Saturday, September 29, 2012
Deans: Door open for Cooper
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans maintains the door is still open for Quade Cooper despite the playmaker's ongoing criticism of Australian rugby.
The Australian team continued its build-up for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against South Africa in Pretoria and did not want to let Cooper's latest round of comments become a distraction.
The injured 24-year-old said he was uncertain about his Test playing future unless his concerns were addressed.
When asked in a television appearance on Thursday night if he would have played for the Wallabies if he had not been injured and picked in the side. Cooper said he would not.
"No, like I said, it's the environment there at the moment is one that I don't feel comfortable in and if I don't feel comfortable and if I don't feel that I can give 100 per cent for my country and that yellow jersey, that's a very big problem," he told Fox Sports.
Cooper, who previously described the environment within the Wallabies as "toxic", made it clear how unhappy he was with the current set-up the national team operated under.
"For me to continue to improve as a player and as a person you want to be involved in the best possible environment and I feel that environment is sort of destroying me as a person and as a player," Cooper said.
He said he believed the Wallabies needed to be better looked after and prepared if they were to perform at their best.
Deans was asked if the door was still open and replied: "yes", adding he was open to talking through the issues with the disillusioned player.
"I haven't seen his quotes (from the television show)," Deans said at a press conference in Pretoria.
"We're concentrating on playing a Test.
"It hasn't been a distraction at all, we've had a good week of preparation."
The Queensland Reds player says he would love to honour a three-year deal he agreed to with the Super Rugby franchise earlier this year but whether the deal is ratified by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is out of his hands.
He said he'd been communicating with Deans via text messages since his comments over the weekend, reiterating his spat isn't a personal one between the pair.
But he expressed a further frustration that his talents were being wasted under Deans' current strategies.
"As the five-eighth you'd like to think you've got input into the game plans and sometimes the input goes in one ear and out the other," he said.
Cooper's outburst and his Twitter comment he'd like to play with friend and former All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams have re-ignited speculation he could be headed to rugby league, with Williams expected to join the Sydney Roosters next year.
The ARU broke its silence on the issue earlier on Thursday with a brief statement which said they'd written to Cooper about his comments but didn't disclose if he was facing disciplinary action.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia First posted September 28, 2012 08:14:36ARU left confused by quarrelling Quade
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief John O'Neill is "utterly confused" at much of the criticism levelled by Quade Cooper at his organisation and says it is up to the fly half if he plays for the Wallabies again.
Cooper, currently sidelined by injury, said in a television interview on Thursday he would not play for Australia unless changes were made to the "toxic" environment surrounding the team, which he felt was "destroying" him.
"Most disturbingly, he was firm about not playing for the Wallabies unless things change," O'Neill said in a statement released on Friday.
"If that is how he feels, then that is his choice. The reality is a decision on whether or not he stays in Australian rugby has to this point rested with him since he received an ARU offer in early July."
The 24-year-old's contract with the ARU expires at the end of the year and he has not signed a new deal despite agreeing to stay an extra three years in Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds.
In the television interview, Cooper slammed the defensive tactics of coach Robbie Deans, who was installed by O'Neill, and said his dissatisfaction with the environment at the Wallabies had come to a head after the win over Argentina two weeks ago.
"Much of what was said ... has left us utterly confused," O'Neill added.
"Quade wants more of a say in the game plan, he wants to play his style of game. He certainly made that clear. Yet he also said he could adapt if required.
"He talks of an unhappy environment without elaborating. He uses the word 'toxic' - an extremely strong descriptor."
Another of Cooper's complaints was that the Wallabies did not have a dedicated training facility, a criticism dismissed out of hand by O'Neill.
"We've never had these concerns raised previously," he said.
"The fact is the Wallabies are a national team. They train, stay and play in cities all around the country and overseas.
"The Australian cricket team and the Socceroos, same thing. Suggesting the Wallabies are under resourced has equally come out of the blue."
Cooper also reiterated that he wanted to play alongside Sonny Bill Williams, the All Black who has been linked with NRL side the Sydney Roosters, further fuelling rumours that he might be preparing to quit rugby union.
Cooper said he intended to honour his three-year contract with the Reds, but said whether the deal was ratified by the ARU was out of his hands.
At his best a mercurial talent whose unpredictability can unlock the game's increasingly tight defences, Cooper helped Australia to a first Tri-Nations title in a decade last year.
The New Zealand-born playmaker had less success at last year's World Cup in New Zealand, where he was vilified as the host country's "public enemy number one" and ended the tournament with a serious knee injury.
A further problem with the joint ruled him out of Saturday's match against South Africa in Pretoria and the last Wallabies game of the Rugby Championship against the Pumas in Argentina.
Reuters
Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia First posted September 28, 2012 14:40:56Friday, September 28, 2012
Cooper hints Wallabies career may be over
Injured five-eighth Quade Cooper says he is unlikely to play for the Wallabies again unless his concerns about the state of Australian rugby are addressed.
Cooper, who spoke of a "toxic environment" within the Wallabies during an interview on Sunday, has stood by his comments before making it clear how unhappy he is with the current set-up the national team operates under.
The Queensland Reds playmaker says he would love to honour a three-year contract he agreed with the Super Rugby franchise earlier this year but whether the deal is ratified by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is out of his hands.
And Cooper will not be backing down from his belief the Wallabies need to be better looked after and prepared if they are to perform at their best.
"I'm just trying here to be the best that I can be and that's why I said I didn't want to be involved in that kind of environment," Cooper told Fox Sports.
"For me to continue to improve as a player and as a person you want to be involved in the best possible environment and I feel that environment is sort of destroying me as a person and as a player.
"The environment there is one that I don't feel comfortable in and if I don't feel comfortable in it, if I don't feel I can give 100 per cent for my country and for that yellow jersey, that's a very big problem."
Cooper says his frustration came to a head in the build-up to the Wallabies' Rugby Championship Test against Argentina on the Gold Coast earlier this month.
The Wallabies scraped home to claim a come-from-behind 23-19 win over the Pumas but Cooper says the result still felt like a defeat and left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Cooper says there is "a number of things" that need to be addressed starting with the facilities available to the Wallabies to prepare for matches.
He says he has been communicating with coach Robbie Deans via text messages since his comments over the weekend, reiterating his spat is not a personal one between himself and Deans.
But he expressed a further frustration that his talents were being wasted under Deans' current strategies.
"As the five-eighth you'd like to think you've got input into the game plans and sometimes the input goes in one ear and out the other," he said.
"That's how, myself, I definitely feel. I'm an attacking player, so if you're going to put an attacking player in and expect them to play a defensive game style then do you have input?"
Cooper's outburst and his comment on Twitter that he would like to play with close friend and former All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams have re-ignited the argument that the 24-year-old could be a target for rugby league.
Williams is expected to join Sydney Roosters next year.
The ARU broke its silence on the issue earlier on Thursday with a brief statement, which said they had written to Cooper about his comments but did not disclose if he was facing disciplinary action.
Cooper said his first choice would still be to stay in rugby if he has that option.
AAP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted September 27, 2012 22:44:54Thursday, September 27, 2012
Goosen making first start as Steyn is axed
The Springboks will start 20-year-old fly half Johan Goosen for the first time against the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship on Sunday (AEST).
The fairytale rise of the young number 10, who only made his senior debut last year in the domestic Currie Cup championship for the Free State Cheetahs, continued when he was named in the team on Wednesday.
The South African media and public clamour for Goosen has intensified as one-time golden boy Morne Steyn suffered a place-kicking slump that culminated in him missing four of five shots at goal in a 21-11 loss to New Zealand this month.
Steyn, famous for his halfway line penalty that sealed a Test series against the 2009 British and Irish Lions, does not even make the bench with another rising star, Golden Lion Elton Jantjies, covering Goosen.
A criticism of 28-year-old Bulls fly half Steyn was that he often lay too deep at set pieces and in broken play, restricting the chances of the Springboks crossing the gain line.
His field kicking also left much to desired at times in recent Tests, squandering hard-won possession by booting the ball too far ahead of chasing team-mates and gifting the ball to opponents.
Goosen injured his shoulder against Otago Highlanders in the Super Rugby clash this year and played only one Currie Cup match on his return before being promoted to the Springbok squad.
He came off the bench in the away losses to the Wallabies and All Blacks and gets his big chance in a match that could determine who finishes second behind runaway leaders New Zealand.
The All Blacks have 16 points, the Wallabies eight, the Springboks seven and new boys Argentina three with two rounds left of the expanded southern hemisphere championship.
