Wednesday’s rugby news has plenty on Force vs the Lions, Noddy expressing doubts about our chances & a Foley backflip
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Foley defends Force squad
Western Force coach Michael Foley has hit back at critics of the side he has named to face the British and Irish Lions tonight. The squad features seven players with no Super Rugby Caps, balanced by five former Wallabies – Brett Sheehan, Salesi Ma’afu, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson and Sam Norton-Knight. Foley claims it is “pretty insulting to the guys taking the field” to question the quality of the side selected with the coach trying to balance priorities with a Super Rugby clash looming on Sunday.
As for the Lions, they are also rotating through their rather large touring party, with the players who faced the Barbarians getting a rest. According to Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree, the rotations can be expected for the next couple of fixtures, but “certainly by the Waratahs and ACT games, we need to know what we’re going to start with in the Test”.
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Bernard rebels against the Rebels
It appears young fly half Bernard Foley is staying with the Tahs after all. Last week I brought you the news that it looked like Foley would be heading south next season, news that some of you rightly pointed out was only reported in the Telegraph. Well, now they are the only ones reporting on Foley’s supposed backflip. According to the paper, Foley signed a letter of intent to join Melbourne, only to decide against the move after agreeing to a new deal with the Tahs.
The Rebels aren’t exactly thrilled with this, Rebels Chief Executive Rob Clarke has hit out, claiming “In the past a man’s word was his bond and a handshake would seal a deal. In this instance, not even a signature on a document was enough to have an agreement honoured,” before somewhat contradicting himself with a “we certainly wish Bernard the best remaining at the Waratahs.”
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Noddy has Wallaby concerns
Wallabies great Michael Lynagh has executed an anti-Glen McGrath, by professing fears that the Wallabies will cop a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Lions in the coming series.
Speaking on the back of recent injury blows to the Aussies and a strong first up showing by the Lions in Hong Kong, the former Wallabies fly-half suspects the Aussies do not have the depth to match the tourists. According to Lynagh, the Wallabies “have 20-odd players who are strong but as soon as you scratch the surface, they become a bit thin.” He also believes that the long tour will leave the Lions more cohesive and better prepared outfit than their opponents.
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Force looking to bash Lions
Returning to tonight’s game, according to Force halfback Brett Sheehan, his team will unsurprisingly be looking to get a little physical with the Lions tonight. Sheehan is of the opinion that the Perth team “want it to be an extremely physical game”, a “battle” and is also hoping things get a little “fiery”.
Robbie Deans also went on the front foot yesterday. After bashing the game against the Baa-Baas as a “junket” (at least for the invitational side). He then proceeded to claim that the Force were going to attempt to “take them apart limb by limb”. If that is the case, it might be a rather painful night for the tourists.
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