Tuesday’s rugby news has the Brumbies’ injuries, the Tahs’ weaknesses, the new Shute Shield sponsor and Robbie Fruean injured again.
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ACT injury curse worsens
The Brumbies injury crisis is even worse than originally thought with coach Stephen Larkham now ruling out prop Scott Sio against the Stormers, with scans to his ankle proving inconclusive. Second-rower Leon Power will also watch the game from the bench after last week’s knee injury. Powerful winger Henry Speight has undergone surgery to repair a double fracture in his jaw and is expected to miss six weeks.
Prop J.P. Smith and flanker Jordan Smiler are expected to move into the forward pack, with Scott Fardy possibly making space by returning to second row, although his form at 6 has been outstanding. Winger Joe Tomane trained on Monday and could offer a relatively painless swap for Speight. [/one_half]
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Waratahs pack told to lift
The Waratahs have focused in on the set-piece as an area of concern after their loss to the Brumbies. Second-rower Kane Douglas said there were no excuses for the side’s recent lack of consistency. ’It’s probably just about doing it more at training and making it more of a focus so it’s second nature out there,’ Douglas said.
Last weekend’s match also highlighted the Waratah’s defensive deficiencies in the midfield. Matt Toomua and Pat McCabe targeted NSW inside centre Kurtley Beale all-game, effectively stifling the attacking potency of the Tahs. The Rebels will try to use the same tactics with tough centres Mitch Inman and Tamati Ellison. ‘We’ve just got to be a little more prepared and more urgent,’ Beale said. [/one_half]
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Shute Shield gains sponsor
The cash-strapped ARU will be delighted with the news that the Shute Shield has secured the support of a new naming rights sponsor. From 2014, the Sydney Premiership Competition will become the Magners Shute Shield after Magners Irish Cider announced its partnership with the competition on St Patricks Day.
The announcement comes within two weeks of the March 29 kickoff of the Shute Shield, which will commence an 18-week competition preceding a three-week, six team finals format. The random draw format sees each of the 12 teams play each other at least once, with local derbies preserved (on a home and away basis) at the clubs’ request. The August 16 Grand final will then welcome in the new National Club Competition. [/one_half]
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Fruean suffers setback
Star Chiefs centre Robbie Fruean will be sidelined for up to two months, as he undergoes a procedure to attempt to restore his heart’s rhythm to normal. The Chiefs released a statement on Monday after leaving Fruean from the 27-man squad to travel Australia and South Africa, stating that the expectation of return to play is four to eight weeks.
The 25 year old centre had open-heart surgery in 2009 and again last year, when a valve in his heart was replaced, stifling his season with the Crusaders. After signing with the Chiefs, Fruean had made a strong start to the season but unfortunately suffered shortness of breath during the win over the Stormers, later found to be an irregular heartbeat. [/one_half]