"I have maintained from the outset that I will not rush Johan, but I feel he is now ready to start a Test and I am excited to see what he can bring," said Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer.
"Morne has played close to 140 matches at Test, Super 15 and Currie Cup level in the last four seasons and probably deserves a break. Morne is a fighter and I know he will bounce back."
Goosen is one of three definite changes to the team beaten in Dunedin with Eben Etzebeth, available again after a ban for threatening to head butt Australian Nathan Sharpe, and Andries Bekker recalled.
They replace Flip van der Merwe, who drops to the bench, and Juandre Kruger. Losing five of their throws against the All Blacks played a part in the decision.
There could be a fourth change if inside centre Francois Steyn fails to recover from an ankle injury, with new squad inclusion Jaco Taute from the Golden Lions on stand-by.
Australia will name its team later today with most interest in whether Berrick Barnes or Kurtley Beale is chosen at fly half in the absence of injured Quade Cooper.
South Africa side:
Zane Kirchner; Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers (capt), Francois Steyn or Jaco Taute, Francois Hougaard; Johan Goosen, Ruan Pienaar; Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw; Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg, Coenie Oosthuizen, Flip van der Merwe, Marcell Coetzee, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute or Juan de Jongh, Patrick Lambie
AFP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, south-africa First posted September 27, 2012 09:12:57Beale to start at 10 for Wallabies
Kurtley Beale will make his maiden Test appearance at five-eighth after being named to wear the Wallabies' number 10 jersey against South Africa in Pretoria on Sunday morning (AEST).
Beale comes into the starting XV to replace Quade Cooper, who is sidelined for the remainder of the Rugby Championship because of a knee injury.
Cooper's absence is the only change to the Wallabies' XV that escaped with a 23-19 victory over Argentina on the Gold Coast earlier this month.
Queensland lock Rob Simmons has been included on a 5-2 (five forwards, two backs) reserves bench.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says he has full confidence Beale will be up to the challenge, despite never starting at five-eighth at the Test level.
"The [jersey] number might be new but his role within the game won't be," he said in a statement..
"Although his season hasn't been without challenge, Kurtley stepped up with his involvement on the Gold Coast, making a difference when he was on the field.
"He's brought that enthusiasm forward with him since we've been in South Africa, has worked hard on the training track, and is excited about the opportunity ahead.
He has good memories from some of his experiences over here."
Beale kicked the winning penalty goal after the full-time siren when the Wallabies struck through for their first win on the South African high veldt in 47 years in Bloemfontein in 2010.
He is one of eight survivors from the Wallabies squad that defeated the Springboks 41-39.
Wallabies squad: Berrick Barnes, Dominic Shipperley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Radike Samo, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson
Reserves bench: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Anthony Faingaa
Tags: rugby-union, sport, south-africa, australia First posted September 27, 2012 17:20:55ARU breaks silence on Cooper controversy
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has made a brief response to Quade Cooper's outspoken comments on the Wallabies, claiming they have written to the mercurial five-eighth.
Cooper, who is sidelined with a knee injury, launched a Twitter outburst against coach Robbie Deans last weekend, expressing his frustration at the tactics used by the Wallabies in recent Test matches.
He also spoke to the media about a "toxic environment" within the national team set-up, sparking rumours he might be finishing up with rugby union and possibly contemplating a switch to rugby league.
The ARU issued a brief statement on Thursday saying they had written to Cooper but without elaborating on whether he would be facing any disciplinary action over his comments or not.
The statement also failed to respond to Cooper's claims of problems within the set-up of the game, leaving fans in the dark over whether he has a legitimate gripe or is just venting personal frustration.
"Australian Rugby Union has written to Quade Cooper in relation to social media comments," the statement read.
"However, ARU has no intention of conducting those discussions with Quade in the public arena.
"To that end, we will be making no further comment at this stage."
Meanwhile, Queensland remains confident Cooper will stay with the Reds despite his publicised frustration with the Wallabies and ARU.
Reds chief executive Jim Carmichael issued an open letter on Wednesday night, saying Cooper "has no interest in leaving the Reds".
"He loves playing for Queensland and representing is country and has reaffirmed his commitment to our organisation on several occasions, and again as late as yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon," the letter read.
Carmichael has also rejected suggestions that Cooper's actions are a part of a Reds campaign to "bring about a coaching change at a national level" and have Ewen McKenzie installed as Wallabies coach.
McKenzie is regarded as the frontrunner to take the Wallabies' head coaching role should Deans' contract be terminated.
AAP/ABC
Tags: rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted September 27, 2012 16:08:46Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Brumbies finalise roster
Brumbies coach Jake White has completed his 2013 player roster with the signing of South African countryman Etienne Oosthuizen.
The 19-year-old Oosthuizen, who is an option at lock and in the back row, made his Super Rugby debut for the Lions in 2012.
He will fill the position of the Brumbies' foreign development player, meaning he will be available for the Wallabies after serving a period of residency in Australia.
Tags: rugby-union, super-rugby, sport, canberra-2600 First posted September 26, 2012 12:17:24Injured Moore leaves Wallabies camp
The Wallabies hope injured hooker Stephen Moore will be the only major absentee from their team to face South Africa on Sunday morning (AEST).
A gastro bug has gone through the camp but team officials are confident of having everyone available when the line-up for the Loftus Versfeld match is named on Thursday.
First choice number two Moore is on his way back to Australia from South Africa after a hamstring injury prematurely ended his two-match tour.
Moore was set to become the most capped hooker in Wallabies history against the Springboks in Pretoria, overtaking Jeremy Paul with the pair currently on 72.
However the 29-year-old re-injured his troublesome hamstring at training and returned home on Tuesday night.
The injury has forced him to miss the past two Wallabies Tests.
Polota-Nau will now start at hooker and Saia Faingaa to come on to the bench, while Queenslander James Hanson will join the squad on Wednesday and he will remain with the side for their trip to Argentina to play the Pumas at Rosario on October 7.
The Wallabies are looking for their first ever victory in Pretoria when the teams line up at Loftus Versfeld.
They cracked their first win over South Africa on the high veldt in 47 years with their epic win in Bloemfontein in 2010.
While nine Australians are backing up from that victory, only Jannie du Plessis and fellow prop Tendai Mtawarira have more than 30 caps in the South African pack that recently lost to the All Blacks in Dunedin.
But Du Plessis said there were some advantages to inexperience.
"Those players are hungry and will play better than someone who has played a hundred Tests and has a 'been there, done that' approach," he said.
"As they say, 'a hungry dog hunts best'."
Du Plessis said the Australian scrum was a different prospect to New Zealand as they relied more on strategy than a physical presence.
"I don't want to say they are cheaters, please don't say that, but they just scrum differently," he said.
"The Wallabies are much more tactical, they know what they want from scrums in certain areas and that's what they'll attack.
"So it's a big challenge against them ... they have a great loosehead in Benn Robinson and he scrums well with Tatafu Polota-Nau, they're both shortish and quite strong."
Dennis said the front row had worked hard to counter their opposition.
"What suits us might not suit them," Dennis said.
"It's all within the laws, it's just whatever works for your team."
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, south-africa, australia First posted September 26, 2012 06:10:48Barnes in the running for fly half role
Australia's Berrick Barnes believes he will play at either fly half or full-back in Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against South Africa in Pretoria, as coach Robbie Deans considers his options at number 10.
Barnes, one of three contenders for the fly half position along with the mercurial Kurtley Beale and Mike Harris, has also appeared at inside centre this year as well as full-back.
"I'm sure I'll either be at 10 or 15, and if I'm full-back then I'll have a lot more work under the high ball," he said.
"No side tests the full-back as much as the Springboks do. People talk about the forward battle, but you have to deal with the kicking game as well."
Barnes is fully expecting the Springboks to bombard the visitors with high kicks and says the tactic had contributed to the Wallabies struggling to beat them in Perth on September 8.
"You're not allowed to kick in Australia," he laughed. "But there's a real appreciation for the kicking game here, I guess it depends on what you find entertaining.
"It's a huge part of Test rugby, how you exit your own half and we struggled with that in Perth. We'll endeavour not to try as many grubbers this time.
"They can be effective if you get them through the line, it's just we didn't get any through."
If Barnes does play at fly half, he is expecting the Springboks to put pressure on him by running at his channel with their big centres.
"Frans Steyn is over 100 kilograms, he's not small, but you have to deal with it as best you can, much like tackling Ma'a Nonu or Sonny Bill Williams," he said.
