Rebels confident of shutting down Genia

Updated June 26, 2012 11:13:01

Melbourne Rebels feel they have got the measure of Queensland Reds maestro Will Genia ahead of Friday night's Super Rugby match at AAMI Park.

In their round-three meeting in Brisbane, the Rebels almost the toppled the defending champions before losing 11-6, having kept the Wallabies half-back in close check.

Rebels' Welsh number eight Gareth Delve says keeping Genia quiet is the key to overcoming the Reds, who are clear second in the Australian conference and ninth overall.

The Rebels are currently fourth in the Australian conference and out of the running for finals.

"They've got some fantastic game-breakers and Will Genia is the glue that holds all that together," Delve said.

"We'll definitely have to keep a close eye on Will.

"You've got to have a special plan, he's a fantastic player, never has a bad game so we've got to make sure he's not as influential as usual."

After Genia ran amok in the opening Test against Wales, the visitors had some success in the second and third matches of the series in slowing down the supply of ball to the dynamic number nine.

Delve, who was a late call-up to the wider Welsh squad during the series, says he feels the Rebels have done well to shut down Genia in their recent clashes with the Reds.

"We've had a decent bit of success against Will," he said.

"In the last two matches he hasn't been quite so influential but you have to have special plans to limit his time on the ball and bring people into the game."

Delve, who recently agreed to another year in Melbourne, says another Rebels' signing for 2013, imposing Reds back rower Scott Higginbotham, will also be a big factor on Friday night.

"Scott's been performing really well on the international stage and I'm looking forward to playing alongside him next season because I think he adds a hell of a lot," Delve said.

"He's a massive factor for the Reds ... until he's in Rebels colours we won't be giving Scott a warm welcome on Friday night."

AAP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, melbourne-3000, brisbane-4000

First posted June 26, 2012 11:08:13

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Wallabies confident of turning around fortunes

Luke Pentony

Updated June 08, 2012 10:36:07

Australia inside centre Pat McCabe says the Wallabies' short turnaround following the loss to Scotland will work in their favour for Saturday night's Test against Wales in Brisbane.

The Wallabies suffered a shock 9-6 defeat to world number 12 Scotland in atrocious conditions in Newcastle on Tuesday night, an embarrassing defeat regardless of the fact the hosts were under strength.

They chose to rest several players due to their Super Rugby workload, while others such as Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor were unavailable because of injury.

But a weakened line-up could not be excused for failing to capitalise on territory domination in the second half.

The Wallabies were camped deep inside the Scottish half for much of the second stanza, the visitors only making one entry into opposition territory and that ultimately resulted in the winning penalty goal after the full-time siren.

The Australian Rugby Union has come under heavy criticism for scheduling a mid-week Test only four days before the Wallabies kick off their three-match series against Six Nations champions Wales.

But McCabe says it may prove to be a blessing in disguise, as it allows the Wallabies to move on as quickly as possible from the humiliating loss.

"I think the great thing about this week is the tight turnaround, I guess there is not the time to dwell on it," he told Grandstand.

"Every Test we play we want to win and to not win on Tuesday night was extremely disappointing, but it's great to have a chance so soon again and everyone is keen to put their best foot forward."

McCabe, who has 11 Tests to his name after debuting against Italy in 2010, returns to the Wallabies' starting XV to meet Wales, having sat on the reserves bench for the Scottish clash without getting any match time.

It will be his first appearance for the Wallabies since last October's World Cup semi-final loss (20-6) to New Zealand at Eden Park and he is keen to make amends for what he felt was an inconsistent first full year at the Test level.

"I think I've still got a way to go to prove myself as an international player," he said.

"I'm really keen to do that, particularly as at the World Cup I wasn't happy with how I played and I'm really keen to put in some good performances with the Wallabies jersey on."

Self assessment

McCabe struggled with a shoulder injury during the World Cup and underwent surgery in the off-season before delaying his return for the Brumbies until round three of the Super Rugby season when he played on the wing.

