Wednesday’s Rugby News has news on Marika Koroibete’s Wallabies career, the new Force coach announced, a new signing for the Brumbies, and Drew Mitchell saying the same thing everyone else has said.
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Koroibete Fast Tracked
Future Rebels player Marika Koroibete is being fast tracked into the Wallabies, with reports coming out that he will be part of the wider training squad for the November internationals.
The people’s mouthpiece, rugby.com.au, reports that Koroibete has confirmed he will join up with the national team, with the man himself saying “I spoke to [Cheika] before I signed with the Rebels and he’s going to take me on the spring tour with the boys.”
Koroibete played rugby as a schoolboy in Fiji (same school as Sefa Naivalu apparently), but since having signed with Wests Tigers in 2011, he hasn’t played rugby since. He moved to the Melbourne Storm in 2014.
Currently gearing up for the NRL Finals with Melbourne Storm, the Wallabies Spring Tour will no doubt give Koroibete something worth looking forward to.
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Coach Wessels
In the apocryphal worldwide search that never left the car park, after a long search, the Western Force have decided to appoint Dave Wessels as head coach.
To be officially unveiled later today, the 33-year old South African was the previous assistant coach at the Perth-based side. This information is coming from the Daily Telegraph, who intriguingly report that the Force “ha(d) contact” with World Cup participant Stuart Lancaster, former Boks coach Heyneke Meyer, Todd Blackadder and former Reds coach Matt O’Connor.
On top of that, the Daily Telegraph intimate that Wessels received the backing of the Force players. This appointment is also a blow for ARU favourite Matt O’Connor, who has missed out on gigs in Brisbane and Perth despite having a decent coaching CV.
Wessels began his career coaching the Stormers defence, moving on to coach the University of Cape Town. Jake White then invited Wessels to Canberra in 2012, and the next year Michael Foley took him over to Perth. He was interim head coach for the Force after Foley’s sacking.
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In and Out
The Brumbies have announced the signing of flanker Chris Alcock for 2017, says rugby.com.au.
Alcock, formerly of the Force, is coming into the Brumbies as the Canberra side were looking like they’d be dangerously Nocock next year, with David Pocock opting to take a sabbatical.
The official announcement puts an end to months of speculation, but now that he’s in Canberra he’s excited, saying in a very press-release way that “the Brumbies forward pack is really physical and go about their business really well, so I just want to come in and join in as best I can. The goal is to become part of the squad and get myself some game time.”
Alcock will join up with the Brumbies after the NRC season is over.
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Mastermind Mitchell
Drew Mitchell has told the SMH that the old guard of the Wallabies – himself, Will Genia, Dean Mumm, etc – must show the younger Wallabies how to cope with big game pressures.
“Everyone has an opinion of where we’re at … it’s important for us to shelve that aside and show the young guys that what’s happening at training and within the walls of our meetings is what’s really important,” Mitchell said.
“We have to continue to back [our game plans],” he continued, “Sometimes I think in rugby, if you’re presented with something you’re not expecting or it’s not working the first few times, the guys can stray away from that. It’s more about having faith in that structure and really just being disciplined and stay true to it. I’m sure if we do that, the momentum will end up shifting our way and we’ll get a result.”
If what Mitchell says is true, this will signal a new direction for the Wallabies, who previously haven’t stuck to their game plans and who never shared experience in training sessions.
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Gagr craft beer discount
Enjoy smashing a tasty craft beer from time to time? What am I saying, of course you do!
Well GAGR has organised for you to get a $20 discount when you order any of the ‘Tight Five’, ‘The Forwards’ or ‘The Backline’ Bledisloe special mixed cases from The Craft Beer Market. Each case has competing line ups of fine Aussie and Kiwi craft beers.
Make up for our super rugby showing – YOU decide who wins in this battle!
Just enter GAGR20 as a code on checkout to get a sweet lobster off as many of these three mixed cases as you order. Delivery is free anywhere in Straya!