"It's not an easy task and I'm sure they'll use that same channel to attack, although you also have to be aware of what's outside that with Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers, who hasn't been getting many raps but he's one of the best centres in the world."
Meanwhile, a gastrointestinal bug has affected the Wallabies camp with captain Nathan Sharpe, props James Slipper and Ben Alexander, lock Sitaleki Timani and loose forwards Liam Gill and Scott Higginbotham all being laid low.
The Wallabies have already lost hooker Stephen Moore, who strained a hamstring at training. Uncapped Queensland hooker James Hanson has flown to South Africa to cover for Moore.
The Wallabies will announce their team on Thursday (local time).
Reuters
Tags: sport, rugby-union, south-africa First posted September 26, 2012 07:51:26Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Cooper and Deans on rocks says Connolly
Quade Cooper's latest public outburst will make the playmaker's working relationship with Wallabies coach Robbie Deans close to untenable, says former Australia coach John Connolly.
The injured Cooper spoke out on Sunday about a "toxic environment" in the Wallabies camp, saying there were issues that needed to be addressed and a lot of people were afraid to speak up.
Cooper's employer, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), declined to comment on Monday about his extraordinarily frank utterances, which followed an earlier statement that he did not want to be shackled by conservative, safety-first tactics.
But Connolly said the ARU could not afford to ignore them and the five-eighth may have reached a point where it will be difficult to work with Deans, even though Cooper insisted he was "very respectful to Robbie".
"It nearly becomes untenable I think, those types of comments within a team," Connolly said.
"Players will brush it off and say it doesn't mean anything and whatever but it does.
"It's not acceptable to have players going public bagging the coach.
"Whatever the broken relationship is, and there's clearly something wrong, it becomes untenable at that point."
Connolly saw similarities with the breakdown between Deans and another Wallabies playmaker, Matt Giteau, who departed for French rugby last year after his once-leading role dwindled to the point where he was omitted from the 2011 World Cup squad and announced it on Twitter.
Connolly said such falling-outs suggested Deans's man management was not all it could be and players had shown a lack of "respect" for their coach by venting frustrations in public.
However, Australia's 2007 World Cup coach believed Australian rugby had more issues than those in the national squad and repeated his calls for a review into the game's structure and administration.
Connolly said the ARU had to respond to Cooper's comments.
"I don't think they can let it rest, there's no doubt," he said.
"They can't just act as though it didn't happen.
"There's a lot of issues that need to be addressed.
"It does affect the code ... the ARU needs to review the situation because there's little doubt that compared to the other codes we're not as good as we were."
Unavailable for the Wallabies' remaining two Tests in the inaugural Rugby Championship with a knee injury, Cooper has agreed a three-year deal with the Queensland Reds but is yet to come to terms with the ARU.
His outburst has re-ignited discussion over his future within rugby union.
The New Zealand-born star has long been linked with a switch to rugby league and Reds chief executive Jim Carmichael urged the ARU to sort things out with Cooper.
"The Reds have kept their house tidy. These are in-house issues that have to be dealt between Quade and the Wallabies, not the Reds," Carmichael said.
"There's a lot of issues there.
"They (the ARU) need to reconcile their issues with Quade and Quade has to reconcile his issues with them."
AAP
Wallabies ignore Cooper tirade
Australia utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper says Quade Cooper's belief there is "a toxic environment" in the camp will not distract the Wallabies ahead of their Rugby Championship Test against South Africa.
The Wallabies meet the Springboks in Pretoria on Sunday morning (AEST).
Cooper, who is missing from the squad because of knee trouble, made his outspoken comments at the weekend but Ashley-Cooper says there is a convivial mood in the dressing room.
"This won't be a distraction for us," Ashley-Cooper said in Johannesburg.
"There's a great buzz in the squad and we're excited to be here.
"We've had two good wins in this competition and we feel we're building as a group."
Cooper had launched a Twitter outburst against Robbie Deans, venting his frustration at the tactics of the Wallabies coach and also at the Australian Rugby Union.
The 24-year-old fly half, who requires a knee operation and could miss the tour of Europe in November and December, then continued his tirade in the Australian press.
"There are a lot of people who are afraid to say what they feel so they just go along with it and nothing is going to change," Cooper said at the weekend.
"That's why I feel so strongly. I don't want to be involved in the toxic environment and that's how it is at the moment."
Cooper's tirade against Deans came after the coach had criticised an error-prone display by the New Zealand-born playmaker following his return from previous knee surgery.
Cooper also announced that he would like to join All Black Sonny Williams in the NRL.
While the Wallabies have won their last two Tests against the Springboks and Argentina, Deans is still under pressure at home because of his record of just two wins in 16 matches against the All Blacks.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer is also feeling the heat with the Springboks having picked up just one victory in four Rugby Championship matches.
"The Springboks are facing similar challenges to us with a lot of injuries and having to give opportunities to younger players," Ashley-Cooper said.
"They are coming off two disappointing losses so they'll be pretty motivated and we expect it to be really tough to win in Pretoria on Saturday."
The Wallabies are to name their team on Thursday, while the Springboks will unveil their line-up 24 hours earlier.
Reuters
Tags: rugby-union, sport, south-africa First posted September 25, 2012 08:15:56Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Four changes to Springboks squad
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer added three rising stars and a veteran to his Rugby Championship squad for home matches against Australia and New Zealand.
Golden Lions full-back / centre Jaco Taute gets a first call-up after missing most of the Super Rugby season through injury and team-mate and fly-half Elton Jantjies is recalled.
Prop Coenie Oosthuizen, who can play loosehead or tighthead, is another player returning to the Springbok squad after injury and 2007 Rugby World Cup winner CJ van der Linde also gets the nod.
South Africa, who beat and drew with southern hemisphere championship new boys Argentina before losing in Australia and New Zealand, host the Wallabies on September 29 in Pretoria and the All Blacks on October 6 in Soweto.
World champions New Zealand have won four matches on the trot and can clinch the title with a victory in Argentina next weekend, leaving South Africa and Australia to scrap for second place.
"I wanted to include Jaco in the squad earlier, but an untimely injury meant we could not select him. Jaco is big, strong, fast and versatile and it will be good to get him involved," said Meyer.
"Elton was part of the squad this season against England in June and in the first part of the Rugby Championship. He only missed out when we had to cut the numbers of the squad and it is good to have him back.
"It is great to have Coenie back with us after he picked up an injury on debut in the first Test against England in June. He is a world-class prop and losing him was a big setback."
The inclusion of injury-prone Golden Lion Van der Linde was a surprise with Meyer justifying the choice on the grounds of experience and ability to scrum either side of the hooker.
South Africa squad:
Backs: Jean de Villiers (capt), Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Juan de Jongh, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn, Morne Steyn, Jaco Taute.
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Andries Bekker, Craig Burden, Pat Cilliers, Marcell Coetzee, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger, Tiaan Liebenberg, CJ van der Linde, Francois Louw, Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Jacques Potgieter, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen.
AFP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, south-africa, australia, new-zealand First posted September 23, 2012 08:18:33McCaw to take sabbatical
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is to take an extended break from rugby, sitting out next year's Super Rugby championship and the June Tests against France.
The talismanic openside flanker and three-times IRB player of the year is to enact the six-month sabbatical clause in his contract in the hope it will help extend his playing days through to the next World Cup in 2015.
"It is definitely going to happen," Todd Blackadder, the coach of McCaw's Crusaders Super 15 side, told the Sunday Star-Times.
"Richie is going to take a sabbatical. He will probably be available after June. He won't be available for the Tests or Super Rugby, so he's going to get a good break."
The 31-year-old McCaw will play in the All Blacks remaining Rugby Championship matches against Argentina and South Africa over the next two weeks and the end-of-year tour to Europe before taking to the sidelines.
"He's going to see the season out with the All Blacks, then have a break. It will freshen him up and he'll come back and be good for the next couple of years," Blackadder said.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen also said he was in favour of McCaw having a break.
"If we want to get him through to the next World Cup, then it would be a good idea if he uses it at some point," he said before the team left for Argentina on Saturday night.
McCaw will be the second All Black to take a sabbatical, an option on offer to leading players in an attempt to keep them in New Zealand instead of chasing lucrative contracts overseas. Fly-half Dan Carter took extended leave in 2008.
All Blacks back rower Kieran Read has been confirmed as the Crusaders captain for next year and has also been tipped as a future leader of the All Blacks.
