Tuesday Rugby News sees More talk of XVs players going to Sevens, Player movements in All Blacks camp, Skelton unlikely to return and Jake Gordon re-signs.
[one_half last=”no”]
XVS INTO SEVENS
Aussie Mens Sevens Captain Lewis Holland has said his sides lack of results this year has opened the door for players from the fifteen a side game to try and join the squad a head of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Though Holland said this can be a good thing for two reasons. One to find success at the Olympics you need to have the best players available and two because it will create more competition for spots, pushing players to work harder.
“We haven’t got the results we wanted this year so it does open a little bit of a door up for some of those guys to come and give it a shot,” Holland said.
Holland believes it would keep a few players on their toes as they wonder who could come in an push them out.
“I don’t think that’s their main focus point at the moment (but) don’t get me wrong there’d be a few people there scratching their heads wondering who is coming in,” Holland said.
The have a tough challenge a head of them at the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens when they have Fiji, New Zealand and Kenya in their pool, a reward for finishing ninth in the Vancouver Sevens.
The Mens Sevens haven’t had much success in 2019, making the semi finals only once and are currently sitting sixth in the rankings. They would need to make it to the top four by the end of the season to automatically qualify for the Olympics.
The poor performance has opened the door for Super Rugby players and Wallabies to think about the jump across. One name that has been thrown around a few times has been Israel Folau.
“We’re here to win, there’s no doubt about that. Australian rugby wants to succeed so we have the best players available and if the likes of some of the Wallabies want to put their hand up and come train, well then so be it.
“They will need time here to prepare for the team, but also personally. Everything is open. You’re always playing, you’re never safe, you should never feel comfortable. That’s the mentality I use and so should those boys in there.”
There has been much discussion around how to handle players that wish to do both, but Holland and Mens Coach Tim Walsh agree that in order to find success at the Olympics that players would need to dedicated to one game and not jump around.
Waratahs No.8 Michael Wells spoke last week about how hard the transition between the game can be, after he started the season with the Sevens and is now back in the Tahs fold.
“If you’re had a guy who was in sevens for a year or a few years, and then plays 15s, he is certainly going to be able to return to the program a lot quicker than someone who hasn’t played a lot of sevens before,” Walsh said.
“There are so many different factors. There is a formula but it is not a blanket one.”
“I am more than happy for people to knock on my door, and that’s a real credit to the program. That people want to play for Australia, want to play sevens and want to go to the Olympics as well,” he said.
Sevens Assistant Coach Stephen Hoiles gave his two-cents on who would be a strong addition to the Sevens squad.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
ONE RE-SIGNS AND ONE LEAVES
It was announced on Monday (and not as an April Fools Joke) that Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith has re-signed with NZ Rugby until the end of 2021, though Crusaders centre Ryan Crotty announced he would be leaving at the end of the 2019 season.
Crotty announced that he would be leaving pos the World Cup after nearly a decade in New Zealand Rugby, after he signed with Japanese Top League team Kubota.
“The All Blacks, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby have been such an important part of my life and I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had to represent my country, my province and my family over the years,” Crotty said on Monday.
“I’m a proud Cantabrian and Christchurch will always be home, but I’m really looking forward to taking on a new challenge in the Top League as part of the Kubota Spears club.
“I know I’ll look back at the end of my career in New Zealand with really fond memories of the experiences I’ve had and what I’ve achieved alongside my good mates, but for now my focus is enjoying the season ahead and helping to lead this Crusaders side one last time in 2019.”
Interestingly though it came the same day that Aaron Smith announced he had re-signed, again not an April Fools Joke.
“From my earliest playing days, my focus has always been about being passionate about the teams I play for and I’ve always enjoyed giving 100 percent to the teams I represent,” Smith said.
“I love representing the Highlanders and the All Blacks and playing my rugby in New Zealand gives me the chance to continue to do that,” he added
“I’m grateful to NZ Rugby and the Highlanders organisation for all the support they’ve given me over my career and for the opportunities they have provided for myself and Teagan, going forward.”
