Month: September 2019

The Wallabies are confident Will Genia will be right to go for the opening June Test Series, assistant coach Stephen Larkham says.

Genia strained the medial ligament in his knee against the Crusaders, with the Rebels confirming he would miss their next three matches, but likely be in the mix for the first June Test.

Asked whether the national side was expecting to have him for the opener, Larkham was unequivocal.

“I’m 100 per cent confident that he’ll be right to go,” he said.

“Without putting a time frame, I think there’s a chance he’ll play some Super Rugby before he gets to Test season but we’ll have to wait and see how that’s progresses.

“Willy….knows how to get right for matches and I’m 100 per cent confident he’ll be right for that first Test in June.

Any possible Genia absence would be a headache for the Wallabies, with the Rebels’ nine the standout halfback in Australia.

His long-time backup, Nick Phipps, has had a frustrating start to the year, with injuries, only earning his first start of the season this weekend.

That limited game time didn’t worry Larkham though, with the assistant happy with the selection of scrumhalves available.

“He’s quite an experienced player, he’s constantly working on his game, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“He’s conscious of the things he needs to work on in his game.

“I’m comfortable with the role he’s playing at the moment with the Waratahs and I’m sure over the next couple of weeks he’ll get a bit more of an opportunity which will put him in good stead for the June Tests.”

Outside of Phipps, Larkham pointed to Genia’s Melbourne understudy, Michael Ruru, as a contender for the Test squad.

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New Zealand-born Ruru is eligible to play for the Wallabies, and was being floated as a possible development player on last year’s Spring Tour after a standout NRC campaign with the Perth Spirit.

“There’s a number of young halfbacks coming through at the moment, so I think if you look for experience, you’d be looking at Nick Phipps as the stand-in guy there and Michael Ruru’s probably the next oldest in terms of age, experience but the other two have a little bit of room around June are Jake Gordon and Joe Powell,” he said.

The Wallabies take on Ireland in the 2018 June Series, kicking off in Brisbane on June 9. Buy tickets here.

Argentina will name their new rugby coach Wednesday with former Pumas hooker Mario Ledesma favoured to succeed Daniel Hourcade, who resigned last month after a string of losses.

A statement by the Argentina Rugby Union (ARU) said the new coach would be presented to the media at 1100 local time (1400 GMT) at their headquarters in Buenos Aires.

Ledesma took charge of the Jaguares this season and transformed them from a moderately successful side into quarter-finalists before losing to the Golden Lions in South Africa.

Particularly pleasing for the 45-year-old was winning all four matches on a tour of Australasia, including a victory over two-time champions Waikato Chiefs in New Zealand.

Under Ledesma, the Jaguares favoured a ball-in-hand approach and they would have won more than eight regular-season matches but for a lack of composure close to the tryline.

He recently summarised the state of Argentine rugby, saying: “I believe we have the quality to compete against any nation.

“But I do not think we are fit or resilient enough and there is a lack of self belief among the players.”

He will look to stars like full-back Emiliano Boffelli, winger Bautista Delguy, fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, hooker Agustin Creevy and flanker Pablo Matera to bring improvement.

When the Jaguares exchanged their orange strip for the blue and white of the national team last month they were woeful in three losses to weakened Wales and Scotland sides.

Hourcade, who guided Argentina to the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-finals in England, quit after a heavy loss to the Scots in a one-off Test.

“We (with his assistants) think that the message is no longer getting through to the team, we have reached the end of a cycle,” Hourcade told the Argentinian Rugby Union website.

“The assistant coaches and I assume the responsibility of making this decision having already mentioned the possibility before the June Tests.”

Since finishing fourth at the last Rugby World Cup, the Pumas have won six Tests and lost 22, including all six in the four-nation Rugby Championship last season.

The 2017 Rugby Championship marked a low point for Argentina as they failed to garner even a bonus point, the first time they have done so badly since debuting in 2012.

Argentina begin their 2018 Rugby Championship with away and home matches against South Africa next month, starting in Durban on August 18.

The Pumas then tackle Australia away and world champions New Zealand away and home during September before completing their programme in early October at home to Australia.

A month later the South Americans will be in Europe for internationals against Ireland, France and Scotland on consecutive Saturdays from November 10.