AFP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, new-zealand First posted September 23, 2012 11:49:56Saturday, September 22, 2012
Fainga'a defends under-fire Cooper
Wallabies centre Anthony Fainga'a has defended Australian fly half Quade Cooper's lacklustre performances in the Rugby Championship so far.
Cooper began the competition on the sidelines, returning for the second clash with the All Blacks where the impotent Wallabies were shut out 22-0.
After a mixed performance against the Springboks ended well with a late effort seeing Australia win 26-19, the Wallabies were then forced to come back from 13 points down in the second half against Argentina at the weekend.
The great recovery, which culminated in a 23-19 victory, could not hide the focus from Cooper's error-ridden game.
Despite this lack of form, Cooper's Queensland Reds' team-mate Fainga'a is certain Cooper is Australia's best option at number 10.
"I feel that there's been a lot of pressure put on him and he toughed it out in that first half, came back in the second half, played very clinical, played our game plan, we won the game," Fainga'a said.
"We're nutting out games that we shouldn't be winning. He'll hit his rhythm soon, the more game time he plays, the better he'll become."
Tags: sport, rugby-union, qld First posted September 18, 2012 12:53:46Super Rugby rookies to debut in Perth
An all-Australian opening round will kick off the 2013 Super Rugby competition which includes a new team from South Africa.
The Port Elizabeth-based Kings franchise has replaced the 2012 wooden-spooners, the Lions from Johannesburg, following several years of political lobbying for a team in the south.
The 2013 draw was unveiled on Friday with the Kings scheduled to make their debut against the Western Force in round two at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on February 23.
Due to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, the home-and-away season extends to 20 weeks which will include two weekends of Australian derbies and two other rounds only involving South African and Kiwi sides.
The Melbourne Rebels will host the Force in the season-opener on February 15 while the Brumbies will be at home to the Queensland Reds the following night.
The NSW Waratahs have a first-round bye before meeting arch-rivals Queensland in round two at Lang Park in Brisbane.
The Waratahs, keen for more day-time matches at Allianz Stadium, will host the Blues and Force in back-to-back Sunday afternoon encounters in round six and seven.
The Force will be early-season travellers and must wait until round six before their first home game against the Cheetahs on March 23.
All five Australian sides will play against the touring Lions before the Wallabies three-Test series, which isn't aligned with the All Blacks and Springboks internationals.
It makes for staggered rest periods and a disrupted draw with the Australian sides breaking from Super Rugby when the Wallabies-Lions clash from June 22 to July 6.
"The Lions tour to Australia presented some unique challenges in preparing the 2013 Super Rugby draw," SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters said.
"The 2012 Super Rugby season was the most watched season of Super Rugby ever, both in terms of those attending matches live and also viewing on television. The 2013 draw will hopefully see us grow those numbers again."
The defending champion Chiefs begin their campaign in Dunedin against the Highlanders in round two while the Bulls and Stormers kick off the season for the South African conference.
The six-team finals series starts on July 19 with the final scheduled for August 3.
AAP
Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, perth-6000, australia, wa First posted September 21, 2012 16:00:53Players call for national club comp
Queensland Reds star Luke Morahan says Australian rugby needs a national club competition if the Wallabies are to remain competitive on the international scene.
The Wallabies' injury crisis and the performance of Australia's five provinces in this year's Super Rugby season has led to renewed calls for the creation of a third-tier competition so as to improve player depth.
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU), under the guidance of then-chief executive Gary Flowers, introduced an eight-team Australian Rugby Championship (ARC) in 2007 but it was scrapped after one season because of financial reasons.
The ARC suffered a $4.7 million loss in its maiden year and it was forecast the competition would incur a further $3.3 million deficit in its second season.
The ARU, under the direction of current chief executive John O'Neill, declared at the time that continuing the ARC would be "an untenable financial risk".
This decision ignored the ARC's potential to aid player development similar to New Zealand's national provincial championships (NPC) and South Africa's Currie Cup.
Morahan says Australia needs a third-tier competition to sit below Test matches and Super Rugby if the Wallabies are to match their international rivals.
"Speaking to a few of them (players) about the ARC, the previous tournament, they seemed to enjoyed and say it was a good standard of football," he told Grandstand.
"I think if we were to progress rugby in Australia we need a competition like that, like the Currie Cup or the ITM Cup (NPC) in New Zealand."
Balmain Rugby Club, who competes in the New South Wales' suburban competitions, earlier this month revealed it was working on a proposal to establish a third-tier competition.
Twelve clubs, all privately owned, would be based in Sydney and Brisbane in its first season before consideration would be given to expanding the competition that would likely be held from late August to early October.
It would involve players not included in the Wallabies' Rugby Championship squad and $1 million in prize money would be on offer.
Morahan has not been approached in regard to Balmain's plans, but he says the creation of a national club competition has been spoken about amongst players.
"It's just been general chit-chat between players and saying they think it would be a good idea," he said.
"So that's as far as it's gone really."
The chance to play at the club level is something Morahan relishes, even though he has established himself in the Reds' starting XV in the past two seasons and made his Test debut against Scotland this year.
He will front up for University in Sunday's Queensland's Premier Rugby grand final against Sunnybank and admits he always welcomes the opportunity to play on the club scene.
"I enjoy all the boys there, they're all my mates," he said.
"So, it's something you can get back to and have a bit of fun and really express yourself, and have good fun."
Sunday's season decider at Ballymore is set to be an intriguing encounter, with both sides featuring internationals.
Aside from Morahan, University will have Mike Harris and former Wallabies squad member James Hanson in their starting XV, while the Dragons have been boosted by the inclusion of Rob Simmons and Ben Tapuai.
The Dragons also have 2009 Wallabies tourist Richard Kingi at full-back and former Australia prop Greg Holmes on their reserves bench.
Harris, Simmons and Tapuai have been granted temporary release from the Wallabies tour party to South Africa so they can play on Sunday and gain some match fitness.
Morahan says Harris' availability has been an added bonus for University, who qualified for the grand final by beating minor premiers Brothers 59-12 a fortnight ago.
"I think it's a boost for the whole team because he's in that playmaker role and he creates more opportunity and leads the team around a lot easier," he said.
"But Sunnybank have brought in Rob Simmons and Ben Tapuai, so they're boosted as well."
University is chasing its second premiership in three seasons, while the Dragons are defending their title.
Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted September 22, 2012 18:14:05Deans keeping mum on Wallabies' new 10
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is keeping quiet on who he has chosen to replace injured five-eighth Quade Cooper but says whether it is Berrick Barnes or Kurtley Beale will not make too much difference.
The second-placed Wallabies were flying out on Thursday for their final two Rugby Championship Tests, against the Springboks in Pretoria on Saturday week and against Argentina in Rosario a week later.
Deans said he had decided on a new playmaker after losing Cooper to knee surgery earlier this week but needed to tell his players first.
"The choices are obvious ... we've got Berrick, we've got Kurtley," Deans said at Sydney airport. "Obviously it will be one of the above.
"We've made the decision, we just haven't communicated it yet.
"Our protocol is to talk to the players before we talk to the public."
Barnes, renowned for his reliability, has strong kicking skills more suited for a conservative field-position game while regular full-back Beale is a more explosive, ball-running number 10.
Utility back Barnes' solid performance in his first Test as a full-back in Saturday's 23-19 win over Argentina would have made the decision even tougher.
But Deans insisted his choice was in no way an indication of the style of game he intended to play to continue Australia's recent dominance over the Springboks, winning seven of the past eight contests.
"I don't think it will make a lot of difference either way," he said.
"As you've seen with the way we structure our game, you'll see both players involved in both roles, so it really doesn't matter."
Australia will be looking to save face in its Rugby Championship campaign and can finish second in the series with wins over both the Springboks and the Pumas.
Under-fire coach Deans would also welcome two wins on the road, but asked if it would alleviate any of the pressure on him in the wake of repeated losses to the world number one All Blacks he said: "No I doubt it."
"There's always pressure, but I like the way you're thinking.
"(Two losses would be) more of the same. It's all part of it."
Injured trio Sitaleki Timani (hamstring), Stephen Moore (hamstring) and Dom Shipperley (finger) were all passed fit to travel while Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan and Western Force winger Nick Cummins were the only uncapped players named in the squad.
Wallabies squad:
Backs - Berrick Barnes, Dom Shipperley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Nick Phipps, Brett Sheehan, Anthony Faingaa, Kurtley Beale, Mike Harris, Ben Tapuai, Nick Cummins.
