Elsom to start against Bulls

Updated May 09, 2012 13:24:53

Rocky Elsom will captain New South Wales for the first time this season when the Waratahs meet the Bulls at Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.

It will be Elsom's first start for the Waratahs in 2012, having earlier been sidelined because of a hamstring injury, and he takes over as a skipper from Benn Robinson.

The Waratahs have made four changes in all to the forward pack that was part of the 23-6 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra last Saturday night.

Elsom replaces Dave Dennis at blindside flanker, Chris Alcock named ahead of Jono Jenkins at openside flanker, and Dean Mumm take the place of Sitaleki Timani in the second row.

Tatafu Polota-Nauleft the field against the Brumbies with a knee injury and is replaced by John Ulugia.

The backline features several changes with Rob Horne returning from suspension to play outside centre and Adam Ashley-Cooper named at inside centre after playing full-back against the Brumbies.

Ashley-Cooper's move into the midfield saw Tom Carter dropped to the bench.

Daniel Halangahu will wear the number 15 jersey against the Bulls, while Tom Kingston shifts back to the wing and South African import Sarel Pretorius replaces Brendan McKibbin at half-back.

The Waratahs are banking on Pretorius, who moved from the Cheetahs to the Waratahs this season, to provide some inside information on his countrymen.

"Pretorius has shown great form off the bench and has a good understanding of what's required against the Bulls," Waratahs coach Michael Foley said in a statement.

The Waratahs sit third on the Australian conference on 26 points with a 4-6 record from their 10 matches.

The Bulls (7-2) are coming off a titanic 41-35 win over the Rebels in Melbourne and lead the South African conference, in addition to sitting in second place on the overall standings.

Waratahs squad:

Daniel Halangahu, Tom Kingston, Rob Horne, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Atieli Pakalani, Berrick Barnes, Sarel Pretorius, Wycliff Palu, Chris Alcock, Rocky Elsom (captain), Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Sekope Kepu, John Ulugia, Benn Robinson

Reserves: John Mann-Rea, Jeremy Tilse, Sitaleki Timani, Lopeti Timani, Dave Dennis, Brendan McKibbin, Tom Carter

Tags: rugby-union, super-rugby, sport, sydney-2000

First posted May 09, 2012 13:24:53

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Elsom named on Tahs bench

Updated April 19, 2012 15:35:17

Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom has been named on an eight-man bench for the Waratahs' Super Rugby clash with the Melbourne Rebels at Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.

Elsom appears set for his first New South Wales appearance since 2008, after finally declaring himself back to full fitness following an ongoing hamstring problem.

Coach Michael Foley has named the flanker as an interchange player, and will wait until game day before he cuts his squad back to 22.

Although Elsom is the Waratahs' captain, prop Benn Robinson will maintain the leadership duties for the Rebels match.

Foley has elected to stick with the same starting side that defeated the Western Force last week in Perth.

A derby win on home soil on Saturday would move the Waratahs to four wins from eight matches and could potentially put them on top of the Australian Conference at the halfway mark of the season, if other results go their way.

Meanwhile, former NRL star Cooper Vuna will make his return from suspension for the Rebels on Saturday.

The ex-Warriors and Newcastle Knights winger has been named on the Rebels' interchange bench and is likely to be injected into the action as an impact player.

Melbourne desperately needs a derby win on the road to stay alive in the Australian Conference.

The match represents the 50th Super Rugby cap for prop Rodney Blake and the first time ex-Waratah Kurtley Beale will line-up against his former team-mates.

Luke Jones moves from flanker to lock, while Michael Lipman gets his starting chance at number seven.

Mitch Inman's broken hand injury opens the way for Victorian-born centre Lloyd Johansson to return to the starting side at outside centre.

The Rebels have maintained the same playmaking combination of Nick Phipps at half-back, Danny Cipriani at five-eighth and James O'Connor at inside centre.

Waratahs:

Bernard Foley, Tom Kingston, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Brendan McKibbin, Wycliff Palu, Chris Alcock, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson (capt). Res: Rocky Elsom, Daniel Halangahu, Jono Jenkins, Sarel Pretorius, Paddy Ryan, Lopeti Timani, Sitaleki Timani, John Ulugia.

Rebels:

Kurtley Beale, Lachlan Mitchell, Lloyd Johansson, James O'Connor, Mark Gerrard, Danny Cipriani, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (capt), Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Hugh Pyle (vc), Luke Jones, Rodney Blake, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Res: Luke Holmes, Jono Owen, Al Campbell, Tim Davidson, Richard Kingi, Julian Huxley, Cooper Vuna

AAP

Tags: rugby-union, super-rugby, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted April 19, 2012 15:22:16

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Elsom relishing Tahs captaincy

Updated February 01, 2012 07:14:05

Rocky Elsom claims he has no lingering resentment over his dumping as Australia captain and believes leading Wallabies has left him better equipped for his new role as skipper of New South Wales.

