Tuesday’s rugby news has more scrum talk, an Irish star in doubt, Benji Marshall thriving at the Blues and Wales ‘expecting’ to beat us.
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More scrum praise for Wallabies
Legendary former Irish hooker Keith Wood has proved an unlikely source of encouragement for the Australian scrum, emphasising that the new laws have encouraged a renewed determination at set-piece time. ‘I have always thought Australia was trying to get away from scrummaging, that they didn’t want to do it too much,’ Wood said.
But the 63-Test former captain saw that the new ‘soft engagement rules,’ which reduced the importance of the hit, have changed the mentality of the pack. Wood also said that Australia were hard done-by at Twickenham under referee George Clancy but showed great heart through their improved performance against a strong Italian front row. [/one_half]
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Irish injury news
While the Irish team will have resting superstars Johhny Sexton, Sean O’Brien and Paul O’Connell all returning to play Australia, fellow Lion Tommy Bowe could be left out of the team, rated as a ‘day by day’ prospect due to a painful calf injury. Rising flanker Chris Henry has also been ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered during Ireland’s self-described unimpressive 40-9 win over Samoa over the weekend.
Australia have lost to Ireland in their last three meetings overseas and Ewen McKenzie has predicted a ‘desperate and attritional’ Irish team will greet the Wallabies this weekend. Link also cited this match as important for the Wallabies proving themselves against higher level competition, also ominously adding, ‘The teams we’re about to play aren’t ahead of us [in the rankings] but they could be if we don’t get it right.’ [/one_half]
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Kirwan commends Benji
Blues coach Sir John Kirwan has said that Benji Marshall possesses all the skills to become the club’s starting five-eighth, but is still mindful of the difficult transition to the 15-man game. Inside centre and five-eighth have been floated as possible positions but it now appears that the league convert will start his Blues career at fullback. ‘Starting him at 15 will give him an opportunity to settle into the sport,’ Kirwan said. ‘We’re thinking 15 to start with, then maybe looking at 10.’
Kirwan has also insisted that signing the former Wests Tigers superstar was not a publicity stunt. ‘I think there are some brilliant crossover athletes, like Sonny Bill [Williams] and Israel [Folau]. I think Benji is one of those,’ the Blues coach said. [/one_half]
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Warburton expects to beat Australia
Wales captain Sam Warburton has said that beating Australia is ‘what we should expect,’ anticipating that the team will win its remaining three autumn Tests. This is despite Wales’ woeful record against southern hemisphere opponents of late, including eight successive defeats against the Wallabies. ‘It doesn’t annoy anybody more than me,’ Warburton said. ‘I’m getting fed up of it now.’
Their task will also be made harder by the loss of centre Jonathan Davies with a chest injury. Coach Warren Gatland was already missing centre partner Jamie Roberts for the November Tests, necessitating the rushed call-ups of Newport Gwent Dragons backs Hallam Amos and Tom Prydie. Tighthead prop Adam Jones is also in doubt, while winger Alex Cuthbert has been ruled out. [/one_half]