Forwards - Radike Samo, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Sitaleki Timani, Rob Simmons, Paddy Ryan.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia, south-africa, argentina First posted September 20, 2012 10:57:53Cooper calls for Wallabies to be brave
Quade Cooper's patience with conservative rugby has worn out and he wants the Wallabies to be brave to boost their fortunes and lagging support.
Cooper is the latest to join a long injury list but passionately called for the Wallabies to buck the trend and back their attacking instincts in upcoming Tests against South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand.
In words which will strike a chord with concerned rugby fans, the mercurial playmaker warned the code will continue to lose public interest if the Wallabies failed to deliver an exciting brand.
Despite an error-riddled last start in the 23-19 win over the Pumas at Robina last Saturday night, Cooper vowed he will not be afraid to back his attacking philosophy on his return to action.
"I know we're competing against a lot of other sports in this country," he said.
"If people want to go out there and play a boring brand of football then there's other guys they can pick to do that.
"I don't want to walk off the field wondering whether I should have tried this or tried that.
"That's where you get the confidence from as a team because when things come off you feel 10-feet tall.
"That's something I'm really passionate about."
Cooper's comments come as coach Robbie Deans, who reverted to a conservative field position game plan for last year's World Cup, is under growing pressure to see out the last 12 months of his two-year contract.
In a shot at their uninspiring play in 27-19 and 22-0 losses to the All Blacks last month, the 38-Test five-eighth predicts the Wallabies will continue to lose to the world champions if they played with caution.
He stressed the Wallabies need to take a high-risk approach to maximise their talents.
Cooper almost paid the price for that approach on Saturday when Deans was close to replacing him for a string of errors in the comeback win over the Pumas.
He gave no apologies for throwing caution to the wind at Robina as a "warm-up" for next month's third Bledisloe Test in Brisbane.
"I just put [the errors] down to the fact I'd rather go down swinging and try and make our attack work," said Cooper, who undergoes knee surgery on Friday.
"It's the only way we're going to beat the All Blacks.
"I'd much rather go down swinging and throwing the punches to put yourself in a winning position than come out saying we kept it close.
"It's okay if you come close but it's not if you never look like beating them.
"We can't be afraid. We should have respect for them but also have enough faith in our own ability."
Cooper hopes to see Kurtley Beale, dropped twice from full-back in the Rugby Championship, take his number 10 jersey against the Springboks in Pretoria.
"He'll want to try and spark things and take the game on," he said.
"That's what I saw my role as - to attack the game and try and make it a brand of rugby that people want to watch."
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia First posted September 20, 2012 16:50:42Graham starts at Reds under McKenzie
New Queensland Reds head coach Richard Graham has admitted he's unsure how the club's coaching arrangements will work in 2013.
The former Western Force mentor has officially started in his new role as Reds head coach but he will be second in charge at Ballymore under incumbent Ewen McKenzie.
Under a European-style coaching model McKenzie is director of coaching and in charge of the rugby program.
Graham said they're taking a collaborative approach, but he doesn't know who will be in charge on game day.
"Those are things that going forward we'll have discussions about but I'd expect that on game day we'd continue with where things finished off at the end of last season,” he said.
“Ewen's the boss of the rugby program but certainly from a football point of view, that's the area I'll be focussing heavily on."
McKenzie is seen as Wallabies coach Robbie Deans' obvious successor after claiming the 2011 Super Rugby title and the move to appoint Graham has allowed the Reds a less troublesome transition if there is a change at the top.
A full-back and winger for Queensland more than a decade ago, Graham's return to Ballymore comes after 10 years coaching around the world with Bath, Saracens, the Wallabies as skills coach, and the Force.
He announced his move home almost six months ago and was subsequently axed by the Force, who saw the season out with Phil Blake as interim coach before the appointment of Michael Foley for 2013.
Graham says he will adopt the role of defence coach from Scotland-bound Matt Taylor and combine with McKenzie in devising the Reds strategy and selections.
He will take the reins if McKenzie usurps Deans as Wallabies coach in the next year but is already scheduled to be the main man for the 2014 season when McKenzie is slated to become Queensland's director of rugby.
"Queensland are in a fortunate position to transition when they choose to transition," Graham said.
AAP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted September 19, 2012 14:56:04Cooper out of Rugby Championship
Australian five-eighth Quade Cooper will miss the rest of the Rugby Championship due to a knee injury.
Cooper underwent scans on his right knee in Brisbane on Tuesday which revealed a small chip of articular cartilage which will require surgery.
It is the same knee which was operated on after last year's World Cup but, according to a Wallabies statement, the injury is not long-term and the enigmatic Cooper is expected to be available for Australia's spring tour of France, England, Italy and Wales in November.
The injury compounds an already troublesome season for Cooper.
He put in one of his worst Test efforts of his 38-cap career in the Wallabies' come-from-behind win over Argentina last Saturday night on the Gold Coast.
The Queensland playmaker made a string of errors that contributed to Australia trailing 19-6 before they rallied late to win 23-19.
Cooper also missed the Reds' Super Rugby qualifying final defeat in July due to suspension.
Ironically, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said after the win over the Pumas that injury worries within the squad were likely to spare Cooper the axe following his below-par performance.
Australia's squad for their final two Rugby Championship Tests in South Africa and Argentina will be named on Wednesday.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia First posted September 18, 2012 19:33:50Wallabies name tour squad
Injured trio Stephen Moore, Sitaleki Timani and Dominic Shipperley have been passed fit to travel with the Wallabies tour squad for South Africa and Argentina.
Coach Robbie Deans named a 28-man squad for the Rugby Championship away leg on Wednesday with the team to depart for Pretoria on Thursday morning.
Five-eighth Quade Cooper was ruled out of the final two matches with a knee problem on Tuesday that requires an operation, but Moore and Timani (hamstring) and Shipperley (dislocated finger) will make the trip.
All three players are expected to be available for selection for Australia's first match on the tour, which comes against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday September 29.
Deans opted against adding five-eighth cover for the loss of Cooper and instead will rely on Berrick Barnes with support from Kurtley Beale and Mike Harris.
Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan and Western Force winger Nick Cummins are the only uncapped players named in the squad.
Ryan and Cummins, who both featured in last weekend's Shute Shield final in New South Wales club rugby, have trained with the national squad throughout the Rugby Championship without being required to don a jersey on match night.
Three squad players, centre Ben Tapuai, inside centre Mike Harris and second rower Rob Simmons will not travel with the team on Thursday, after being released to participate in Sunday's Brisbane club final between University and Sunnybank.
Once through that match, the trio will join the squad in Johannesburg next Tuesday.
Wallabies squad: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds), Dominic Shipperley (Queensland Reds), Nick Cummins (Western Force), Ben Tapuai (Queensland Reds), Anthony Faingaa (Queensland Reds), Pat McCabe (Brumbies), Berrick Barnes (Waratahs), Mike Harris (Queensland Reds), Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels), Brett Sheehan (Western Force), Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds), Radike Samo (Queensland Reds), Michael Hooper (Brumbies), Liam Gill (Queensland Reds), Dave Dennis (Waratahs), Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Kane Douglas (Waratahs), Sitaleki Timani (Waratahs), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Paddy Ryan (Waratahs), James Slipper (Queensland Reds), Benn Robinson (Waratahs), Saia Faingaa (Queensland Reds), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota Nau (Waratahs).
Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia First posted September 19, 2012 12:20:33Monday, September 17, 2012
Net cast for Olympic rugby talent
The next Olympics in Rio may seem a long way down the track, but with the introduction of rugby to the program, preparations have already started.
Men's and women's Rugby Sevens will debut at the Games in 2016 and some countries are already spending millions on developing their teams.
Over the next two months the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) will host a series of talent camps aimed at finding potential Olympians for its women's squad.
Current Australian captain Rebecca Tavo says she is privileged to be part of the preparation towards Rio de Janiero.
"It's so exciting and more so now it's an Olympic sport, like that's the dream come true for everyone," she said.
"Not many people get to do it and I'm very privileged and honoured to be able to do that."
And Tavo is more than prepared to make the sacrifices to represent her country at the Olympic Games.
When she is not in the north of Western Australia driving trains on the mines, the Sevens skipper travels back to Brisbane to train with her team-mates.
"I work two weeks out in the mines and I could start anytime between 2:00am or 10:00pm at night and I work 12 hours," she said.
"Obviously it is very challenging, out in the heat by myself, but it is just something that I'm prepared to do."
