Wednesday’s rugby news has Cooper back in the team, Jake White staking his claim, more support for Patston and Burgess trying to squeeze into the English squad.
[one_half last=”no”]
Cooper among changes
Quade Cooper will make his return to the Wallabies team, included on the bench for Saturday’s third Bledisloe Cup Test. Cooper has been called in to cover the five-eighth position with Matt Toomua feeling the effects of concussion and Kurtley Beale indefinitely suspended, both of whom could have shifted to 10 in the case of injury.
“Quade has had a lot of great memories at Suncorp Stadium, and we’ll be looking for him to provide the same impact should he get called on late in the game,” said coach Ewen McKenzie. Other additions to the starting team include Christian Leali’ifano at inside centre, while Rob Simmons returns from a head knock. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
White going after top job again
Jake White appears to be making a push for the Wallaby coaching job, hoping it becomes available amid the recent dramas. White recently quit his post at the Durban Sharks and there are reports that White’s management has made contact with the ARU and possibly that ARU chairman Michael Hawker sounded out the former Springboks coach.
Former Test coach Eddie Jones has called on the ARU to make changes if the “rabble continues”, suggesting that White be given the job of turning around the Wallabies for the World Cup while the ARU groom Michael Cheika to take-over in the long-term. The speculation has been denied by ARU boss Bill Pulver. [/one_half]
[one_half last=”no”]
More support for Patston
Quade Cooper and Christian Leali’ifano have broken the appearance of player unanimity concerning the Beale v Patston question. While it previously appeared that the Wallabies team were all dissatisfied with her place in the team management set-up, the two players have now praised her work, with Leali’ifano saying her departure felt “like losing a mother on tour.”
Former Wallaby Phil Kearns also threw his support behind Link. “Ewen McKenzie hasn’t sent any lewd emails and hasn’t been in trouble for abusing anyone on a plane,” Kearns said. “This is about the behaviour of a player.
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Burgess still in RWC contention
While England head coach Stuart Lancaster has settled on 80 per cent of his World Cup squad, he has not dismissed the inclusion of league convert Sam Burgess, who will not be able to make his rugby debut until December thanks to the broken cheekbone sustained in the NRL grand-final a week ago.
While Lancaster emphasised that Burgess will need to learn the game very quickly to be in contention for an inside centre spot, he did emphasise the positive attributes the code-hopper would bring. “What stands out for me is his mental toughness and strength, the desire to dominate his opposite number,” Lancaster said.
[/one_half]
