Wednesday’s Rugby News sees the Super XV side announced, the race for the number 13 spot opens up, the Lions looking for fair go and an exiled pair set for return in NRC
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Super XV Side takes shape for trial match
The two sides for the biggest match of the season have started to take shape. Yes, the Super XV side has been named for the upcoming trial match against the Wallabies at Leichhardt Oval on Friday.
The most fascinating inclusion in the side is exiled prop James Slipper, who has been selected to return after his suspension for recording a second positive drug test for cocaine finished last week.
His selection comes at a time where Queensland was not expected to bring back the experienced prop, as Brad Thorn looks to maintain a strong culture around the club, however Manenti has welcomed Sipper back into the fold.
“James’ enthusiasm has really impressed me since we invited him to join. He’s keen to be back out there and training hard but also really wants to get his old Wallabies teammates firing ahead of that first Bledisloe. That just shows the character of the bloke,” Super XV co-coach John Manenti said.
The rest of the squad has a heavy Rebel and Eastwood touch to it, captained by Tom English, which is set to replicate the attacking shapes and patterns of the All Blacks. So committed are they to the cause that assistant coach Tim Walsh has looked into finding black jerseys for the side to wear.
“This is not a light-hearted game of touch sort of thing,” Manenti said. “This is going to be full-on and physical and it’s what Cheik wants to prepare the Wallabies for the next month of footy.”
“The best way we can do that is really rip and tear and be physical and aggressive and try and present some of the shapes and attacks that the All Blacks did through the June window, which we’ve been looking at and trying to replicate.”
The Super XV side is as followed:
1. James Slipper (Bond University/Queensland Reds)
2. Anaru Rangi (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
3. Sam Talakai (Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels)
4. Blake Enever (Easts/Brumbies)
5. Matt Philip (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
6. Angus Cottrell (Power House/Melbourne Rebels)
7. Richard Hardwick (Harlequins/Melbourne Rebels)
8. Pat Sio (Eastwood)
9. Moses Sorovi (Wests/Queensland Reds)
10. Andrew Deegan (Wanneroo/Western Force)
11. Filipo Daugunu (Wests/Queensland Reds)
12. Duncan Paia’aua (Norths/Queensland Reds)
13. Tom English – captain (Melbourne Unicorns/Melbourne Rebels)
14. Pama Fou (Eastwood)
15. Semisi Tupou (Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels)
Reserves
16. Hugh Roach (Eastwood/NSW Waratahs)
17. Fereti Sa’aga (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels)
18. Mees Erasmus (Easts/Brumbies)
19. Angus Blyth (Bond University/Queensland Reds)
20. Tevin Ferris (Nedlands/Western Force)
21. Mick Snowden (Eastwood)
22. Sam Lane (Manly)
23. Fabian Goodall (Eastwood)
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Selection headache for unlucky no 13
With the remaining Australian super rugby side knocked out of contention, the focus shifts towards selecting the Wallabies side for the first Bledisloe clash against New Zealand. The most pressing issue/contentious spot up for grabs is the Outside Centre position.
With injuries to the double K’s Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani, Cheika has been left with numerous options to fill the position.
The front runner for the spot is utility Reece Hodge, who has been backed as the right man for the job and a natural centre according to his Super Rugby coach Dave Wessels.
“I think Reece is a natural centre, whether it be 12 or 13,” Wessels told RUGBY.com.au. “He will feel very comfortable there. He has fantastic acceleration which is an ability to genuinely take an outside hole, and defensively he is very solid.”
Wessels notes Hodge’s versatility as a huge asset and something that is vital for modern football.
I think Reece has actually enjoyed playing in a few different positions because it has given him the perspective of what players either side of him expect of him in those roles. He knows, in some way, his role in the national side is going to be one that he has to be versatile, in order to fill those,” Wessels said.
“That is only possible when someone has a pretty tough mental side, too. He doesn’t get rattled by that at all. You call him in Monday and say “you’re going to play ten”, he’s happy with that. He goes to training and doesn’t think about it again. That takes a certain type of person and that’s what makes him so good.