One of Tavo's team-mates, Emma Gillogly, was plucked by the ARU to make the switch to Sevens from touch football.
"It's always been a dream of mine to go to the Olympics. I never thought it would be for rugby though and to have this opportunity, I'll definitely take it with both hands," she said.
Gillogly's meteoric rise is similar to that of Emilee Cherry, who until she started playing Sevens had only travelled to New Zealand.
"If you'd asked me a year ago there's no way I would have ever thought I would have had the opportunity to go to the Olympics playing a sport like Rugby Sevens," she said.
"Now it gives me that opportunity and yeah, it's quite unbelievable really."
The Olympic dream could become a reality for a lot more young Australians with the Pathway to Gold program about to start.
Trials will be held in Perth on the weekend of September 15 followed by Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Australia's head coach Chris Lane is encouraging every female athlete to come along and give it a try.
"We're looking to really broaden our base, broaden our talent pool as such and anyone from any sport please come and give it a try," Lane said.
And even Tavo knows there is always a chance of unearthing a diamond in the rough.
"You might have speed, fitness, strength, ball skills, anything that another sport might have that we might not have and you could be helping your country out," she said.
"You could be representing Australia next year in Vegas some time."
Australia's women's sevens are the current world champions and most recently they won the Asia Pacific Sevens championships in Malaysia.
But nothing keeps the team focused more than the lure of an Olympic gold medal.
"The big picture for Australia is 2016, so if we can get some younger girls, get some experience at World Cups and three or four years later, they're going to dominate," Tavo added.
Tags: rugby-7, rugby-union, sport, olympics-summer, australia First posted September 13, 2012 13:14:17Greyling suspended for Wallabies clash
Springboks prop Dean Greyling has been suspended for two weeks for a forearm smash to the face of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in their Rugby Championship match in Dunedin.
Greyling will miss the Springboks' next match, against Australia in Pretoria on September 29.
He admitted hitting McCaw in the 64th minute of Saturday's clash, which was won by the All Blacks 21-11, when he appeared before SANZAR judicial officer Paul Tully on Sunday.
"Greyling, whilst in the process of cleaning out at a ruck, recklessly used his forearm such that he made contact in a dangerous way with the head of New Zealand player Richie McCaw," Tully said.
"Although there was no injury complained of, the action had potential to cause serious injury."
Lock Eben Etzebeth, who was banned for two weeks for a headbutt in their previous Test against Australia, will be back for the return match.
Springbok's coach Heyneke Meyer apologised to McCaw after the match and said Greyling's behaviour had cost them the game.
"We're a team that prides ourselves on discipline and we can't afford these things in games," Meyer said.
Skipper Jean de Villiers also said Greyling would face internal action.
"We'll never condone playing dirty," de Villiers said.
AFP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, south-africa, new-zealand, australia First posted September 16, 2012 18:48:33Sunday, September 16, 2012
Cooper may pay for Wallabies bloopers
A sickening finger injury to rookie winger Dom Shipperley may save playmaker Quade Cooper from being the latest Wallabies star to feel the axe.
Cooper endured a horror first hour at Skilled Park on Saturday night when Argentina threatened to pull off an historic Rugby Championship upset by leading Australia 19-6.
A great escape, thanks to 17 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes, denied the Pumas and spared under-pressure coach Robbie Deans a week of immense scrutiny.
It was Cooper's most error-prone performance of his 38 Tests, save for his World Cup quarter-final shocker against South Africa last year, and had Deans seriously considering dragging him from the field.
The highly-talented five-eighth did lace his game with some typically-skilful attacking play but was guilty of a string of unforced, fundamental errors that placed huge pressure on the Wallabies.
With the versatile Berrick Barnes making a fine fist of full-back and Kurtley Beale desperate to return from the bench, there is no guarantees Cooper will wear the number 10 against the Springboks on September 30 in Pretoria.
It was Shipperley's dislocation and compound fracture which led to Deans sticking with Cooper for the final 20 minutes, where he helped spark the fightback with a deft ball for Pat McCabe to score.
The Queensland winger will be named in the 28-man squad to tour South Africa and Argentina but will race time to be fit, making Beale a likely replacement in an injury-riddled backline.
Deans admitted he was most disappointed that Cooper allowed the Pumas the first try after being charged down by Tomas Leonardi.
But he did not subscribe to the theory Cooper was trying too hard to spark the attack against the fast-rushing Pumas defence, instead pointing to confidence issues after a nine-month rehab from knee surgery.
"We shouldn't under-estimate; it does take time to come back from significant injuries like that," Deans said.
"Maybe that's in the back of his head. I don't know.
"Some of the unforced errors you wouldn't expect of a player of his background."
Asked whether there were just two starting spots for creative trio Cooper, Barnes and Beale, Deans said: "We'll have a look at the whole picture.
"Dom's hand may have a bearing. It just depends how quickly he can get comfortable."
James O'Connor's gradual return from a hamstring tear has also given Cooper extra breathing space but he is more often than not Australia's most dangerous player against South Africa.
The Wallabies' escape act did move them to second place on the standings, and another victory over the Springboks will virtually ensure they finish the inaugural tournament as runners-up to New Zealand.
Hooker Stephen Moore and lock Sitaleki Timani have been cleared to return from hamstring injuries which makes for a tough second-row selection following Kane Douglas's powerful Test debut.
"He showed he was a Test footballer last night," Deans said.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia, argentina, south-africa First posted September 16, 2012 10:38:15Saturday, September 15, 2012
Wallabies battle back to deny Pumas
Argentina gave the Wallabies the fright of their lives before Australia amazingly survived with a 23-19 Rugby Championship victory at Skilled Park on Saturday night.
The Wallabies scored 17 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes to ensure under-pressure coach Robbie Deans will sleep somewhat easier this week.
It would have almost certainly ruled out an extra year in charge for Deans if the Pumas finished off the shock of the tournament.
At 19-6 down midway through the second half and with dazed skipper Nathan Sharpe appearing to have succumbed to the captain's curse, it looked like everything that could go wrong had for the Wallabies.
But centre Pat McCabe started the fightback by crashing over from a deft pass by Quade Cooper, who had endured a horror night until that point.
Then stand-in half-back Nick Phipps turned hero by darting to the blind and bursting past two defenders to put Digby Ioane over.
A cramping Berrick Barnes, who missed two easy first-half penalties, nailed the wide conversion and Australia was in the lead with 10 minutes left.
Kurtley Beale, after coming off the bench, landed a monster penalty with a minute left and the gallant Pumas were denied an historic first Rugby Championship victory.
Barnes felt Phipps, along with the Wallabies bench deserved most credit for the victory.
"Credit to Nick Phipps in his second start in Tests to set up that try for Digby," Barnes told Grandstand.
"They made it hard for us in every aspect of the game.
"They scrapped a couple of tries off us from silly turnover things but credit to the boys with injuries and everything that's gone on we managed to recover from 19-6 down.
"The bench gave us great input again. Guys like (Scott Higginbotham) and (Liam Gill) coming on gave us great impact and probably that straight line running that helped us."
The win moved the Wallabies (8) into second place on the tournament standings - eight points behind New Zealand (16) who have a vice-like grip on the series with just two rounds to play after a 21-11 win over South Africa.
Argentina had scared both the All Blacks and the Springboks in its opening three games but no more than the mighty fright they gave the mostly willing but off-key Wallabies outfit.
Barnes had just put the Wallabies back on level pegging at six-all in the 49th minute when the Test took a shock turn in three minutes of madness.
Cooper was charged down following the restart by replacement flanker Tomas Leonardi, who scored with his first touch of the ball.
Then stand-out playmaker Juan Martin Hernandez produced a brilliant kick-return from a poorly-chased Barnes high kick that saw Juan Imhoff ultimately put Julio Farais Cabello over for a 13-point lead.
It was a try dripping in controversy as Imhoff put his right foot into touch in the lead-up to the chagrin of most in the 22,278-strong Gold Coast crowd.
Hernandez kicked his third penalty of the match soon after and it looked like Australia was headed for another major boilover loss to go with the defeats to Scotland, Samoa and Ireland over the past 15 months.
The Wallabies had showed their intention to attack from the outset, spinning the ball wide and recycling the ball rapidly to pose plenty of questions of the Pumas' defence.
Five-eighth Cooper had a forgettable first half, fumbling several times and also throwing an early intercept pass, but did also have his moments and put Sharpe through a gap on half-time only for the captain to be held up.
