Tuesday’s rugby news has the latest Sevens series results, Cheika’s RWC briefings, Somoa still in crisis and refreshing honesty from a dropped English number 8.
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SA defend Sevens title
South Africa have won their second consecutive Sevens series, defending their title on home soil by defeating New Zealand 26-17 in the final of the third round of the Sevens series. “It was an awesome game of rugby and physical to the death,” said South Africa skipper Kyle Brown. “You couldn’t ask for anything more than to fight to victory on home soil.”
Australia beat Argentina 34-19 for third place while the surprise of the tournament, the United States, defeated Fiji 21-14 to win the Plate final, or fifth place.
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Cheika to brief Brumbies
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will update the Brumbies on his World Cup plans this week as part of an Australia-wide tour to ensure that prospective Test squad players are aware of their expectations leading into next year’s tournament.
“I’ll catch up with some of the guys who weren’t on the spring tour,” Cheika said. “There’s a new style of play and I want to get everyone up to scratch with that so that when we come in [for the World Cup build-up], everything is sorted.” For the Brumbies, this will include a number of injured stars such as Stephen Moore, David Pocock, Scott Fardy and Scott Sio.
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Samoa in crisis talks
Following the Samoan team’s threat to boycott last month’s test against England at Twickenham, Prime Minister and Samoan Rugby Union chairman Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has met with World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset for crisis talks in Brussels.
Tuilaepa reportedly continued to paint a picture of greedy players requesting their allowances (currently $1000 per week) increase, despite that sum being frozen for the past 24 years. Although it does appear that the Samoan PM is open to International Rugby Players’ Association being involved in formal grievance procedures.
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B Vunipola admits laziness
English number 8 Billy Vunipola has admitted that he must work harder in training after being left out of the Test squad to play Australia in favour of Ben Morgan and James Haskell. Vunipola is eying a Six Nations return and admitted slipping discipline was the root of his demotion.
“There are little extras you do after training and I kind of just waived them, rather than just staying out for the extra five or 10 minutes. I thought I would be fine and maybe that told in games,” he said. While Vunipola has never played a full Test match, he did go the distance in playing a starring role in Saracens’ 28-15 European win over Sale on Saturday.
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