Wednesday’s Rugby News examines the news across the Australian Super Rugby teams, with Beale set to partner Hunt in the centres, Pocock set for an extended rest due to concussion, Quade Cooper keeps his focus on the Rebels whilst leaving the door open for the World Cup and Duncan Paia’aua’s spot in the Reds side assured despite impending Toulon move.
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Kurtley Hunting for Sunwolves
Kurtley Beale has been confirmed as a starter for the Waratahs clash against the Sunwolves, with the Wallaby set to partner new recruit Karmichael Hunt in the centres.
Beale is returning to the Waratahs after being rested from last week’s agonising loss to the Hurricanes, however, a strong performance from Karmichael Hunt had left coach Daryl Gibson with a selection headache as to whether shift Hunt or keep Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper at outside centre.
However, assistant coach Simon Cron has confirmed that Hunt will indeed shift to outside centre after an impressing showing against the Hurricanes, coinciding with Ashley-Cooper being ruled out due to a head knock suffered in that loss.
“As you saw from Karmichael’s game at the weekend, he’s pretty solid, both defensively and in attack. He’ll add a lot wherever he plays for us,” Cron said.
“He’s really good in contact, he makes that first hit and then keeps going. Which is great for us. Also, his ruck and roll at the breakdown are really solid. If anyone gets on the ball in that midfield he cleans out really hard. All his contact zone stuff is brilliant, and that’s important for us, both in attack and defence. He’s been a great addition.”
Beale welcomed the move of Hunt to inside, who was impressed by Hunt’s strong performance and ability to take the ball over the advantage line.
“K had a really great game at the weekend, and really laid that platform to gain the advantage,” Beale said. “And his defence was pretty special as well. It’s great to have that competition in among this group. He just has a really good head on his shoulders on how to read the game, so he can even pop into first five there. We are very lucky to have him.”
It will be interesting to see how the combination of Beale and Hunt work together against the Sunwolves, Hunt did have a strong showing against the Hurricanes despite a few poor tackles in defence, but hopefully he builds on his round 1 performance when he and the Waratahs take on the Sunwolves.
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Pocock set for early rest
The Brumbies are set to take a cautious approach with the injury management of David Pocock, who is set to miss the next two matches due to a concussion.
Pocock was forced from the field after 5 minutes after suffering a head knock against the Rebels, and he was unable to return after failing the HIA test. This will ensure that Pocock misses the Brumbies clash with the Chiefs on Saturday, although the ACT side is likely to rest the star flanker for their round 3 clash against the Hurricanes.
Pocock has notoriously suffered from head and neck trauma, having been ruled out from the last match of the Spring Tour with the flanker also suffering a concussion in January last year in his final game of Japanese Rugby during his sabbatical of enlightenment.
Therefore, the Brumbies are expected to take the extra precautions around his recovery and return, a move which has been applauded by fellow Brumby and Wallaby Scott Sio.
“I think it’s good what world rugby is doing around head knocks, we don’t know the extent of the effects it can have,” the prop told reporters on Tuesday.”
“I know ‘Poey’ would want to play and it looks to me he’s not affected by any symptoms but we’ve just got to take the right measures there and make sure his health is the priority as well.”
The move will force a shift in the forward pack for the Brumbies, with Pete Samu set to join Lachlan McCaffrey and Tom Cusack in the back row.
The extended rest of Pocock will be of interest to Rugby Australia officials, who have earmarked players such as himself for scheduled periods of rest throughout the season, primarily during the back end of the tournament.
It’s nice to see the Brumbies putting the health of Pocock at the highest of importance, however, it will be interesting to see later on in the year if the Brumbies try and claim this period as Pocock’s ‘rest’ period if the Brumbies run into a couple of must-win matches at the back end of the season.
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Cooper’s focus on navy blue, not gold
After his stellar return from the rugby wilderness, Quade Cooper has refused to buy into the hype surrounding his performance, stating that his focus is primarily with the Rebels.