Radike Samo also should have put Australia in front before the interval but dropped the ball when diving over the line.
Despite being delighted with victory, Barnes cautioned that the Wallabies must stop their habit of making slow starts.
"We can't be that poor in the first half," Barnes said.
"Our starts haven't been great and we need to improve them.
"We were probably going side-to-side too much and not looking to go through them - we did that in the second half which was credit too us."
Australia: 23 (P McCabe, D Ioane tries; B Barnes 2/2 cons; 2/4 pens, K Beale 1/1)
Argentina: 19 (T Leonardi, JM Hernandez tries; Hernandez 0/2 cons; 3/4 pens)
AAP/ABC
Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia, argentina First posted September 15, 2012 21:53:18All Blacks slip past Springboks
New Zealand is on the verge of winning the inaugural Rugby Championship after a gritty 21-11 victory over South Africa in Dunedin.
In a tussle dominated by missed penalty goal attempts, tries to Israel Dagg and Aaron Smith and three penalty goals from the boot of Aaron Cruden proved to be enough for the All Blacks.
New Zealand now leads the four-nation competition with 16 points, nine points ahead of the Springboks.
The victory for the unbeaten All Blacks leaves the Springboks having to win their final two games with bonus points and hoping New Zealand loses both of its remaining games to give them an outside chance of taking the title.
The Springboks, who had drawn and lost their previous two games in the Rugby Championship, were left frustrated they did not seize the opportunities they created, missing 20 points from poor goal kicking under the roof in Dunedin.
"They were long range (kicks) and normally those kickers will put them over so we're thankful for that," New Zealand captain Richie McCaw said in a pitchside interview.
"They played a very physical game and took it to us early on. That's exactly what we expected, that type of match from the Boks. It always seems to be like that.
"But towards that latter part of the second half we started getting a wee bit of control and the guys stuck to what we were after and we started to put a bit of pressure on.
"I was proud with the way the guys held their composure but she (the match) was a good old ding dong... (and) yeah, just happy with the win."
Fly half sharpshooter Morne Steyn finished with a disappointing 1/5 with the boot.
Dean Greyling added to the Boks' problems when he was yellow-carded for a punch on McCaw in the 65th minute.
The All Blacks, hoping to play the game at a pace and width probably not seen since their 1995 World Cup side, again committed too many errors when they had the ball and gave away too many penalties.
It was not until the second half when their forwards managed to get sufficient ground over the gain line that gaps opened and they were able to clinch victory after Smith's try and Cruden's two late penalties.
Many mistakes
The Springboks had been criticised prior to the match for their one-dimensional game plan that involved fly half Steyn hoisting the ball high into the air and hoping the All Blacks would commit errors inside their own territory.
The tactic, however, was effective as the Springboks were awarded several kickable penalties and could have had a handy 18-5 lead by the break had Steyn and inside centre Franscois Steyn not combined to miss five penalty attempts in the first half.
All Blacks full-back Dagg scored the home side's only first half points when he backed up an initial break he made and lock Sam Whitelock and number eight Kieran Read both managed to pop the ball free in the tackle.
Springbok winger Bryan Habana showed his world class finishing abilities early in the second half when he received a flat pass from scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, burst through a tackle, chipped ahead over Julian Savea and gathered the ball again to score his 43rd Test try and give the visitors an 8-5 lead.
Cruden levelled the scores with a 53rd minute penalty and the All Blacks finally took better control of the ball, with replacement scrum-half Smith scoring his try to give the home side a 15-8 lead when Cruden converted.
Replacement Johan Goosen kicked a mammoth 70th minute penalty for the Springboks to make the last 10 minutes interesting.
"I don't think many people gave us a chance," Springboks captain Jean de Villiers said.
"Our goal kicking wasn't great. Yeah we had opportunities, but at this level you can't make that many mistakes, not capitalise on your opportunities and think you're going to win the game."
New Zealand: 21 (I Dagg, A Smith tries; A Cruden 1/2 cons; Cruden 3/5 pens)
South Africa: 11 (B Habana try; M Steyn 0/1 con; Steyn 1/4, J Goosen 1/2, Francois Steyn 0/2 pens)
ABC/Reuters
Tags: rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, south-africa First posted September 15, 2012 19:27:41Friday, September 14, 2012
Wallabies scrum facing its toughest challenge
The Pumas may be ranked eighth in the world but Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau believes their forward play is without peer in the southern hemisphere.
Polota-Nau has warned the Wallabies forwards face their toughest assignment in the Rugby Championship on Saturday night by rating Argentina's pack the best in the competition.
The Pumas may be ranked eighth in the world but Polota-Nau believes their forward play is without peer in the southern hemisphere.
The tournament newcomers have certainly made an instant splash in the four-nation competition by unsettling both New Zealand and South Africa in the opening three rounds.
Polota-Nau spelt out the danger the big, aggressive Argentine forwards pose at scrum time and at the breakdown by remarking their play was superior to the world champion All Blacks and Springboks.
"It's on par, but if anything better," the 37-Test rake said.
The Pumas' bruising defence and their ability to turnover possession by throwing numbers into the rucks and mauls were a highlight in their 16-all draw against the Boks before scaring the All Blacks at 9-5 down 65 minutes into last weekend's Wellington Test.
"They probably have the stats for the highest turnovers and it's because of all their forwards working so well in the defensive area and jackling (winning the ball) and creating such a mess at the breakdown," Polota-Nau said.
"Technically if we're not sound we'll get punished.
"So as a contest it's on par or if not better because I think from (numbers) one to eight they can all be jacklers."
Winger Digby Ioane also underlined the challenge at the tackle area for the Wallabies at Gold Coast's Skilled Park: "They're ruthless at the breakdown so that's our main focus."
Australia's scrum performed solidly in their past two outings but the selection of 122kg lock Kane Douglas, over the lighter Rob Simmons, to replace the injured Sitaleki Timani has shown they're also wary about being outmuscled by the Pumas in the set-piece.
In scrummaging work, the Wallabies have prepared for all matter of surprises from a team renowned for their hostility and power up front.
"That's the beauty of the Argies, they're quite the unorthodox team so we actually don't know what to expect," Polota-Nau said.
"We're prepping by all means necessary to make sure that any scenario we can (1) stop but (2) stick to our plan - of getting the ball in and out and let the backs do the rest."
Pumas prop Marcos Ayerza stressed the tourists see scrum dominance as a huge mental and physical boost.
"It's historically been a main objective for any Argentinian team, to have a solid scrum and build from that psychological domination, and we're trying to bring that back," he said.
"From that dominance, even if it might be an inch, you start building your confidence with every part of the game."
AAP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, robina-4226, qld, australia First posted September 13, 2012 17:48:36All Blacks drop Smith for Springboks Test
New Zealand half-back Aaron Smith has been benched for disciplinary reasons for Saturday's Test against the Springboks in Dunedin.
The dropping of Smith, the first choice half-back in all six Tests the All Blacks have played in 2012, was the biggest surprise among the four changes for the Rugby Championship match.
Hansen says Smith needs to be disciplined but will not reveal what he had done
"Unfortunately for Aaron Smith we've got a strong focus on recovery and he broke a protocol in that area last week, so that made him ineligible for selection for the first XV," Hansen said.
"There's nothing to elaborate on. He just broke a protocol that's non-negotiable and the consequence is you don't start in the XV if you break it."
Smith's demotion earns a recall for 62-Test veteran Piri Weepu, who produced a stirring performance when he came on for the last quarter of last week's Test against Argentina in Wellington.
The other changes to the All Blacks side which beat the Pumas 21-5 see lock Sam Whitelock, flanker Liam Messam and hooker Andrew Hore promoted to the starting XV.
Among the reserves, Charlie Faumuina keeps out Ben Franks as the back-up prop and Tamati Ellison takes over from Ben Smith in the back utility role.
New Zealand squad:
Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retallick, Victor Vito, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Tamati Ellison
AFP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, argentina First posted September 13, 2012 06:52:01Net cast for Olympic rugby talent
The next Olympics in Rio may seem a long way down the track, but with the introduction of rugby to the program, preparations have already started.
Men's and women's Rugby Sevens will debut at the Games in 2016 and some countries are already spending millions on developing their teams.
Over the next two months the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) will host a series of talent camps aimed at finding potential Olympians for its women's squad.
Current Australian captain Rebecca Tavo says she is privileged to be part of the preparation towards Rio de Janiero.
"It's so exciting and more so now it's an Olympic sport, like that's the dream come true for everyone," she said.