Elsom was officially appointed to the role on Tuesday and will spearhead a large leadership group as the Waratahs carry high hopes into the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Dan Vickerman, Berrick Barnes, Tom Carter, Rob Horne and Drew Mitchell were appointed deputies with Elsom the unanimous choice to lead the club he last played for in 2008, prior to two seasons with the Brumbies.

The 71-Test veteran led the Wallabies for three years before he was sensationally replaced by James Horwill just three weeks out from the World Cup.

But the 28 year-old blindside flanker would not be drawn on suggestions his new appointment would help temper his disappointment from losing the Wallabies arm band.

"My disappointment with the Wallabies was because we wanted to win the World Cup and we didn't win it, that's where my disappointment is," Elsom said.

"Everything in between is a lesser detail and I think these are two very separate issues."

Elsom, though, hoped he could take the lessons learned from the Wallabies job into his new gig.

"I think you always learn, having that kind of experience changes your perspective on some things and hopefully for the better," he said.

Elsom's participation in the opening rounds of the Super Rugby season, starting February 24, remains in heavy doubt due to a troublesome hamstring injury but Waratahs coach Michael Foley is hopeful he will be back on the park by week five.

Elsom would not be drawn on the progress of his recovery but is optimistic about the Waratahs' prospects in 2012.

The Waratahs are favourites to take out the Australian conference, ahead of reigning champion Queensland, and Elsom sees plenty of potential from a distance last season as the Waratahs fell to the Blues in the finals.

"There's high expectations and that's fine," he said.

"I do think last year they did especially well.

"If you look at the way they finished the season and the team they took over to Auckland, they gave that game a reasonable shake. I wouldn't be too down on how they went."

Elsom says his priority as captain will be "getting everyone aligned."

"The main thing is to get everyone on the same page because it doesn't matter how bad the plan is, as long as everybody's doing it, we'll be OK," he said.

AAP

Tags: super-14, rugby-union, sport, sydney-2000

First posted January 31, 2012 13:29:36

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Elsom named to face Samoa

Updated July 13, 2011 12:43:45

Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom has been named to make his return to rugby alongside four newcomers in Australia's team to face Samoa in their season-opening Test in Sydney on Sunday.

Elsom has played just one match since the Wallabies' 2010 spring tour finale against France last November due to hamstring and ankle injuries.

But the blindside flanker will lead the Wallabies into battle at the Olympic stadium after coach Robbie Deans on Wednesday announced his first Test line-up of 2011.

Melbourne Rebels half-back Nick Phipps and New South Wales lock Sitaleki Timani have both won selection in the starting XV, while the Queensland Reds pair of hooker James Hanson and flanker Beau Robinson were picked on the bench.

One front row position on the bench is still to be named after prop Benn Robinson injured his knee at training on Tuesday.

Western Force prop Pek Cowan and Waratahs prop Al Baxter were set to join the team at training on Wednesday afternoon.

Other features of the playing roster include a first Test start for Pat McCabe, who has been named at inside centre after finishing the Super Rugby season strongly in that position for the Brumbies.

McCabe has long been viewed as a midfield option by coach Deans and has been given his chance to work in tandem with fellow Brumbies Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper on either side of him.

Giteau has been given first shot at securing the five-eighth jersey while Ashley-Cooper returns to outside centre for the first time this year, having been largely employed on the wing at his Super Rugby franchise.

At half-back, Phipps has been handed his maiden Test start after first wearing the Wallabies jersey during the spring tour match against Irish province Munster.

He and returning full-back Mark Gerrard will become the first two players to represent the Rebels in the Australian Test side, with Gerrard to feature in his 24th Test but his first since the Wallabies' win over Japan at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Dan Vickerman is also back.

The Waratahs second rower, who has 55 Test caps to his name, has been named on the bench and will complete a remarkable comeback to international rugby after having taken three years out to finish his studies in England.

While several stars are being rested, including Reds captain James Horwill and fly half Quade Cooper, Deans says the decision is in no way disrespectful to Samoa, with a strong line-up being fielded.

"Given the high most of those blokes had last weekend, it's my experience that it does take a little while to come down from that," he said in a statement.

"They've refocused quickly on the task at hand representing their country, which is why we've included a good group of those players in the matchday 22.

"They'll get their opportunity."

Wallabies: Mark Gerrard, James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Matt Giteau, Nick Phipps, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu

Reserves: James Hanson, Dan Vickerman, Scott Higginbotham, Beau Robinson, Will Genia, Kurtley Beale (one to be added)

- AAP

Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, australia

First posted July 13, 2011 12:13:57

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Elsom 'dodges bullet' to target first Test

Updated May 31, 2011 14:28:00

Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom will play no more Super rugby this season but said his ankle injury could have been worse and hopes to be fit for Australia's first Test of the year against Samoa in July.