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Brumbies winger Chance Peni has been suspended for five weeks, over a dangerous tackle.

Peni was yellow-carded for the tackle during the game that left New Zealand star Israel Dagg concussed.

On reviewing the incident, the SANZAAR judicial committee deemed it met the red card threshold and on Monday night, slapped him with the 

Peni has prior form with the judiciary, suspended twice in the past year for dangerous tackles, missing three weeks while playing for the Force and four weeks of the NRC season for a dangerous tackle.

An initial seven-week suspension was reduced to five given Peni’s remorse on the field and an early guilty plea.

“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid range entry point of 6 weeks,” Foul Play Committee chairman Nigel Hampton said.

“The player has received two previous periods of suspension for similar incidents in the preceding 12 months, and the Foul Play Review Committee added a further week to the sanction for that aggravating factor.

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“However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player’s remorse shown on field and his pleading guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to five weeks.”

“The player is therefore suspended for five weeks, up to and including the 17 June 2018.”

The ban means Peni won’t be available for the Brumbies in Super Rugby until after the June Test break.

 

Brad Thorn is as old school as they come.

He is living, breathing proof of what good old fashioned hard work, determination and a dash of talent can produce.

In a 22-year career, that head down, bum up mentality manufactured a Rugby World Cup, five Bledisloe Cups, three Tri-Nations titles, two Grand Slams, a Super Rugby title, Heineken Cup crown, three NRL premierships, two State of Origin shields and legendary status across two codes.

That success has both rugby and rugby league fans enamoured with the man that is charged with leading yet another rebuild of the Queensland Reds.

While his indubitable success on field has plenty to do with that public fixation, the worldwide love for Thorn and the thirst for every word he says is also bred by the realisation that he is a man who represents a bygone era.

Before Steve Jobs, smartphones and social media changed the world, actions were far more important than words and that, according to Thorn, had been lost at Ballymore.

“I feel like in today’s society, people love to talk, they love to yap,” Thorn told RUGBY.com.au.

“We have a lot of social media and these sort of things – that’s all very ‘look at me’.

“I prefer actions and then your words are respected, your words have meaning.

“I drive that with the guys – don’t tell me about it, show it.

“Don’t tell people, show it – through your actions.

“I think that has suited a lot of the guys – good old fashioned hard work, smarts and spending time together.”In those six sentences, one can see Thorn’s core principle as a coach.

The unwavering belief in that principle is bred by Thorn’s experiences as a player, particularly as a junior.

“I wasn’t the loudest guy,” Thorn said.

“What I loved about the game as a 6-year-old right through to my teens – especially in my teens – I was a big goofy looking kid with acne, battling away.

“But on the footy field – it was where I could express myself through my actions.

“It was good for mateship – I knew I wasn’t the coolest dude but they knew I cared about them.

“It’s something that I have loved throughout my career.

“The number one thing I love about the game is the camaraderie.

“When you have that, you will do stuff for each other, you will play hard for each other and you will sacrifice to become a committed group.”

Driving this home to a group of players has worked for Thorn before.

A pair of undefeated seasons at the head of a Queensland U20s side stacked with talent was a start but in Queensland Country’s 2017 NRC title, Thorn proved to himself that he could turn the Reds around.

Country were the NRC’s battlers.

From 2014 to 2016, they were Brisbane City’s poor cousin, toiling away in the bottom two or three of the table, conceding an inordinate amount of points every year.

When Thorn arrived, he flipped the script and led them to an incredible run to the top of the competition.

“The NRC was a test case for me – just to see if we could change a culture and whether I could do it – I was asking myself that,” Thorn said.

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“I had Paul Carozza assisting me and we have Tony McGahan here now as well, who has been great, but it was great to see some turnaround there.

“I didn’t expect to win a final – I just wanted to see something – it was very simple.

“I just wanted to see something different and they bought in.”Wanting to ‘see something’ may not sound like much to Reds fans but in his own, unique way, it means far more to Thorn than meets the eye.

That ‘something’, for Thorn, is a complete culture change at Ballymore.

Step one of that plan was the removal of Nick Frisby and Quade Cooper – the team’s chief playmakers this time last year – from the squad altogether.

Thorn is going to do this job his way and he makes no apologies for doing so.

