Wednesday’s Rugby News has the Wallabies squad, Stephen Moore and Adam Coleman BFFs, Hansen on Gatland and former AB Jeremy Thrush on the Lions tour.
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WBs Squad
The Cheikmeister General has named his 34-man squad for the June series, with a lot of big stars missing, a lot of debutants and whole lot of pizzazz.
There’s 8 debutants, while big names like Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Rob Horne and Will Skelton have all missed out. Kurtley Beale, who’s slated to return to the Waratahs/Australian rugby before the end of the Super season, was set off to go rest and relax.
The squad features just 10 players from the 23-man teamsheet for the 2015 World Cup final.
“We’ve got to back our young players that are coming through and are putting form on the board,” Cheika told the ladz on Fox Sports’ Kick & Chase (via rugby.com.au), where he made the announcement. “This is a strategy we want to pursue.
“That doesn’t mean – you can see some of our experienced players are there as well but young players are putting their hand up and showing that they want to be a part of it.”
When asked about the missing stars, Cheika said:
“I said to those guys when they decided to choose a departure that we’re not here to bite off nose [to spite] our face. Our position is more like if we thought we were going to pick one of those guys in the starting team, then we’ll bring them in.
“Around the squad as a whole, it’s an opportunity then to get a taste for some younger guys who will be here in ‘18 and ‘19 and who we think will benefit from being in and around the squad and maybe getting game time.
“I think that’s a pretty sound philosophy. We’re looking at form – Would that player be picked in the starting test team right now? – and decide from there.”
And for those of who you care: 9 Waratahs, 8 Brumbies, 7 Reds, 5 Rebels, 4 Forces, 1 Stade Francaises.
Squad (debutant*)
Forwards: Allan Ala’alatoa, Sekope Kepu, Tom Robertson, Scott Sio, Toby Smith; Tolu Latu, Stephen Moore (c), Tatafu Polota-Nau; Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Adam Coleman, Lukhan Tui*; Jack Dempsey*, Ned Hanigan*, Richard Hardwick*, Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper, Lopeti Timani.
Backs: Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell; Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley; Kyle Godwin, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani; Dane Haylett-Petty, Karmichael Hunt*, Israel Folau, Marika Koroibete*, Eto Nabuli*, Sefa Naivalu and Henry Speight.
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Peace In Our Time
Incumbent Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore has told AAP (via rugby.com.au) that’s there’s no bad blood between him and the Wallabies’ best lock, Adam Coleman, despite their handbags on the weekend.
“It’ll be fine. I’m sure we’ll have a joke about it,” Moore said. “There will be nothing carried over there, I’m a firm believer in that.
“You just leave it out there and everyone gives what they’ve got,” added Moore, sticking pins in what seemed like a rather lanky, headgear-wearing doll.
“Both teams play the game right on the boundaries and that’s what you want.”
During the game, Moore was seen to stick it to Coleman, twice getting in his face, one time seen to be saying “don’t you [effin] say that again”. Coleman probably called him Mr. Magoo or something.
“That’s the power of those local derbies,” Moore continued.
“When you go toe-to-toe in those games, you carry that forward into the Wallabies and you feel like you’ve got players around you that are going to get stuck in.
“That’s what we need. That physical part of it is absolutely key.
“You look at the teams we’re playing in June and it’s going to be really important that we front up in that area.”
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Hansen on Gatland
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen reckons the B&I Lions will be rather predictable opposition.
“We’ve got a thing we call ABCs of rugby – Assume some things, Believe nothing until we Confirm them,” Hansen told The Times, via the SMH.
“We assume Warren’s not going to have an epiphany and change the way he plays but we’re only assuming that, we’re not believing it until we see them play and, with a tour, you do get to see the opposition play a bit, so we’ll be able to confirm one or two things prior to that first Test.
“There’s no doubt they have got great goalkickers, but on the park, only one of them can kick.
“Now, pressure is a funny thing and I know our guys have lived under that pressure for a long time. And while they might not have the stats to match, I believe and have faith they’ll kick the ones that matter.”
Hansen has also attempted to do the impossible, and defend All Blacks fans. Gatland, who has seen the light, had apparently earlier called AB supporters “arrogant”. Fancy that!
“Our fans are pretty well educated and even though Gats has called them arrogant,” Hansen said.
“I don’t think they are arrogant, I think they are well informed and have high expectations of us. And they know that this Lions squad is one of the best to have been picked for a long, long time.
“The Lions have got a lot of expectation of their own – 30,000 people are coming out to support them and they are coming out in expectation of their team playing really well and winning the series.”
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Lions Need NH Rugby
The unfortunately named Jeremy Thrush, a former All Black who plied his time in England for a bit, has told the Guardian that to win the Lions need to play NH rugby and win that first test.
“New Zealand can be a bit cold at the start which is why they have arranged a warm-up match against Samoa,” said Thrush, the former Hurricanes captain. “They know they need to go into the first Test firing and do a lot better than they have done in the opening match of a series in recent years.
“The Lions will have a far stronger bench than France, England and Wales. The All Blacks pride themselves on their 23 and using the whole squad but the Lions will back themselves to have the same impact from their replacements. What is important for them is to play to their strengths, not look to emulate the way New Zealand play.
“They can learn tactically from the way Ireland beat the All Blacks in Chicago last year when they complemented a really strong set-piece with a driving maul. New Zealand sides do not often come up against teams who play like that. The Lions are still going to have to play a bit to win the series and they will have to be smart.”
“The Lions know that, if the All Blacks are able to spread possession, they will be a threat with the flair they have.
“New Zealand will know what’s coming. They will be devising ways of countering the Lions’ defence and, for me, it will be a really interesting feature of the series. The Lions certainly have attacking threats.
“The series in New Zealand will be a contrast in styles. Two of the Tests are at Eden Park where the All Blacks have not lost in the professional era. As a player, it is not daunting but challenges you and can be a mental barrier for the opposition. I would like a 3-0 win for the ABs. If the Lions are going to win one, it will be the first. I see that as their only chance.”
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