He used his rehabilitation to reflect on his skill set, having been regarded simply as a defensive centre who could be used as a crashball option in attack to get his side across the advantage line.

The 24-year-old believes he now offers more on the attacking side of the ball and is desperate to show his wares against the Welsh.

"I think I'm not quite as one dimensional as last year and I think I've added a few more things to my game," he said.

"I feel I can hopefully have a bit more of an impact in Test rugby."

McCabe, a product of Sydney's St Aloysius' College, will partner New South Wales outside centre Rob Horne in the midfield against Wales, the pair set to test a defensive line that gave up just three tries en route to claiming the Grand Slam in the Six Nations.

Despite suggestions the Wallabies will lack creativity with ball in hand outside of fly half Berrick Barnes, McCabe says he and the similarly direct Horne will complement each other.

"I haven't played a great deal with Rob, but obviously trained with him a lot and spent a lot of time with him around Wallaby camps in the last year or so," he said.

"I feel really comfortable with him and I'm really confident we will do well."

McCabe and Horne had been among eight initial changes made to the Wallabies' starting XV but coach Robbie Deans has been forced to call up winger Cooper Vuna to replace Joe Tomane, who sustained an ankle injury at training on Thursday.

Tags: rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000

First posted June 08, 2012 10:35:02

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Force confident of keeping Pocock

Updated April 30, 2012 18:51:54

Western Force skipper David Pocock still appears likely to re-sign with the Super Rugby franchise despite Will Genia's shock backflip to stay at the Queensland Reds.

Genia agreed to terms on a lucrative deal with the Force last Thursday but performed an about-face on Monday when he re-signed with the Reds for a further three seasons.

Pocock played a key role in initially convincing Genia to join him at the Force, and was set to re-sign himself in what would have been a massive double coup for the Perth-based franchise.

Genia's change of heart threw into question whether Pocock would reconsider his own position, but the Force remain confident the 24-year-old skipper will stay.

Force chief executive Vern Reid said the club expected to reveal some big-name signings within the next fortnight, and had met Pocock twice since Saturday night to update him on the recruiting drive.

"We're now in the process of enacting other offers and following up offers we've got out to players from Australia and other parts of the world," Reid said on Monday.

"There are a couple of other signings which are very close to being done.

"I think the Force fans are looking for some good news, but all I can do is assure them we're absolutely on the case and we certainly won't be resting until we've got a first-class roster for 2013.

"(Pocock) wants to put this speculation on his future aside and wants to make sure the team performs at its height.

"We'll keep working with him and see if we can secure his future as soon as possible."

Reid described Genia's decision to stay in Queensland as "disappointing and frustrating".

It is understood Force officials were privately fuming at the Reds' decision to send out a release on Saturday night announcing Genia would be linking up with the Force.

"It was a really unusual thing to do, to release information like that, when I'm sure they were aware that nothing had been signed," Reid said.

"The net result appears that it may well have been a successful ploy.

"We would have liked him to have made the decision that he said he had made and join us in Perth.

"Clearly when it came down to signing, something turned his head."

The Force, who sit last in the Australian conference with just two wins from nine games, take on the Cheetahs in South Africa on Saturday.

AAP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted April 30, 2012 18:51:54

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Reds confident they'll cover Cooper

Updated January 09, 2012 19:11:18

Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie says the temporary loss of playmaker Quade Cooper is an exciting challenge for the defending Super Rugby champions.

Apart from the Wallabies who played on the two-match United Kingdom tour late last year, Cooper was the only Red who did not return to full training on Monday in their first session for 2012.

While the absence of the mercurial Cooper, who continues his recovery from a knee reconstruction, is a blow for the Reds, McKenzie says there are plenty of candidates for the vacant fly half role.

"We're quite excited by the prospect of solving that solution," said McKenzie, who has cited Mike Harris, Ben Lucas, Dallan Murphy and Jono Lance as potential starters in the number 10 jersey.

"Everyone worries about it but we're quite excited by it.