“Something needed to change at this club and I don’t have a coaching career to protect or worry about stats,” he said.

“I’m just here to serve the club as best I can.

“The last four years have been pretty bleak – 62 games, we have won 16 – something has got to change and it’s not going to be all rosy.

“I could have just kept on cruising along with everyone happy but there needed to be change – just like their did with the NRC side.”

Thorn will live by the sword and die by the sword.

He is yet to fail in doing that to date and if he does, he will be at peace.

“The way I see it, I hopefully at the very least can leave the place in better shape for the next guy.

“Of course, I would prefer it to go well, but that’s how it rolls with me.

“Let’s rock on and see where it takes us.”

The Reds open the Super Rugby season against the Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday February 23, kicking off at 7:45pm AEDT. Buy tickets here.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to give Mason Greenwood only his second Manchester United start.

Greenwood was expected to feature regularly this season as part of Solskjaer’s revamped United side, with a focus on young, British and homegrown talent.

After starting – and impressing in – the club’s final game of the 2018/19 campaign in the defeat to Cardiff, it was thought he would be given a crucial role going forward.

But the 17-year-old has played just 47 minutes of Premier League football, making four substitute appearances before failing to emerge from the bench against Leicester.

Perhaps his most telling contribution thus far was an apparent dispute with Alexis Sanchez before his departure for Inter Milan.

The Sun say that may soon change as Solskjaer is ‘concerned about his side’s lack of firepower’, and his solution will be to start Greenwood against Astana on Thursday.

United open their Europa League campaign at home to the Kazakhstani side, and the ‘lack of a real poacher in the box that is worrying’ Solskjaer will be addressed by starting their best finisher.

 

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“Fuming” Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has sent a warning to Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool fell to defeats in their first Champions League games of the season to Valencia and Napoli respectively.

Their Premier League fortunes have differed, with Chelsea winning two, drawing two and losing one of their opening five games, while Liverpool have emerged victorious in each.

They will meet on Sunday for the second time this season after Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out win in the Super Cup, with Premier League joint top scorer Abraham out for revenge after his missed spot-kick handed the Reds the trophy.

“(Sunday) is a test of character. We can take our anger out against Liverpool,” he said.

“It’s a massive game and both teams will be going to win. We’ll look forward to putting (tonight’s defeat) right.

“It’s still early doors. We’re fuming we lost today. But there’s still five games to go – we just have to win our next five.

“We’re obviously disappointed. We didn’t play our best football. Valencia came and stopped us playing the way we wanted so you have to give them credit.

“We’re going to have a lot of ups and downs in a season. We’ve got to move on and not dwell on it.”

 

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Frank Lampard insisted there was no issue over Chelsea’s hierarchy of penalty takers after Ross Barkley missed a spot kick in their loss to Valencia.

Chelsea looked to be heading for a goalless draw, before Rodrigo fired in Valencia’s winning goal with 15 minutes to go. Barkley’s subsequent missed penalty came after some confusion over who would take it, but Lampard was keen to move on from the issue.

“We shouldn’t lose the game. Clearly. At least not lose it,” he told BT Sport. “We had a fair few chances. And then the penalty, which we miss. We have to keep our heads up. There is a long way to go. It is a lesson. Teams at this level can hurt you.

“Ross is a penalty taker and is when he starts games. He took it and missed it. It is a great story to say there is contention between players. If he scores it is not a story. But he took it and missed. That is it. The disappointment to all of us is that we didn’t get chance to win the game. There is no issue in the dressing room.”

Another sour note for Chelsea was the injury suffered by Mason Mount early in the game – but Lampard hopes it is nothing serious.

“It did affect the game and we know how well he is playing. He looked sharp. It is an ankle injury and hopefully not too bad. It needs to be assessed over the next few days.”

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Despite the defeat, Lampard is convinced his side will be able to bounce back.

“I saw Liverpool lost tonight. This is the Champions League and there are tough games. There will be bumps in the road for us with the youth we have and changes we are trying to make. But we need to be strong and be ready with Liverpool here at the weekend.”

 

The Crusaders snapped a two-game Super Rugby losing streak with a 33-14 bonus point win over the Bulls in Christchurch on Friday.