Smith has long been considered one of, if not the best halfbacks in the game.
NZR chief executive Steve Tew said that after the announcements that captain Kieran Read and experienced pair Ben Smith and Owen Franks signalled the end of their international careers it was a relief that Smith committed to New Zealand Rugby as they prepare for the standard post World Cup exodus.
We’re delighted to have re-signed Aaron through to 2021. He’s a proven world-class player, the most capped All Blacks halfback ever and an incredibly important member of the All Blacks and Highlanders.
“New Zealand Rugby has been working incredibly hard on the retention of our key players and, while it’s inevitable that some will move on following the Rugby World Cup, we’ll still have a core of experience in the All Blacks post 2019, and Aaron will be a key part of that group.
“We know all our players have choices to make on where they play their rugby and that the global environment is challenging, but we feel we have got one of the best environments for players here, with outstanding teams and coaches, and so we congratulate Aaron on his decision.”
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
SKELTON NOT LIKELY TO COME HOME
In a World Cup year there is always talk of who would come back into the Australian Rugby fold in an effort to make the Wallabies squad.
In 2015 the likes of Kane Douglas and Dean Mumm, made their way back to Australia, and the Giteau Law was brought in to include Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchel.
As the World Cup approaches the fans and media speculate which international players under 60 caps will re-sign with an Australian franchise in an effort to make the squad.
One name that could be off that list now is Will Skelton, the former Waratahs and Wallabies big man after it came out he’s expected to sign a contract extension with London club Saracens.
Skelton has found incredible form playing for the English club, a type of game that he never really produced in his time in Australia. That combined with his dramatic weight loss and increased fitness performance has left many pundits wondering what went wrong with the second rower in Australia.
Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika has been in Europe engaging with possible players about their roles come World Cup time, with Will Skelton’s name believed to be on that list but the news of the possible signing has effectively ruled him out.
For his eligiblity to change, Skelton would have to sign with a Super Club for the 2020 season, like Matt Toomua did with the Rebels, or hope that there are some serious changes to the Giteau Law, though that seems extremely unlikely given the comments made by Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle.
Skelton played 64 times for NSW and made 18 Wallabies appearances.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
JAKE GORDON RE-SIGNS
Another half back has re-signed, this time it is Jake Gordon committing to the Waratahs and Australian Rugby until the end of 2021.
Gordon will likely become the outright starting halfback for the Waratahs next season with Nick Phipps joining the London Irish after the World Cup.
After a strong NRC perfromance Gordon made his Super Rugby debut in 2017, and was even invited to train with the Wallabies squad during that June series. After two season of hard work Gordon made his Wallabies debut in 2018 against Italy on the Spring Tour.
“It was a dream last year to play for the Wallabies. I’d been working at it for what felt like a while but now I just want to go out there and play more and more Test footy,” Gordon said.
“I think both the Wallabies and Waratahs are building something special and that really appealed to me. It’s a good group of players that I’m really enjoying working alongside each week.
“Obviously the World Cup is a pretty big goal of mine and something that I’m desperate to be part of but right now I’m just focused on playing the best possible footy I can at club level and hopefully the higher honours follow.”
Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika believes that Gordon is up to the challenge of international rugby.
“Jake has been around the squad for a couple of seasons now and has shown us that he’s ready to step up to Test standard on a consistent basis.
“Halfback is a very competitive position in our squad but he knows what he needs to do in order to be selected week after week.
“Re-signing with the Waratahs is a clear indication to me that he’s committed to becoming a Test match regular and I’m looking forward to watching his performances, in games and training, back that up.”
Short term there is some serious competition for who will likely be the third Wallaby halfback at the World Cup, with Will Genia and Nick Phipps likely to be the preferred two. A potential return of Nic White, the chance for Joe Powell or even the Reds bolder Tate McDermott means the race for the third spot is anyones game.
[/one_half]
