe the Brumbies’ halfback as an essential starter for the game against the Springnoks. ‘If Will had played the way he has been playing, we wouldn’t have won,’ Dwyer said, adding, ‘White was probably the person most responsible for our victory.’ [/one_half]
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Bismark’s red stricken from record
Bismark du Plessis has had the controversial red card removed from his disciplinary record by judicial officer Terry Wills. The original decision to give the Boks hooker a yellow card for a hit on Dan Carter was seen as wrong, with Wills viewing the tackle as well within the laws of the game. Although du Plessis still has the second yellow card in his record for the remainder of the Rugby Championship, he will be available for South Africa’s final matches.
Many onlookers believed Ma’a Nonu was extremely lucky to escape a judicial hearing for his late shoulder charge on Jean de Villiers. ‘Unfortunately it’s something he does regularly,’ noted former All Black Justin Marshall, while English journalist Steve James asserted, ‘It was a tackle much, much worse than that of Du Plessis.’ [/one_half]
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Barritt sidelined in heated Aviva match
English centre Brad Barrit will be kept out of action until Christmas after undergoing corrective surgery on damaged foot ligaments. The Saracens ace was injured during the side’s 44-12 victory over Gloucester. ‘It’s really unfortunate for Brad because he’s been outstanding for us over the last four seasons,’ Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said.
The game also saw the spectacular sending off of Gloucester prop Nick Wood after just 73 seconds for stamping on Jacques Burger. ‘We’ll look at the video and take it from there. The red card, as it was seen by the referee, was fair,’ said Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Davies . Wood apologised to his teammates after receiving the second fastest red card in the league’s history, which severely hindered his side for the rest of the match. [/one_half]