The Crusaders scored five tries to two, including a brace for Jack Goodhue, making the most of wet conditions in a match that featured plenty of turnovers and handling errors.

The Crusaders, coming off their first back-to-back losses in five years, welcomed back skipper Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty from injury.

“The conditions made the rugby pretty tight but we adapted as the game went on … at times (though) the skills were great,” Whitelock said.

It was the fourth loss in a row for the Bulls, who face a tough South African derby at home against Western Stormers next week.

It also means the Crusaders have not lost to the Bulls in Christchurch since 1996, a sequence that now extends to 11 consecutive home wins. 

“It’s been a difficult tour for us and there’s a lot to work on when we go back home,” Bulls captain Burger Odendaal said.

“But the boys can keep their heads up. I think we showed some great talent and just have to finish that off.”

The Crusaders put themselves on the defensive by conceding four early penalties but the Bulls remained scoreless after repeatedly opting to run the ball rather than take three points. 

RESULT

Crusaders 33

Tries: Bridge, Goodhue 2, Taylor, Barrett

Cons: Hunt 4

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Pens: 0

Bulls 14

Tries: van Staden, Ismaiel 

Cons: Pollard 2

Pens: 0

The Wallabies have had a somewhat rocky relationship with the World Rugby ref bosses but coach Michael Cheika hopes that is being mended.

Cheika attended a World Rugby meeting with referees and Test coaches when he was in Europe recently, and spoke positively about the meeting earlier this week.

“We talked about a few really good points around how they’re going to ref the games,” he said at this week’s Rugby AU #partofMore launch.

“It gave me an opportunity to also keep working on our relationships with, not as much the referees but also improved relations with the referees’ management, get better dialogue and a more regular dialogue with them.”

Cheika has in the past been frustrated by a lack of transparency when it comes to communicating with the World Rugby brass, but is keen to continue to build the lines of communication going forward.

“I’ll touch base again with the refs’ boss when they come out here.

“There’s a May camp for referees in Australia, so I’ll touch base with them again and just keep that dialogue again.”

Wallabies coaches looking for edge

Every small edge makes a difference in top level rugby, and Wallabies assistant coaches Stephen Larkham and Nathan Grey were working to ensure Australia could get that in 2018.

Training gear supplier Gilbert visited Rugby Australia’s offices this week, showing the pair the latest training innovations, and looking to establish some custom-made equipment for the side, in a first for the company.

Grey said the initiative could make a difference for the Wallabies and other levels of rugby.

“Any way that we can use training aids to improve the performance of the players at training and to have a bit of input to tweaking things and how you use things,” he said.

It’s always good and from their perspective, their ability to create a product that’s going to be very useful for not only us at the Wallaby level but also to filter down to the grassroots.

“It’s all about little incremental gains and looking for those one percenters, so to speak.

“If you can produce or create a piece of equipment that’s going to simulate a body or a certain scenario in a game then it’s going to help your preparation and sharpen your focus.” 

Gordon and Phipps go head-to-head as the pair ‘trade positions’

Waratahs halfbacks Jake Gordon and Nick Phipps went head-to-head in a CMC Markets initiative this week, putting the pair in charge of teams from their junior clubs.

It’s an initiative that hit home for both of them, but especially Gordon, who is passionate about expanding the pathways of rugby, having come through outside the private school pathway himself.

“It’s really good to go back to where you started and your grassroots of rugby,” he said.

“I feel very strongly about that.

“I didn’t go to a private school, I came up through the grassroots system and it’s something I feel strongly about and hopefully I dust Nick up.”

Stadium change won’t hurt Australia’s World Cup chances

The NSW government this week announced a change to plans for ANZ and Allianz Stadium’s redevelopment.

Instead of demolishing ANZ, Gladys Berejiklian has opted to simply refurbish the Homebush stadium, while Allianz will be torn down and rebuilt.

Though Rugby Australia supported the initial plan, it is understood the national body isn’t concerned about the changes hurting their bids for a 2021 Women’s World Cup or the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup. 

The Super W is growing in its first season, and it was heartening to see some support for the Rebels women, from male counterpart Richard Hardwick this week.

Hardwick was a conspicuous figure at Rebels training this week, talking to the women and giving advice, and also joined them in the rooms before their clash with the Brumbies.

