Wednesday’s Rugby News has: Ryan Louwrens out for the season, Will Skelton going to Saracens, Chris Alcock keen to be the biggest man, and Naiyaravoro starting.
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Louwrens Out
The Wallabies will have to find another scrumhalf after Ryan Louwrens was ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL twang.
Louwrens was taken off after just 9 minutes’ play on the weekend.
Western Force coach Dave Wessels spoke of Louwrens’ value after Saturday’s match.
“I’m pretty biased but I think Ryan’s the best nine, the form nine in Australia at the moment so it means a lot for us to have him,” he said, according to rugby.com.au.
In other news, Ben McCalman (finger) should be back against the hopeful walkover against the Kings, while Adam Coleman (calf) should be back the week after next.
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Skelton Sold
Will Skelton has signed for English club Saracens, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The huge mofo has put fountain pen to paper on a two year contract, that will see Bigfoot in line for a return to Oz in mid 2019.
Skelton, who just came back from a two-month deal with Saracens, will join the club at the end of the Super season.
“It’s not easy leaving the NSW Waratahs and the Wallabies — Darryl Gibson and Michael Cheika have been fantastic for my career so far and I want to thank them for everything they have done for me, on and off the field,” Skelton said.
“Not being able to pull on the gold jersey while I am playing in England has made the decision especially difficult, but this is about family as much as it is football. One day I’d love to play for Australia again and if that opportunity comes up I will give everything I’ve got for my country.”
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All In
Chris Alcock wants to be the number #1 flanker in Canberra with a slightly naughty name.
“I just focus on what I need to do and what the coaches tell me my goal (is) for each game and I just try and work on that and try not to think about who’s worn the jersey before,” Alcock told rugby.com.au
“Whenever I wear that jersey I wear it with pride and put everything out there and show that I deserve to be wearing it.”
Alcock is bigging himself up before the big battle he will against former Brumby George Smith on Saturday.
“There’s not often that you actually find yourself head-to-head with them but we’re both trying to do the same thing at the breakdown and we’ve both got our own roles to play,” he said.
“You watch his games and he has great involvements all the time and he does change the game.
“I’m going to do my best to see how I go against him and whatever happens happens.”
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Naiyaraloco
The Pain Train aka the T-Train aka Mr T aka Taqele Naiyaravoro is set to start against the Hurricans.
Presumably Daryl Gibson thinks Naiyaravoro’s presence in the starting XV will make up for the advantages the Hurricanes have in almost every other department.
“He’s just working his way back into some form and fitness, ‘Big T’ and without question the last couple of performances off the bench – he was very good in the Rebels game coming off the bench also,” said Tahs assistant Chris Malone.
“He’s putting his hand up for selection and absolutely he comes right into contention for selection.
“We keep saying to the team it’s how you perform day-to-day, it’s not just what happens in the games and Taqele’s been really impressive over the last few weeks, so he’s definitely a chance,” Malone continued
“He’s doing well and he’s doing everything that’s asked of him and that’s all he can do.
“Performing like he did on the weekend and being the impact player that we all know that he can be, it’s great to have him come into some form.”
Rob Horne and Bernard Foley are in line for a return too, as is Paddy Ryan, if Tom Robertson is ruled unfit.
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