The tantalizing option that has been floated for the position is Israel Folau. His selection at centre has been backed by flyhalf Bernard Foley, who believes that Folau could be a quality long term option for the position.
Folau played several games at outside centre for the Waratahs in 2016 and 17 and acting Waratahs skipper Foley has no doubt the gifted back could do the job at Test level.
“I think he’s a phenomenal player wherever he plays, he’s a big body and he’s a guy who can get us across the gain line there,’ Foley said.
“I’m sure there will be a number of different scenarios thrown up (for the Bledisloe Tests) and Izzy there is definitely a threat and he’s a possibility. I think naturally he could be a really good long term 13.”
Chieka’s preference will be cleearer as the Wallaby XV side will be selected tomorrow, however I would not rule out Tom English as a bolter option for the position, personally don’t think he would put a foot wrong if given the chance.
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Lions look for fair go in final clash
In the other important clash of the weekend, the Lions are looking for a fair go from the referees when they travel for their Grand Final clash against the Crusaders.
Lions coach Swys de Bruin raised the old spectre of New Zealand teams getting away with murder by officials ahead of Saturday’s Super Rugby final and wants there to be equilibrium when it comes to the officiating in the showpiece match of the season.
After having to listen to complaints from New Zealand when Jaco Peyper was appointed last year, SANZAAR decided to appoint Australian Angus Gardner as the neutral official for the final. However, their attempts for neutrality have been thrown into question after they mysteriously decided to keep two New Zealand assistant referees for the game, something that concerns De Bruin.
De Bruin is especially concerned at how the Crusaders rush defence is allowed to creep onto the attacking team and as a team that enjoys space, he wants the offside line ruled to the letter of the law.
“One thing we have to remember it is at their home ground. We will have a good meeting with the refs before the time and offside lines apply for both sides. They can’t, because they are champions and people think they are good, get away with certain stuff. And I will make sure we meet with the refs about that,” De Bruin said.
“Like the offside line, like the hit on the left hand-side on the loosehead, stuff like that. So I will have that talk like that to them. We need a fair deal, all we ask is a fair deal and I hope we will get it.”
“But it is things that I have to address and make sure. There is a reason why there are 10 metres at a scrum, I looked at TJ Perenara when he touched that ball they are already five metres away, it can’t be. They have to be 10 until the ball is out. Those are the little things that we will address.”
It will interesting to see if these concerns will be addressed as generally when a coach comes out so openly about this, there seems to be an instant crackdown on the issue. Hopefully, Aussie Angus can crack down on the issue and ensure the clash is an open affair.
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Exiled duo begin their road to redemption
After spending the season in the Rugby wilderness, Quade Cooper and Karmichael Hunt are set to begin their road back in the National Rugby Championship.
Both playmaker Cooper and drug-tainted Karmichael Hunt, with four solid club games under his belt, will be named in the Brisbane City squad for the NRC kick-off on September 2 according to Jim Tucker.
Quade has been castaway like Tom Hanks after Brad Thorn told the decorated flyhalf that he was not in his plans for the 2018 Super Rugby season.
Thorn moved on from Cooper at the start of the year and there was no phone call to ever invite him back for even a training cameo during the Reds’ 16-game campaign in Super Rugby.
Cooper has looked to embody a different famous Tom in his quest to return to the top level of rugby union, often posting rugby highlights on social media with the tag #missionimpossible.
He looks to continue his (Rouge) comeback regardless of the Fallout and any (Ghost) Protocol against him on the weekend when he looks to guide Souths to victory in their knockout semi final against Easts.
Hunt returns to the fray after making a brief appearance for Souths after his club side Norths rejected his advances to return to the field after a long lay-off due to his arrest over alleged cocaine possession.
His return has been strong with all reports suggesting that his fourth game back was a strong effort at outside centre, however, a lack of game time has left him ineligible for the Queensland club finals.
Both selections come at an interesting time for Australian rugby. Whilst the hypothetical red line has been seemingly put through Cooper’s name, Hunt still remains a prospect that intrigues both the Reds and Wallabies as Cheika looks to solidify his centre partnership. Hopefully, Hunt can keep on the narrow and straight path and both men can have a successful campaign for Brisbane City.
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