Here’s our daily round-up of the hot Oz and international rugby news.
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It’s all about Quade
Try finding some rugby news this morning that isn’t about Quade Cooper – it’s not easy. So here are the key Quade stories:
Quade to blame for Tapuai’s slump – it’s outraging Queenslanders, but that’s what Robbie Deans said on radio yesterday morning. “Quade has got to be prepared to allow others to do some of the playmaking because it is more effective than if everything comes off Quade,” said the Wallaby coach.
Cooper content to wait out Deans – Robbie’s ARU contract is up at the end of this season, Quade’s runs till the end of 2014. Apparently Cooper is willing to ignore league approaches and get his revenge at the 2015 RWC.
Link fires back at Robbie – The helpful advice from Deans that Cooper needs to defend in the line for the Reds to get a shot at the Lions has tipped Ewen McKenzie over the edge. “So now he has one match to defend in the front line to make the Lions squad? It’s easy to say that now. What’s he been saying for the last 13 weeks?” said the Reds coach.
Wallabies better with Cooper at 10 – Seen an article recently looking at the Wallabies results with Quade and without (here on GAGR)? It’s 70% with Quade and 52% without. Well a remarkably similar one has turned up this morning in The Australian.
From a media watch perspective it’s been quite fascinating. The Daily Telegraph got the preparatory strike leak about the coaches email, but since then the SMH’s Rugby Heaven has picked up the baton as chief Deans explainer with headlines like “A risk Deans was not prepared to take” (the banner photo of their home page yesterday). It’s been left to The Australian to ask some questions.
I’ll let you guess which Journo is reputedly on speed-dial to Dingo’s New Zealand born media manager.
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Burgess to trial v. Lions?
It’s been clarified that there’s no need for Luke Burgess to actually play for the Melbourne Rebels to be eligible for Wallaby selection – the mere fact that he will be under contract with the franchise is enough.
Depending how Toulouse go in at the pointy end of the Top 14 finals, the Burgwan will either arrive in one week or two weeks’ time. Either way he’ll be in town for selection in the Combined Country match against the Lions, which is the same day Deans announces the remaining six members of the squad.
Club rugby final sells out Twickers
Say what you like about Pommy Rugby, but the 2013 Aviva Premiership final between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints will be watched by a crowd of more than 82,000 and has sold out faster than any previous Premiership Rugby Final. Would that be the season’s gate for the whole of the Shute Shield?
Hopefully this means they can afford some soap for the showers.
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