Wednesday’s rugby news has a devastating coaching move, selection difficulties, a Folau hypothetical and a Scottish leadership change.
[one_half last=”no”]
Reds keep Graham
The Queensland Reds have controversially reappointed Richard Graham as coach for the next Super Rugby season. Graham, who will be on a one-year contract, has just a 28 per cent winning record as a Super Rugby head coach but has been given another chance to steer the Reds following their disastrous four-win season this year.
Former Wallabies centre Daniel Herbert has now been appointed as executive general manager, effectively making John Connolly’s position as coaching advisor redundant. Graham will also serve as Queensland’s defence coach next year with the QRU yet to appoint an attack coach.
[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]
Big names set for axe
Michael Cheika is reportedly struggling to whittle down Australia’s 31-man Rugby World Cup squad on Friday, with a number of big name players set to miss out. Most notably, a surplus of second-rowers has veteran James Horwill, the Wallabies’ 2011 World Cup skipper, fighting for the last remaining lock spot with Sam Carter and Kane Douglas.
Cheika must lose a number of wingers who were in the most recent Test squad, with Taqele Naiyaravoro and Nick Cummins likely to be overlooked. Former stalwarts Christian Lealiifano and Scott Higginbotham are also likely to miss out with a number of strong contenders for the number 8 and inside back positions.
[/one_half] [one_half last=”no”]
Folau another NFL contender
After the impressive performance put on by Jarryd Hayne in the NFL pre-season this week, Israel Folau has emphasised that he would be good enough to make a successful code-switch to the American game as well. ‘If I wanted to do it, I’m sure I could,’ Folau said, while giving the assurance, ‘I’m locked in playing rugby for the next three years.’
Folau also said that seeing Hayne’s success would give Australian athletes more confidence in switching codes, while NFL scouts have already started to take an interest after Hayne’s performance. All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu was apparently close to crossing codes in 1996 to play for the Dallas Cowboys.[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]
Scotland name new skipper
Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland in their second World Cup warm-up match against Italy in Turin on Saturday. The 25 year old will win his ninth cap and replaces scrum-half Henry Pyrgos, who skippered the Scots in Saturday’s 28-22 defeat by Ireland in Dublin.
The Scottish team has seen 11 changes to the squad which lost to Ireland, with the backrow to play Italy to comprise three from Adam Ashe, John Hardie, Alasdair Strokosch and Hamish Watson, none of whom played in Dublin. After the next two meetings with Italy, head coach Vern Cotter will name his final 31-man World Cup squad before the Scots face France away in a final warm-up. [/one_half]