"Not many people get to do it and I'm very privileged and honoured to be able to do that."
And Tavo is more than prepared to make the sacrifices to represent her country at the Olympic Games.
When she is not in the north of Western Australia driving trains on the mines, the Sevens skipper travels back to Brisbane to train with her team-mates.
"I work two weeks out in the mines and I could start anytime between 2:00am or 10:00pm at night and I work 12 hours," she said.
"Obviously it is very challenging, out in the heat by myself, but it is just something that I'm prepared to do."
One of Tavo's team-mates, Emma Gillogly, was plucked by the ARU to make the switch to Sevens from touch football.
"It's always been a dream of mine to go to the Olympics. I never thought it would be for rugby though and to have this opportunity, I'll definitely take it with both hands," she said.
Gillogly's meteoric rise is similar to that of Emilee Cherry, who until she started playing Sevens had only travelled to New Zealand.
"If you'd asked me a year ago there's no way I would have ever thought I would have had the opportunity to go to the Olympics playing a sport like Rugby Sevens," she said.
"Now it gives me that opportunity and yeah, it's quite unbelievable really."
The Olympic dream could become a reality for a lot more young Australians with the Pathway to Gold program about to start.
Trials will be held in Perth on the weekend of September 15 followed by Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Australia's head coach Chris Lane is encouraging every female athlete to come along and give it a try.
"We're looking to really broaden our base, broaden our talent pool as such and anyone from any sport please come and give it a try," Lane said.
And even Tavo knows there is always a chance of unearthing a diamond in the rough.
"You might have speed, fitness, strength, ball skills, anything that another sport might have that we might not have and you could be helping your country out," she said.
"You could be representing Australia next year in Vegas some time."
Australia's women's sevens are the current world champions and most recently they won the Asia Pacific Sevens championships in Malaysia.
But nothing keeps the team focused more than the lure of an Olympic gold medal.
"The big picture for Australia is 2016, so if we can get some younger girls, get some experience at World Cups and three or four years later, they're going to dominate," Tavo added.
Tags: rugby-7, rugby-union, sport, olympics-summer, australia First posted September 13, 2012 13:14:17Prowling Pumas pose threat to Wallabies
Wallabies skipper Nathan Sharpe believes Argentina's high-spirited approach and unorthodox methods make them dangerous underdogs at Skilled Park on Saturday night.
Captaining Australia in the first Test to be played in his Gold Coast home town, Sharpe is the only member of the Wallabies 22 to have experienced a brutal battle against the Pumas.
The Rugby Championship newcomers have surprised with their competitiveness against South Africa and New Zealand, and the Wallabies are braced for a rugged contest across the ground.
Taking the reins from the injured Will Genia in his 109th Test, Sharpe said the Pumas were a true team who unsettled opponents with their bruising and technically-different forward play.
"The main memory I do have (of playing the Pumas in 2003) is the unorthodox method in which they play," the 34-year-old said.
"They're a very passionate team and it's something that's been identified in the first three games of the Rugby Championship and one that you look at in every World Cup, they're always competitive due to that spirit.
"The thing about them as a team is they play well as a team. They don't generally have a consistent stand-out, they just perform well and put in for each other and that's what makes them a dangerous team.
"You talk about their defence and all the rest of it, it's not always the most structured but it's frenetic."
Argentina held the world champion All Blacks to 9-5 after 65 minutes in Wellington last weekend and drew 16-all with the Springboks in their previous match.
The tourists, advised by former New Zealand coach Graham Henry, are desperate to score an historic tournament win - which would also be their first triumph on Australian soil in 29 years - at Skilled Park.
Despite being $5 underdogs, the Pumas believe the injury-plagued Australia are vulnerable without half-back Genia (knee) but Sharpe expected replacement Nick Phipps and the rest of his team to respond.
"It's good for the team because people have to step up," he said.
"When you are faced with a situation generally that's when things come to the fore; when there's a need for it then people step up and I'm looking forward to seeing that happen on the weekend.
"It's not just about Phippsy coming in and playing well, it's about everyone else fulfilling an extra one or two per cent of a role that they may not naturally do when Will's there and the result could be surprising."
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, robina-4226, qld, australia, argentina First posted September 14, 2012 11:40:47Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Sharpe to lead Wallabies against Pumas
Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe will captain the Wallabies for the Test against Argentina on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Sharpe takes over from the injured Will Genia with Nick Phipps to start at half-back and Kane Douglas to make his Test debut at lock.
It is the third time Sharpe has captained the Wallabies and he earns the honour in the first Test to be played at the Gold Coast.
"To have the privilege of leading Australia in the first ever Test to be played on the Gold Coast is an experience I will always treasure," Sharpe said.
"It's rare when you have played at this level for as long as I have to come across something totally new, but to play a Test in my home town is something I would never have imagined happening when I started."
Sharpe will have a new second row partner after a hamstring injury ruled out Sitaleki Timani. He has been replaced by his Waratahs team-mate Douglas.
Melbourne Rebels half-back Phipps replaces Genia who left the field in Australia's win over South Africa with a season-ending knee injury.
Western Force half-back Brett Sheehan returns to the bench after a three-year absence from the Wallabies.
In other changes Berrick Barnes moves from inside centre to full-back, to accommodate the return of regular inside centre Pat McCabe.
Kurtley Beale, who was the starting full-back against the Springboks, moves to the bench.
Stephen Moore has been named at replacement hooker but will have to prove he has recovered from the hamstring injury that saw him miss the match against South Africa. Queensland's Saia Faingaa is on stand-by.
The match on the Gold Coast will be Australia's first Test against Argentina since the 2003 World Cup.
Wallabies squad:
Berrick Barnes, Dominic Shipperley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Nick Phipps, Radike Samo, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson
Reserves: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Anthony Fainga'a, Kurtley Beale.
Tags: rugby-union, sport, robina-4226, qld, australia First posted September 11, 2012 10:14:39Injured Genia set to begin rehab
Wallabies half-back Will Genia is not expected to return to playing duties until the early rounds of the next Super Rugby season after undergoing a full knee reconstruction on Wednesday.
Genia injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee late in the second half of the Wallabies' 26-19 win over South Africa in last Saturday's Rugby Championship Test at Subiaco Oval.
The surgery was a success and Genia is expected to begin his rehabilitation in the coming weeks.
His place at half-back in the Wallabies' starting XV to face Argentina this Saturday at Skilled Park has been taken by Nick Phipps.
Nathan Sharpe will captain the Wallabies in Genia's absence.
Genia had assumed the captaincy following season-ending injuries suffered by James Horwill (hamstring) and David Pocock (knee).
Tags: rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted September 12, 2012 15:50:52Pumas retain pack to test Wallabies
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has kept faith with the forward pack that made life difficult for New Zealand last week and made just two changes to his backline for the Rugby Championship clash against Australia on Saturday.
Martin Landajo has replaced Nicolas Vergallo at half-back for the Skilled Park encounter on the Gold Coast, while Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino takes the place of Martin Rodriguez at full-back.
Both Vergallo and Rodriguez were dropped to the reserves bench.
It was little surprise Phelan retained the forward pack that held the All Blacks in check for more than 65 minutes in Wellington last Saturday before the world champions snatched a 21-5 win courtesy of two late tries.
The Wallabies have struggled in the forward exchanges during the Rugby Championship, which the Pumas are likely to exploit with their traditional scrummaging power combined with a ruthless defence around the fringes and at the breakdown.
Their backline defence should also present a problem for the misfiring Wallabies' backs, who have failed to score a try in their three matches in the Rugby Championship and appear to be struggling for rhythm and creative inspiration.
The Pumas backs were praised by the All Blacks after the Wellington Test, with their drift system quickly shutting down the space they appeared to leave wide, while they barely missed a one-on-one tackle.
Phelan resorted to a traditional 4-3 split on his bench after choosing five forwards and two backs last week.
Winger Juan Imhoff will cover the outside backs from the bench, while versatile prop Marcos Ayerza has dropped out of the 22-man squad altogether.
Argentina: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Gonzalo Camacho, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Martin Landajo, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (captain), Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Julio Farias Cabello, Patricio Albacete, Manuel Carizza, Juan Figallo, Eusebio Guinazu, Rodrigo Roncero
Reserves: Agustin Creevy, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Leonardo Senatore, Thomas Leonardi, Nicolas Vergallo, Martin Rodriguez, Juan Imhoff
Reuters
Tags: rugby-union, sport, australia, argentina First posted September 11, 2012 19:03:02