Elsom hobbled into the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) offices on crutches on Tuesday as he continued his rehabilitation from the high ankle strain he sustained when his leg was twisted in a ruck in his only outing for the Brumbies two weeks ago.

"I won't be playing for the rest of the Super rugby season but I probably dodged a bit of a bullet there," the flanker told reporters at the launch of the Wallabies 2011 season.

"One tendon copped a bit of damage but the other two aren't affected, so hopefully I'll be back for the first Test.

"It was a very awkward position to be caught in and it could have been worse."

The Wallabies play Samoa in Sydney on July 17 as a warm-up for this year's Tri-Nations, a tournament they have not won for a decade.

The big back row forward brushed aside the suggestion that the time on the sidelines was in some way a positive with the World Cup looming after the Tri-Nations.

"That's a pretty optimistic way of looking at it," he said, to laughter.

"You get the hand you are dealt. The amount of work I can get done before the international season is key.

"There's good and bad with everything but I certainly wouldn't have planned it that way."

After more than six months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, Elsom's captaincy has been called into question - although he continues to receive the strong backing of coach Robbie Deans.

"Everyone has a right to their own opinion and there's not much you can do, especially when you're not playing," Elsom said.

"It comes with the job a bit. I can't ever remember being criticised before I took over the job."

ARU chief John O'Neill led a clarion call for Australians to unite behind the Wallabies under the slogan "One Team 2011" ahead of a season which he hopes will end the country's silverware drought.

"We haven't won the Bledisloe Cup, that mighty piece of silverware, since 2002," O'Neill said.

"We haven't won the Tri-Nations since 2001 - to say we are overdue for success is an understatement."

Elsom, injuries notwithstanding, was equally enthusiastic about embracing the challenge ahead.

"It's a culmination of what we've done. It's the ultimate measuring stick, it's obviously something we want and the time has come to deliver on that if we're good enough," he said.

"So in that sense, it's a good time."

-Reuters

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, act, canberra-2600, nsw, sydney-2000

First posted May 31, 2011 14:06:00

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Elsom faces another spell on sidelines

Updated May 23, 2011 13:03:00

Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom faces another spell on the sidelines after injuring his ankle in his first match of the season for the Brumbies at the weekend.

The 28-year-old flanker will undergo scans on Monday to determine the seriousness of the injury he sustained in the second half of the Brumbies' 13-13 Super Rugby draw with Western Force on Saturday.

"We won't know until we get the scan results but it could be one week, it could be four, it could be six," Brumbies coach Tony Rea told the Australian newspaper.

A six-week spell out could signal the end of Elsom's time at the twice Super rugby champion Brumbies, who have four more matches to play and no hope of making the play-offs.

Elsom has not yet decided on his future after his contract with the Brumbies and Australian Rugby Union (ARU) expires at the end of the year.

Saturday's match in Perth was Elsom's first for six months after he recovered from a hamstring injury and the twisted ankle is another blow to his preparations for this year's World Cup.

- Reuters

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, act, canberra-2600

First posted May 23, 2011 12:38:00

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Elsom sidelined again

Updated May 23, 2011 19:09:00

Rocky Elsom is almost certain to miss the rest of the Super Rugby season after scans confirmed the Wallabies captain has a syndesmosis injury.

Elsom suffered the ankle damage in his comeback appearance for the Brumbies against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night after being sidelined for six months with a hamstring injury.

While the Brumbies have yet to completely write him off, the struggling two-time Super Rugby champions are out of finals contention and only have four matches left.

Syndesmosis injuries usually require at least four to six weeks to heal.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, canberra-2600

First posted May 23, 2011 17:41:00

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Elsom returns to Brumbies

Published:Friday, May 20, 2011 7:23 AESTExpires:Thursday, August 18, 2011 7:23 AEST

The Brumbies are hoping Rocky Elsom's return for this first match this season will bolster their chances against the Western Force in Perth.

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Tags: rugby-union, canberra-2600

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Force set sights on Elsom

Posted May 19, 2011 13:53:00

The Western Force will be aiming to make life hard for returning Brumbies skipper Rocky Elsom when the two teams lock horns in Saturday night's Super Rugby clash in Perth.

Elsom has finally recovered from a frustrating hamstring injury and is set to play his first match since featuring for the Wallabies last November.

But Force coach Richard Graham does not want to make life easy for the 28-year-old, urging his back row of Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman and David Pocock to shut down the Wallabies enforcer from the outset.

"He's been out for six months so it's going to take him time to find his feet and it's going to be important, particularly for our back row, that we don't allow him any momentum," Graham said on Thursday.

"He carries the ball strongly, he has strong belief in his own ability ...

"He'll give them something but as I say it's important that we don't allow him to have too much of an influence."

