Wednesday’s Rugby News sees a Brumbies playmaker ready to set up, the Irish defending their ‘tactics’, Eddie Jones looking not so steady and a farewell to a sevens icon
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Powellful inclusion for final test
Joe Powell is preparing to make a huge impact as he’s set to be included in the Wallabies squad for the final test match against Ireland.
Powell is the clear favourite to join the Wallabies matchday 23 on the bench, replacing the injured Will Genia after the Rebels halfback broke his arm during the gruelling second test.
The clash will hold extra significance for Powell as he currently holds Irish citizenship, courtesy of his grandparents.
For me to play against the Irish is special because my grandparents were Irish so I’ve got my Irish citizenship as well,” he said.
“We have relatives over there, I’ve met them, got a couple of cousins in Ireland.”
“If I do get the opportunity to play, it will be the biggest game I’ve played in, a big decider, so it’s exciting.”
Powell has relished learning from both Genia and Irish halfback Connor Murphy, two players which the young Brumby has modelled his game off.
“Will’s been really good for me and my game, he’s someone that’s obviously very knowledgeable and just probably the way he communicates to the group is something that probably I’ve picked up the most from him,” he said.
“I love watching Conor Murray play – he’s obviously a great halfback and his service and his control of the game is something I could probably learn from as well.”
In further injury news for the Wallabies, Lock Adam Coleman has declared himself fit despite a nasty gash which would sideline most soccer players for a month.
“It’s fine,” Coleman said. “It’s obviously a big knock on the head but I’m training and getting through it. I will be fine for the weekend if I get selected.”
“I’m currently going through all the HIA protocols to make sure I’m sweet for the weekend. It’s just a bruise on the face, It will be fine.”
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Irish block off claims about their tactics
The Irish have rubbished complaints made by the Australian side in regards to their suspect off the ball tactics in their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.
The complaints centre around the belief that the Irish employed blockers or escort runners to ensure that star fullback Israel Folau could not a fair crack at catching the ball.
Forwards coach Simon Easterby has come out to reject these claims, noting that an increase in Irish urgency and a lack of kicking by the Australian side were crucial in reducing the effectiveness of the cross field kicking tactic.
“I just think on the weekend we showed a lot more urgency to get back and support the player receiving the ball, making sure that once that player has caught the ball and landed, that we resource the ruck.”
“I think that was an area that we came off second best in Brisbane. There will always be things that opposition and ourselves feel that we maybe didn’t get the rub of the green on but we’re just asking the players to work incredibly hard to support those guys who are receiving the kick.”
Powerful Ireland No 8 CJ Stander feigned surprise when informed of the Australian perspective regarding their blocking runners.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard that but look, for us as a team the main thing is the ball,” Stander said. We make sure we get the ball on the first hand and we work towards the ball every time as quick as we can.”
“If players don’t get behind the ball and make sure we secure the ball, then we’re going to be in trouble. Coming from a blocking side, there’s nothing really specific we do from any other week.”
The Irish are likely to make changes from the side that took the second test, with Prop Cian Healy, flanker Dan Leavy and winger Andrew Conway are all nursing various ailments.
“I think there will be some changes, whether that’s the starting team or on the bench,” Easterby said. “There’s always going to be an opportunity through a three-Test series, not only through injury but also through our need to try and get some exposure for some of the more inexperienced players on a tour like this.”
The decider is set to be played in front of a raucous Allianz Stadium, which is expected to be sold out for the decider.
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Unsteady Eddie defiant after recent losses
England coach Eddie Jones remains confident that he is the man for the job, despite a lack of success and criticism facing his tenure as coach.
The former Australian coach has come under fire after a series of poor results, in which England have lost their last 5 Test matches, most recently losing to South Africa 23-12 which plummeted the side to 6th in the world rankings.
The Rugby Football Union has given its vote of confidence towards Jones, which is generally the first sign of a coach being sacked. Jones is contracted to English rugby as coach until 2023, however, this contract holds a break clause subject to their performance at next year’s World Cup.
Jones remained defiant in the face of criticism, looking forward to the opportunity to lead the team out of a crisis.
“Every coaching job is the same,” he said. “When you are doing well, everyone pats you on the back and when you are not doing well, you’re pulling knives out of your back. That’s the reality of it.
“I’ve been through it before many times. If you coach for a long period of time you have your good periods and your bad periods. These are the great periods.”
Jones has faced a backlash from the English press, especially the BBC which has slammed his efforts as coach this year.
The BBC has suggested that the side has peaked too early after their Six Nations success in 2016 and 2017 and are now stuck in a dangerous trench 18 months out from the World Cup.
They suggest that the side is in a freefall due to a leaky defence that has seen the side concede 16 tries in their last 3 matches and an average of 30 points when playing in the Southern Hemisphere.
Clearly, for Jones sake, the side needs a reinvigoration in order to guide England back on track. Hopefully, for the Wallabies sake, this change comes after the World Cup.
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Chucky says farewell
James “Chuky” Stannard has offically bid farewell to the sevens program after failing to make a full recovery in time for the Rugby World Cup Sevens next month.
Stannard was already looking to end his career this year, however, his season was cut short after being assaulted by a coward last March, suffering a fractured skill.
The injury had already kept Stannard out of the Commonwealth Games and Stannard was looking towards this tournament as his swansong, but unfortunately, he was not able to shake off the effects of the brutal attack.
“I was doing a bit of training, trying to get back for World Cup and the boys were away at the time and I started doing a bit of contact and upping the ante,” Stannard said.
“I just thought at that time, if I can’t get through this light sort of training, there’s no way in the world I can get through a tournament.”
“It was a tough decision but an easy one because I can live with it knowing that I’ve given everything I can. My health comes before anything and my family.”
Stannard is Australia’s all-time leading international sevens point scorer, having been a part of the sevens program for close to a decade.
Stannard was proud of how he had left the side, noting the success of past players such as Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps in graduating the program for greater honours.
“I just wanted to come into the program and leave it better than what it was when I came in,” he said.”
“It has done that, not just from what I’ve done, it’s from how the program has progressed over the years. We’re going to go well. We’ve got some good young talent there, Walshy has got a great brain for the game.”
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