Great stuff from the capped Wallaby.

Slipper the sleepy centurion

James Slipper celebrated his 100th Super Rugby match last weekend, and his Reds teammates certainly made the most of the significant occasion.

Slipper, well-known for his ability to sleep well in a variety of locations, was dubbed the ‘Sleepy Centurion’ with teammates donning t-shirts with his face and the nickname on their flight back to Australia.

Some great creativity from the Queensland lads for a player who means a lot to the Reds.

Mafi savours special visitors

It wasn’t the best result but Rebels no. 8 Amanaki Mafi had plenty of reason to smile, with his parents in Melbourne for the first time to watch their son play.

Mafi has been the Rebels’ best player over the past two seasons and clearly relished the chance to see his family.

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Aussie Schools looking to fund tour

The Aussie Schools side is hoping to travel to the UK at the end of the year, with a fundraising lunch in a fortnight’s time, run by the Australian Rugby Foundation.

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The Reds have staved off the Bulls with a desperate 20-14 win – a result that would have gone the other way in years gone by.

An Alex Mafi hit on Lood de Jager after the final siren, as the Bulls made one last push for the line, sealed the result in a scenario that often turned to heartbreak over the past five years.

Queensland trailed 14-3 when Andre Warner crossed for a try in the 25th minute and scored 17 unanswered points to claim their second win of the season, sending the 11,827 fans on hand home happy.

There were, once again, glimmers of a Reds team that will provide great hope for their loyal fan base.

Caleb Timu produced his best ever game in his fifth cap for the club, providing Queensland’s chief source of go forward in an attack that, at times, looked stagnant.The 117kg No. 8 was simply superb in the first half, racking up 11 carries with 28 metres, two line breaks and three tackle busts to boot.

Taniela Tupou staked his claim as one of the premier props in Super Rugby, tearing the Bulls scrum to shreds and picking up 21 metres, a tackle bust and a line break from his eight carries.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa was similarly tireless – as was Liam Wright and Izack Rodda – and while Filipo Daugunu made some defensive blunders – which cost them their first try, he showed serious X factor with ball in hand.

Despite all of that, the match couldn’t have started on a worse note for the Reds, with James Slipper penalised at scrum time in the fourth minute and Daugunu, in his first start, completely blowing a defensive read, leaving Warrick Gelant a stroll to the line.

Slipper quickly made amends for his early mistake in winning three scrum penalties and wrestling ascendency back for his side in that department, though repeated raids in the Bulls 22 provided no points in the opening 20, the visitors holding tight until Slipper finally pointed to the posts and Tuttle slotted a penalty to put Queensland on the board with 23 minutes played.The Reds were on the front foot largely thanks to Timu and Chris Feauai-Sautia’s work with ball in hand but they couldn’t crack the Bulls line and eventually turnover ball turned into points in the 25th minute when a lazy Izack Rodda tackle allowed Travis Ismaiel to slice the line and set up Andre Warner for a brilliant team try.

That opened up a 14-3 break for the visitors but Timu was soon rewarded, finally cracking the Bulls line to score in the 36th minute after a sublime no look pass from Tupou.

Queensland’s line speed slackened when the second half resumed but Daugunu added a shot of adrenaline when he shot clear with a brilliant turn of foot from 60 out, dishing to Brandon Paenga-Amosa who then found an airborne Aidan Toua, the fullback diving over under the posts to give the Reds their first lead with 46 minutes on the clock.

The next 20 minute block was filled with missed opportunities but a dominant Reds scrum – winning penalties both with and against their feed – kept them in front.Eto Nabuli bombed a superb opportunity to score with 10 to play but the scrum kept forcing referee Jamie Nutbrown to raise his left arm and eventually, a high tackle on Samu Kerevi saw Lance line up a shot at goal from 37 out in the 76th minute, which he duly slotted.

There were two very nervous moments in the six minutes that followed but a JP Smith pilfer penalty and a Mafi hit sealed the result for the Reds.

Remarkably, it’s the first time they’ve won back-to-back matches since 2014.

RESULT

Reds 20

Tries: Timu, Toua

Cons: Tuttle 2

Pens: Tuttle, Lance

Bulls 14

Tries: Gelant, Warner

Cons: Pollard 2

Pens: 

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