Wednesday’s top rugby news has Marto’s attack on Benji, Reds trio re-sign, Halfpenny in demand and a top ref calling for rule changes.
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Marto rubbishes Benji
Benji Marshall can be thankful that Greg Martin is not involved in recruitment activities for the Blues or Waratahs. After it was announced that Marshall would be seeking a release from his contract with the Wests Tigers to join a Super Rugby franchise, Martin let fly with an almighty spray on Triple M. Amongst other things, Martin stated that “we don’t want you”, presumable speaking for the entire Rugby community before saying of Marshall “you’re old, you’re no good and you’re too fat”. Interestingly, websites for Fox Sports, The Herald Sun and news.com.au have all removed their earlier stories reporting the comments.
While I would not phrase it quite as strongly, there is no doubt from what I have seen of Marshall this year, he is no longer the masterful attacking force that he once was. Do you guys think he has anything to bring to a Super Rugby team?
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Dumped ref calls for rules overhaul
Speaking before being dropped for the Super Rugby finals series, referee Chris Pollock this week claimed that the rules of the game needed to be overhauled to make them simpler and lead to more attractive rugby. “You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t and the bottom line is if our law book was tidied up and simpler it would make everyone’s life easier” Pollock said after his controversial handling of the clash between the Blues and Chiefs over the weekend.
Pollock went even further, claiming that while referees were obviously obliged to enforce the rules as they are currently written “it does not mean we enjoy that.” Whatever you think of Pollock, it is refreshing to see an official speak with such honesty. He even spoke of how his performance over recent weeks, both in the Lions tour and in Super Rugby, had not been great.
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Reds secure key signings
Three of the Queensland Reds’ Wallaby representatives have committed themselves to the Link-less future of the franchise, signing on until the end of 2015. While negotiations have been ongoing for some time, both with the Reds and the ARU for top-ups, yesterday it was confirmed that Liam Gill, Rob Simmons and James Slipper would all be staying in Queensland.
The re-signings are a show of faith in the direction the Reds will be taking with Richard Graham at the helm when Ewen McKenzie leaves the franchise for good at the end of the season. “I think he’s been learning off Link, and he’ll bring some of his own ideas in.” Slipper said of Graham.
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Halfpenny in demand
In news that will surprise absolutely no one who watched the Lions series, Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny is attracting some huge money offers from European clubs keen to secure his services. Richard Holland, Chief of Halfpenny’s current club the Cardiff Blues, tried to play a bit of a patriotic card when he said that the player is a “Welsh lad and we’re hoping he will commit to the Blues”.
However it appears that with French Clubs Toulon, Clermont and Racing Metro all circling, money may come fairly heavily into the equation as well. It is highly doubtful that the Cardiff Blues would be able to match the kind of money that they will be putting on the table. Indeed, to commit to the Blues, Halfpenny may well have to commit to a salary in the region of half to two-thirds of what he could attract in France.
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