Cooper got rave reviews from rugby pundits and fans alike after steering the Rebels to a season-opening 34-27 win against the Brumbies alongside his former Queensland halves partner Will Genia in Canberra last Friday.
This performance has naturally led to many tipping the polarising flyhalf to be selected for his third World Cup, which is the first of the 50 ‘guarantee Wallaby World Cup selections’ to come out of one or two decent Super Rugby matches by an Australian.
Cooper has maintained that his focus lies with the Rebels, however, he has left the door open for Cheika, new Rugby director Scott Johnson and expected independent selector Michael O’Connor for selection if his form warrants it.
“I think that every person who plays rugby in Australia wants to be able to represent their country, wants to wear a starting jersey for their country,” Cooper said after training on Tuesday.
“I’m no different, but in terms of my focus, it’s not at all on any of that. It’s about playing good football here and enjoying my football and I feel like I’m doing both of those.”
“If Scott Johnson feels that I’m up to it or I deserve to be in the squad, that’s a conversation that I’ll have with him over the course of the year. But if not, I’m having a hell of a time in Melbourne.”
Cooper took time to reflect on his starring role on Australian’s rugby version of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here with James Slipper and Karmichael Hunt (still bigger celebrities than the actual show) during his time in the Queensland club rugby wilderness, noting the importance of his club rugby side Souths and New Zealand dual-code international Sonny Bill Williams in reconnecting Cooper with rugby and finding joy in it again.
“I’m grateful for everything that [Souths] did. They sort of gave me a sense of love for the game in a different way. It definitely was refreshing because there was a lot of things going on at Queensland,” he said.
“One thing I learnt over the last year is about the people who you surround yourself with. I was very fortunate to have Sonny Bill. As soon as everything happened, I spent a month with him training, getting in shape.”
Cooper has been reinvigorated by his move to Melbourne under the tutelage of Dave Wessels, noting that he had no plans to move back after his contract was up and the trials and tribulations that he had suffered over the past 18 months had made him a better person.
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Paia’aua assured of short term future
Duncan Paia’aua has been assured that his position in the Reds side will not be affected by the centre’s impending move to French club Toulon.
Paia’aua will leave Ballymore at the end of the season, having signed a three-year deal with Toulon, however, this move is not set to affect his hopes of securing a centre position for the Queensland side, who are set to announce their lineup for the first match today (Wednesday).
“I’ve had a chat with Thorny and told him I’ve signed (with Toulon) for after the Super Rugby season but he’s indicated he’s still going to put me in contention,” Paia’aua said. “He just wants to play his best side every week and if I’m there or not, it’s up to him…I’ll just put my head down and keep working hard and hopefully I can get the call.”
Paia’aua is locked in a battle to partner captain and Wallaby Samu Kerevi in the centres with Chris Feauai-Sautia, with the Reds leaning towards selecting the later in the hopes of bulldozing the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday.
Despite this, Paia’aua is hoping that his ballplaying skills and speed can help convince Thorn and the coaching staff to shift Kerevi to outside centre and hand him a starting spot.
“Obviously I’m pushing for that 12 jersey. It just depends on what Thorny wants – if he wants two big runners in the centres or if he wants another playmaker outside of Hamish (Stewart) or whoever the 10 is. Obviously, Chris and Samu are really big bodies and they’re really good ball carriers but I wouldn’t shy away from running hard lines either..I’ll back my skill set and hopefully get the call.”
Paia’aua future club Toulon, has made headlines throughout the week due to a bizzare rant from owner Mourad Boudjellal’s against former All Black Julian Savea, with Paia’aua well aware of the pressure that faces him with the big money move.
“I guess when people sign there they think the money’s good and everything but on the back of that you’ve got to perform as well,” Paia’aua said.”
“I’m not saying that Julian hasn’t performed but I think there’s a lot of pressure on players like that who go over there and are expected to perform and I’m no different. Hopefully, I can perform when I get there as well.”
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