Tuesday’s rugby news has the Wallabies ready for battle, the Boks taking it one game at a time, a Digby interview and some French squad changes.
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Wallabies ready for gruelling tour
The Wallabies have left for their arduous stretch of overseas matches, departing for South Africa yesterday, before heading to Argentina and New Zealand and a spring tour of Europe. During the tour, the core of the Australian group may be required to play eight consecutive overseas matches in the space of ten weekends.
As for Saturday’s match, Micheal Hooper has emphasised the importance of vastly improving the performance at the breakdown seen during the Wallabies’ 38-12 loss against the Springboks. ‘We will be flying into it, that’s the only way, I think. We have to out-enthuse these guys at the breakdown and in contact,’ Hooper said. While the specialist number 7 labelled the breakdown as a total team effort, he conceded that the Wallaby back row had been overpowered by a very physical Springboks opposition. [/one_half]
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Springboks focused on Cape Town Test
Meanwhile, Springbok boss Heyneke Meyer has reiterated that his team will not be looking past the Wallabies, despite their difficult position of trying to catch the competition-leading All Blacks. ‘We have to win this game to still give us a chance to be in the championship. I have told the players to focus on the basics and forget about the bonus point,’ Meyer said.
At the same time, the coach hopes to continue South Africa’s attacking style that has helped them become the leading point-scorers in this year’s tournament. ‘We will play positive, attack and hopefully score tries,’ Meyer added. The only injury doubts for the South African squad surround lock Flip van der Merwe (hamstring), centre JJ Englebrecht (quadriceps) and prop Guthro Steenkamp (AC joint), who all picked up their niggles during their most recent loss to New Zealand. [/one_half]
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Digby speaks out
Digby Ioane is attempting to set the record straight after his sudden departure from the Queensland Reds. The former Wallabies winger faced court over a pub scuffle he portrayed as a cheap attempt to extort $1 milllion from the star winger after a minor incident, greatly damaging Ioane’s reputation. At the same time, his Stade Francais deal was said to be a result of mismanagement from Reds chief executive Jim Carmichael. ‘There is no loyalty except for your mates beside you.To be honest it was not the Reds, there were just issues between me and Jim Carmichael,’ Ioane said.
Ioane’s departure could not have come at a worse time for Australian Rugby. With James O’Connor now on an imposed hiatus, and Nick Cummins and Jesse Mogg still injured, Waratahs winger Peter Bentham joins the squad which now features an even more inexperienced backline. [/one_half]
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French make squad changes
France have called up Stade Français flanker Antoine Burban and Castres forward Antonie Claassen to their training squad in preparation for their series of home games starting in November. France will play New Zealand in Paris (November 9) Tonga in Le Havre (November 16) and South Africa at the Stade de France (November 23). Toulouse duo Thierry Dusautoir (knee) and Louis Picamoles (hip) will be unavailable for the upcoming three-day training camp aimed at preparing the side for the end-of-year Tests.
The All Blacks will be at a distinct disadvantage due to the physical and mental toll of the Rugby Championship matches. Consequently, the All Blacks are trying to manage their training load, taking their preparations slowly in the defining two weeks of the tournament. The team will have no training whatsoever for their first two days in Argentina. [/one_half]
