Tuesday’s rugby news has some praise for Link, Woodward defecting, Mike Phillips with a brand new club and the English injury woes.
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Link provides RWC platform
Leading Wallabies have come out in support of the team’s cultural change, seen to be laying the platform for 2015 World Cup success. Despite some early jitters following the hiring of Ewen McKenzie, four consecutive wins to cap off the tour of Europe has appeased fans and players alike. ‘From where we were to where we are has been a really important step,’ new captain Ben Mowen said.
Link has made some hard calls in his early tenure, hoping to establish accountability and a winning culture, including benching Will Genia, taking the captaincy off James Horwill, kicking out James O’ Connor and suspending six Wallabies for a mid-week drinking session. ‘I learned long ago you have to make the right call for the right reasons,’ McKenzie said, adding, ‘It’s not a popularity contest.’ [/one_half]
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Kiwi Woodward commits to Aus
Melbourne Rebels fullback Jason Woodward, once rated a future All Black, has stated his intentions to become a Wallaby as soon as he is eligible. Woodward must play three successive seasons in Australia to be considered for Test selection, hoping to renew his Rebels contract which expires at the end of 2014- his second Super Rugby season.
‘My wife and I have really set up home here and I love playing for the club and if I was to stay I would play for Australia, without a doubt,’ said Woodward. The Rebels fullback will be vital to the team’s 2014 Super Rugby success after the backline lost stars Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor as well as speedsters Cooper Vuna and Richard Kingi. Woodward, known for his long-range kicking game, will also take over the gaol-kicking duties. [/one_half]
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Phillips to Racing Metro
Wales and Lions halfback Mike Phillips has signed with Top 14 club Racing Metro on a two-and-a-half year deal. Phillips was sensationally dropped by Bayonne in October after allegedly turning up to a video analysis session drunk. The Welsh number nine was tight-lipped about his exact destination earlier in the week, with Racing Metro announcing yesterday, ‘We’ve been in touch with Phillips’s entourage for months, hoping to sign him for next season. What recently happened with Bayonne just brought forward his arrival.’
Meanwhile, his Welsh teammate Dan Lydiate has admitted that the team’s most recent loss to Australia was another ‘kick in the nuts.’ Although skipper Sam Warburton has now urged his team to focus on a historic hat-trick of Six Nations titles, Lydiate has admitted that the team were particularly ‘gutted’ after another close loss to a southern hemisphere rival. [/one_half]
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England suffer Six Nations setbacks
London Wasps winger Christian Wade will miss six months with a foot injury, adding to England’s injury woes. Although England coach Stuart Lancaster had planned on starting the rising star during the Six Nations, Wade will now undergo surgery to repair ‘significant ligament damage to his mid-foot area.’ ‘He is a young player with a huge future and his time will come around again,’ Wasps boss Dai Young said.
Earlier in the week it was also revealed that England fullback and winger Ben Foden will miss the start of the Six Nations after suffering a knee injury while playing for Northampton. Foden and Wade join an England injury list that already includes back-row Tom Croft, centre Manu Tuilagi, Northampton prop Alex Corbisiero and lock Geoff Parling, all of whom are set for lengthy spells on the sidelines. [/one_half]
