Wednesday’s rugby news has Australia’s drop in the IRB rankings, Cooper talking boxing, a notable Hall of Fame inductee and some much needed returns for the Welsh team.
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Ireland pass Wallabies in rankings
Losses for England and the Wallabies have seen Ireland jump to third place in the latest IRB World Rankings. Australia narrowly avoided a two-place fall to fifth after the 26-29 loss to France, now sitting just one hundredth of a point above England.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt dismissed the change in rankings in preperation for this weekend’s match, saying, “We have to be realistic and look at matters on the pitch and know we have to tighten up our scrum and get the set pieces right.” Schmidt also emphasised the difficulty that the new-look Wallabies will offer for Irish preparations, curious about the changes to be put in place.
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Cooper eyes boxing return
Quade Cooper is looking to return to the ring early next year in preperations for the World Cup. The possibility of the Reds playmaker notching his third professional bout will depend on his ongoing contract talks with the ARU, although Bill Pulver has previously been skeptical about Cooper juggling both sports.
Cooper returned to the Wallabies fold with 20 minutes off the bench against the French and says he is unfazed by having to play second fiddle to Test 10 Bernard Foley. “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a different role and all you can do is make the most of the role that’s asked of you,” he said. [/one_half]
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Lynagh in the IRB Hall of Fame
World Cup-winning five-eighth Michael Lynagh has been inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame along with 14 others in a ceremony in London. In Lynagh’s 73 Tests for the Wallabies, he scored 17 tries and had a winning rate of 71.52 per cent.
Stars from the women’s game in New Zealand’s Anna Richards and the United States’ Patty Jervey were also named as the first female inductees.
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Welsh team reinforced for NZ
Wales trio Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny and Jonathan Davies are among those to return for Saturday’s clash with New Zealand in Cardiff.
Davies’ inclusion represents the only change from the 33-28 defeat to the Wallabies earlier this month, as he returns to partner Jamie Roberts in midfield. “It is boost to have players back from injury and our task will be to match the intensity and aggression of New Zealand,” coach Warren Gatland emphasised.
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