Tuesday’s rugby news has some unfortunate Wallabies injuries, front-row call-ups, the Springboks implementing a quota system and Toulon looking to play the Tahs.
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Wallabies suffer injuries
The Wallabies have suffered an unfortunate injury set-back as winger Adam Ashley-Cooper and number eight Wycliff Palu will be sidelined for Saturday’s match against Argentina. Ashley-Cooper has been ruled out for one week with an ongoing nerve compression injury to his neck, while Palu has been pulled out with a concussion.
“It’s disappointing to lose two experienced members of our squad ahead of what is an extremely important game against Argentina,” Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie said. Force back-rower Ben McCalman and Peter Betham will be promoted to the starting side.
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Benn Robinson rushed back
Former Wallabies prop Benn Robinson has been called back into the Test squad as scrum reinforcement against the powerful Argentinean pack. In what could be a huge blow, Wallabies vice-captain James Slipper sat out training on Monday with a jarred neck, with Pek Cowan training in the starting side in his place.
It also appears that Tatafu Polota-Nau will be thrust back into the starting line-up for the match. The dynamic Waratahs hooker with 49 Test caps has not played any rugby since he injured a medial ligament in his knee in the Super Rugby final.
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South Africa confirm race targets
The SARU have confirmed its national targets for all domestic teams, with a plan to ensure that half the Springboks team is made up of players of colour by 2019, with 60% of those consisting of black-African players. Of the current Springbok team, 19% of the players are non-white, while only 12% are black African.
SARU also set a mandate for Bok coach Heyneke Meyer to select at least five black players in his squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England as well as include seven players of colour in his match-day squad in the lead-up to the tournament.
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Toulon wants super-match
Toulon are reportedly trying to organise a match against the Waratahs tipped as deciding the best club team in the world. The match, which was previously proposed against 2013 Super Rugby champions the Chiefs, would be held during the Six Nations.
A Toulon- Waratahs match would be a massive crowd draw, with a litany of backline stars. While Toulon have lost Jonny Wilkinson and Joe van Niekerk to retirement, they have continued to add big-name talent in the shape of Leigh Halfpenny, Mamuka Gorgodze and James O’Connor.
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