Wednesday’s rugby news has Israel Folau ready to face Ben Te’o, Rebels out to regain respect, Eddie Jones warns Wallabies and Zac Guildford signs with Tasman.
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Folau Ready
Israel Folau is preparing to face former housemate Ben Te’o when the Wallabies take on England next month.
Folau could potentially be marking Te’o if he get’s a run in the centres.
“He’s certainly a great player and we’re probably joking about it now but it’s something that maybe potentially could happen,” said Folau.
“It makes things a little more interesting, but certainly not in a negative way.
“I’m so pumped for him to see him in the squad and he definitely deserves it with the switch over, he’s done so much in the last couple of years so good on him.
“I’m actually quite happy for him. I texted him last night. We actually used to live together a couple of years ago.”
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Rebels to Regain Respect
Melbourne Rebels captain Nic Stirzaker says the Rebels need to earn back some respect after being outplayed by the Chiefs last weekend.
“The talk has been about how we need to bounce back for ourselves,”Stirzaker said.
“We need to put out a hungry performance and we’re really hungry to do that.
“I think this week it is important just to worry about ourselves and really focus on what we’re doing and how we front up physically.
“And, off the back of that, do some really good attack.”
Rebels coach Tony McGahan described the loss as “embarrassing”.
The Rebels play the Western Force this Sunday.
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Wallabies Warned
England coach Eddie Jones has warned the Wallabies that they will “get in the faces, be physical and unrelenting and make sure that [the Wallabies] know it is a different experience playing against England.”
It would be a failure if we don’t win the series,” said Jones,
“We want to be the top team in the world and I don’t think we should have any embarrassment about saying that. Therefore, if we go to Australia, we should expect to win the series.”
“The southern hemisphere are just much better with the ball, the stats conclusively prove it. They are going to put more questions to our defence than teams did in the Six Nations and they will play with a pace that isn’t common in the northern hemisphere. It is like facing a fast bowler. The first ball you face you don’t see.
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Guildford to Tasman
Waratahs winger Zac Guildford has signed with provincial New Zealand rugby team Tasman for the NPC season.
Guildford will not play for Hawkes Bay who he has played 74 times for including several appearances last year.
He will join up with Tasman following his commitments with the Waratahs at the end of the Super Rugby season.
Guildford is currently without a Super Rugby contract for 2017.
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