McKibbin called to Wallabies tour

Updated November 26, 2012 11:10:21

NSW Waratahs half-back Brendan McKibbin has been summoned to join the Wallabies squad for the final Test of the European tour against Wales.

The uncapped McKibbin's call came after Brett Sheehan was ruled out of contention for Saturday's Test in Cardiff because of the ankle injury he suffered in the 22-19 win against Italy at the weekend.

He will arrive on Tuesday and is likely to fill a bench spot, with Nick Phipps set to resume the starting half-back role.

Sheehan is to undergo an MRI scan with fears he has an ankle syndesmosis injury.

A post-game X-ray cleared Sheehan of any broken bones and he has travelled to Wales with the squad but will be unable to play.

Sheehan was making his run-on debut for the Wallabies in Florence six years after his Test debut but it ended cruelly when he was replaced after 31 minutes after an Italian forward fell across his leg.

McKibbin has made 30 Super Rugby appearances, with half of those being this year.

He will be the fourth Wallabies replacement this tour following on from the Melbourne Rebels trio of Scott Higginbotham, Mitch Inman and Caderyn Neville.

NSW Waratahs lock Kane Douglas has re-joined the squad after missing the Italian leg of the tour in order to stay near his ill mother in London while he continued rehabilitation from a knee injury.

Douglas will be assessed by the Wallabies medical staff early in the week to determine his availability for the tour finale.

His return would further bolster the second-row resources, which took a hit when Rob Simmons was suspended after the tour-opening Test in Paris.

The Wallabies' appeal against Simmons's eight-game sentence will take place at Bristol on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning AEDT).

AAP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, wales, australia

First posted November 26, 2012 11:10:21

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Waratahs want McKibbin to stay in side

Updated March 27, 2012 23:56:52

Waratahs players have backed Brendan McKibbin to retain the starting half-back role ahead of star South African recruit Sarel Pretorius for Saturday's clash against the Chiefs.

The Waratahs will travel to Hamilton on a high after their pressure-busting 34-30 win over the Sharks and are ready to leave everything on the Waikato Stadium pitch with the bye looming the following week.

Scottish-born McKibbin made the most of his surprise first start since 2009 against the Sharks with a man-of-the-match performance and looks set to keep the role against the Chiefs.

Versatile back Adam Ashley-Cooper said the new-look halves pairing of McKibbin and Berrick Barnes looked effective and hinted he thought the former had done enough to hold his spot.

"Over the past when a player performs well in a starting position, I'm sure he does enough to retain that position," Ashley-Cooper said.

"We'll find out (Wednesday) or Thursday what the starting line-up is but the halves did really well.

"McKibbin and Barnes showed a great combination there and that'd be exciting to build on again if they get the opportunity again this week."

Winger Tom Kingston, who scored the winning try against the Sharks, said the Waratahs were blessed to have options in the number nine spot.

"I think Kibbo was incredible on the weekend, to score as many points as he did and to lead the team and his passing was extraordinary," Kingston said.

"And then Sarel, you've seen him at training, he's so energetic ... he's everywhere.

"So to have that energy coming off the bench really offers something and to have those two options is incredible."

With a welcome week off to follow the clash, Kingston and Ashley-Cooper said it was essential the Waratahs registered back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

But it will not be easy against a Chiefs outfit flying on the back of three successive wins and freshened up from the bye last week.

"It's means nothing if we can't go over to Hamilton and repeat that performance," said Ashley Cooper, who turned 28 on Tuesday.

"They're a quality team, with some quality backs.

"The focus for us is not giving them as much space as they deserve.

"With the likes of (Richard) Kahui, Sonny Bill (Williams) and (Aaron) Cruden, it's a very creative and dangerous backline, so for us it's about shutting them down."

Ashley-Cooper described the match against the Sharks as one of the most bruising games he had played in.

The Wallabies star suffered a corked arm, dislocated finger and a knock to his knee but said he would be fine to face the Chiefs.

Waratahs captain Rocky Elsom trained with the squad on Tuesday but is unlikely to be available until after the bye, while Drew Mitchell, Lachie Turner and Dan Vickerman are continuing their rehabilitation from long-term injuries.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, nsw

First posted March 27, 2012 20:27:39

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