Wednesday’s rugby news has a boost for the Tahs, the Brumbies looking abroad, the Reds’ World Cup worries and a Sharks flanker receiving an extended ban.
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Stars add depth for Tahs
The NSW Waratahs have been greeted with some positive injury news in preparation for their match against the Stormers, with Adam Ashley-Cooper (knee) and Wallaby hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (concussion) completing a full contact training session and cleared to return to the field. Coach Michael Cheika is still taking the conservative route, with both players coming back from the bench, with Tolu Latu at no. 2 and Matt Cararro at no. 13. featuring in an unchanged starting lineup from their last game against the Blues.
The Tahs will also receive a boost from the fact that Stormers captain Duane Vermuelen- one of the IRB’s top five players last year- has been rested for the match as part of the Springboks World Cup preparations.
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ACT looking overseas for a 9
The Brumbies have their eyes on a number of foreign stars to replace current 9 Nic White, who is heading to France after the World Cup. A number of potential players are reportedly being lined up to replace the Wallaby scrum-half, including former All Blacks number nine Jimmy Cowan, Springbok star Fourie du Preez and French half-back Frédéric Michalak.
White said that he had no second thoughts about his decision to head to Montpellier in the wake of Will Genia’s announcement that he would be joining Stade Francais next year. “There’s an opportunity for someone else to put their hand up when we go,” he said. “Yeah, it looks thin but someone else will come through and take everyone by surprise. I think there’s plenty of depth here.”
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Reds form hurting Wallaby hopes
Liam Gill has lamented the poor start to the Super Rugby season exhibited by the Reds, admitting that his World Cup hopes may rest on the team turning their season around. “To be a Wallaby you have to be a part of a successful setup,” the 15-Test Gill said. “We understand that we need to really regroup and start to drive a winning culture.”
The Reds will begin their South African tour against the Bulls and have not won in Pretoria since 2001. The team will also be playing without injured injured stars Quade Cooper (shoulder) and Jake Schatz (elbow), while former skipper James Horwill is under a one-match suspension.
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Deysel gets 7 weeks
Sharks flanker Jean Deysel has been banned for seven weeks for kneeing an opponent in the head in a Super Rugby game. While the offence was bad enough to warrant a red-card at the time, Sanzar Duty Judicial Officer Nicholas Davidson QC also took into account a previous offence by Deysel last season, when he was red-carded for stamping on a player.
The forward is the third Sharks player to receive a hefty ban for foul play this season. Captain Bismarck du Plessis was suspended for four weeks last month for kicking a player, and centre Francois Steyn is currently serving a five-week ban for a dangerous tip tackle.
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