Tuesday’s rugby news has calls for Hunt to be sacked, the Force dropping Ebersohn, some major Hurricanes setbacks and Du Preez injured.
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Hunt still available
New information about Karmichael Hunt’s heavy drug use have made his position in the Wallabies squad questionable. Former Wallaby Sam Scott-Young has slammed Queenland’s support of Hunt, saying that Australian rugby is “lowering its standards” by allowing the code-hopper to remain in the game.
“What Australian rugby doesn’t need is any more negative press,” Scott-Yound said. “What they do need is strong leadership, people with guts and fortitude.” While the criteria of ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ is said to be a breach of contract, the Reds merely fined Hunt for these revelations.
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Force drop Ebersohn
The need to inject more “experience” into their backline has resulted in the Western Force releasing flyhalf Sias Ebersohn from his contract. The 26-year-old No.10 will now return to his native South Africa.
“Having already signed Jono Lance for next season, the club is currently in the process of recruiting players that will provide the team with that experience,” the franchise said. The Force’s reasoning is curious though as Ebersohn is hardly a rookie. He has played 80-odd games for the Cheetahs between 2008 and 2012, before he moved to Perth – where he made 43 appearances for the Force.
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Hurricanes trio in doubt
Wellington Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd will give Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ardie Savea and Cory Jane until Thursday to prove their fitness for Saturday’s Super Rugby final. “(Savea) pulled up pretty well to be honest, so that’s promising,” Boyd said. “Nehe and Cory’s hamstrings will undergo further testing and evaluation this afternoon.”
The Hurricanes will go into the final having beaten the Highlanders in the sides’ two meetings this year, although these results may have been influenced by the All Black resting policy, with Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Aaron Smith all stood down for their second encounter.
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Du Preez latest SA casualty
Experienced scrum-half Fourie du Preez has handed the Springboks a setback with the news that he will be out for four to six weeks. The veteran tore his medial cruciate ligament in his knee while training with his club side in Japan.
A squad of 48 players gathered in Johannesburg on Monday. Of these, 15 are suffering from a range of injuries or require rehabilitation. Others sidelined are loose forwards Heinrich Brüssow (arm), Schalk Burger (groin) and Duane Vermeulen (neck), flyhalf Patrick Lambie (neck), centre Jean de Villiers (knee) and Frans Steyn (pectoral muscle).
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