Tuesday’s rugby news has Hooper optimistic about the Bledisloe, Hayward becoming an Aussie, a Highlander suspended and Toulon giving more referee criticism.
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Hooper talks up Bledisloe chances
Michael Hooper believes that the Wallabies are ready to reclaim the Bledisloe, with the national team set to be boosted by the improved form of the Aussie conference during this years Super Rugby competition. “The difference is last year every Australian team did better than the year before,” Hooper said. “It’s too early to talk about how this season will pan out but the players are there, the depth is there.”
The 2013 John Eales Medallist went on to say that Australia must reclaim a winning mentality after years of domination by the All-Blacks. The success of the Australian teams, with the Force, Brumbies and Waratahs all inside the top 6 could help this mental hurdle. [/one_half]
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Hayward switching allegiences
Western Force fullback Jayden Hayward is set to leave behind his Kiwi heritage and push for a Wallaby jersey in the coming years. Currently in the second year of a three-year qualification period as a foreign development player, Hayward has communicated his desire to stay with the Force and play for Australia after the 2015 World Cup.
“I’d love to stay here,” Hayward said after his match-winning effort against Queensland. “Everybody wants to play international rugby and if the opportunity arises then I wouldn’t say no.” While Israel Folau is cemented in the 15 jersey now, who knows what the situation will be when the French clubs come calling after the World Cup. [/one_half]
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Kurt Baker suspended
Highlanders winger Kurt Baker has been suspended for six weeks after his vicious, off-the-ball lifting tackle on Nic Stirzaker over the weekend. This is a surprisingly low sentence, given SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Nicholas Davidson’s description of events. “I considered that the potential for harm was significant as the tackled player was lifted high off the ground and tipped quickly so that despite the Rebels’ player attempt to break his fall with his arm, his neck made contact with the ground,” he said.
The charge was said to have an entry point in the mid-range, starting at an eight-week ban. Davidson then added two weeks as a deterrent for this widely acknowledged dangerous practice, before reducing the charge to six weeks due to Baker’s untarnished record. [/one_half]
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Toulon calls out ref bias
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has spoke of his relief at not getting a particular referee for the team’s Heineken Cup quarter final win over Leinster. “We realised that there was a referee, every time he refereed Leinster, they won. He refereed them in the quarters, semi and final.”
The comments come shortly after Toulon coach Bernard Laporte was handed a 16-week ban for verbally abusing a referee. The ban, which was issued after Laporte called referee Laurent Cardona “hopeless” and “incompetent” after Toulon’s 22-21 loss to Grenoble in the Top 14 on January 4. This will effectively rule the Toulon coach out of the remainder of the season. [/one_half]