The Force will again be without full-back Cameron Shepherd due to a knee injury, with Pat Dellit to don the number 15 jersey.

The Brumbies will be without new Force signing Salesi Ma'afu, while hooker Huia Edmonds will also miss out due to an injury suffered in last week's humiliating home loss to the Lions.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, act, canberra-2600, wa, perth-6000

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Brumbies preparing for life without Elsom

Updated May 18, 2011 14:10:00

Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan has admitted the Super Rugby franchise is unlikely to retain Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom's services beyond the 2011 season.

Elsom signed with the Brumbies in mid-2009 in a bid to re-ignite his international career with Australia after a stint in Europe playing in the Heineken Cup for Leinster.

While he become Wallabies captain in late 2009, a hamstring injury has kept Elsom sidelined since Australia's destruction of France in Paris last November.

His absence has made things a struggle for the Brumbies, who have lost all but two matches this season including defeats at the hands of the bottom-of-the-ladder Lions and competition new boys Melbourne Rebels.

But while Elsom expects to make his 2011 debut against Western Force in Perth on Saturday night, Fagan says the club is preparing for the worst when the season - and the back rower's contract - is through.

"We're going ahead with our recruiting on the basis that he'll head overseas or he'll take time to make a decision that won't work for us," he told 666 ABC Canberra.

"If he declares his hand soon enough then we'll be open to discussion, but he's negotiating with the ARU (Australian Rugby Union) and considering some overseas offers.

"There's a good chance [Elsom will leave] but we haven't finished our signing period and he hasn't [made a decision yet] ... but it's getting unlikely."

Fagan says he and incoming coach and former Springboks mentor Jack White have their work cut out for them in compiling a competitive roster for the 2012 season.

"Jack and I are working through the squad at the moment," he said.

"With the restrictions on squad numbers next year, the 30, I think we've got 32 or 33 players there at the moment.

"There are going to be some hard calls made."

Fagan says White needs to make the decision based on who he thinks it best suited to representing the Brumbies.

"We've got 30 spots and there's 16 forwards in those spots, we're moving ahead and filling those," he said.

"There's only a couple of forward spots to go so we're assessing those last couple of spots at the moment.

"We'll make decisions as soon as Jack's comfortable with who he wants there and if that's not Rocky then that's not Rocky."

Elsom was non-committal when speaking to the media on Tuesday, saying he wanted to negotiate a new deal with the ARU before deciding on a province.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, canberra-2600

First posted May 18, 2011 13:40:00

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Media Call: Rocky Elsom

Published:Tuesday, May 17, 2011 3:29 AESTExpires:Monday, August 15, 2011 3:29 AEST

Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom says he will not meet with incoming Brumbies coach Jake White during the South African's visit to Canberra this week.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia

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Elsom hopeful of 2011 debut

Updated May 17, 2011 18:52:00

Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom is set to make his long-awaited 2011 Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies against Western Force in Perth on Saturday night.

The back rower's absence has been a factor in the Brumbies' poor showing this season, but Elsom has revealed he is ready to play for the first time in more than six months.

A troublesome hamstring injury has kept Elsom on the sidelines since the Wallabies' 59-16 rout of France in Paris last November.

"I've probably had enough time off," Elsom said.

"I don't think there are any problems on that front (hamstring).

"It is just a matter of picking the team for the game against the Force and I would like to be in it."

Elsom says he missed the blast from coach Tony Rea following the side's 29-20 loss to the bottom-placed Lions last weekend.

Rea said his side lacked fight and their effort had been a "charade" to mask their lack of ticker this season.

The Brumbies are third-last with two wins and nine losses, a record number of defeats in a season for the two-time Super Rugby champions.

"I wasn't there for it," Elsom said. "No-one's happy with the way the game went.

"I can't imagine anyone is going to be feeling good about the weekend."

The 28-year-old says he is yet to re-negotiate a contract for 2012, where his first discussions would be with the national body, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).

"Going to your province first is not the most efficient way I would say," Elsom said.

"I have to sort the deal out with the ARU and then I will go from there."

Elsom says he is yet to meet incoming coach Jake White, who arrived in Canberra on Monday night.

White, the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning coach, was appointed in April for four years as Brumbies head coach from next season.

The South African is expected to change several of his assistants to revive the Brumbies' fortunes in 2012.

Joining the departure of incumbent Rea at the end of the season will be forwards coaches Marco Caputo and Justin Harrison.

Former Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher is set to become forwards coach, while Stephen Larkham is likely to remain as attack coach.

Fisher's contract as forwards coach at Irish provincial side Munster finished this European season and he returns to the city where he was head coach of the side between 2005-08.

Former Wallabies and Brisbane Broncos conditioning coach Dean Benton is also expected to be appointed.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, act, canberra-2600

First posted May 17, 2011 18:53:00

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