"Each year you're confronted with different situations so the job as a coach is to come up with different solutions.

"It's just like a game of chess really, you've just got to make sure you've got the solutions."

With about six weeks until the competition kick-off, McKenzie says he is in no rush to make a call on his new fly half.

"No-one has an automatic replacement for Quade. It's not so much the skill, it's the thinking and the communication side of it so we've been thinking long and hard about it," McKenzie said.

McKenzie says he feels his side is well placed to become the fourth team in history to win back-to-back Super Rugby titles.

The Reds stormed to an 18-13 win over the Crusaders in the final last year and with that experience under their belt, and only two new faces added to the squad, McKenzie says they are in great shape.

"We've got good depth, we've only brought in six new guys and four of those guys were in the academy training with us last year," he said.

"So there's only two new faces so there's a lot of familiarity.

"We can really start from where we left off, which is important.

"We don't have reinvent massively although we do have to improve."

Meanwhile, the Reds have announced they had extended the contract of 21-year-old back rower Jake Schatz through to the end of 2014, with the promising youngster set to be a long-term replacement for veteran Radike Samo at number eight.

The Reds open their preseason on February 11 against the Brumbies in Cairns, before their round one blockbuster against New South Wales in Sydney on February 25.

AAP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, brisbane-4000

First posted January 09, 2012 18:57:04

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France confident as underdog

Updated October 22, 2011 14:54:05

France is confident it will pose New Zealand problems as underog in Sunday's World Cup final and has dismissed suggestions it will resort to dirty tactics in a bid for an unlikely triumph.

The French have stuttered into the final after suffering two defeats in the pool stage by the All Blacks and Tonga, before overcoming a woeful England team in the quarter-finals and edging 14-man Wales in a last-four clash.

But Les Bleus are capable of springing surprises, as seen when they eliminated the then-favourite All Blacks from the 1999 and 2007 World Cups.

"I have always maintained that France could make the World Cup final. We didn't choose the easiest path but we're here now and have to make the most of it," France captain Thierry Dusautoir said Saturday.

"No matter whatever the sport, all kids dream of being world champions. It can't get better than being the world champions and to achieve those dreams.

"I'm proud of the team and the path we followed, even after the Tonga game, when the pressure was a bit different. But we qualified and we showed great strength to get here. There's one match left and we need to prove ourselves."

Dusautoir, whose duel at the breakdown with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will be one of the key battles, said tension was rising within the French camp.

"Of course we're a bit nervous, it's the World Cup final and it'll be a great experience for all the players," the 29-year-old Toulouse flanker said.

"We're very happy to be there. The pressure has been building up in the lead-up to the game, but we've also been making the most of the week in a bid to take away some good memories.

"We'll have a lot of work to do, there'll be 15 problems on the pitch. We know Richie is vital to the team, but it's just not about him."

Marc Lievremont, in his last game as France coach before he is replaced by former team-mate Philippe Saint-Andre, admitted he had been soaking up his final moments in charge during what has been, at times, a difficult World Cup campaign.

The former France flanker never sought an easy refuge in his dealing with the players, offering public criticism of them for their on-field failings and was equally outspoken in his condemnation of certain squad members for their off-field partying after a nailbiting 9-8 victory over Wales in the semi-final.

"There've been worse things. I'm just trying to appreciate these moments," Lievremont said.

"I'm aware, as the team are, of the exceptional opportunity we have. I'd like it to end as well as possible."

Lievremont also played down the impact of Friday's edition of The New Zealand Herald, which highlighted several examples of French foul play dating back to the 1960s and the likelihood of it rearing its ugly head at Eden Park on Sunday.

"That's something I forgot to mention to my own players. Thanks," the coach said.

"More seriously, France are one of the most disciplined teams in this competition and on Sunday it's imperative we keep that discipline.

"On and off the pitch, the players are not guilty of anything of that nature, they can only be respected."

AFP

Tags: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, france

First posted October 22, 2011 14:54:05

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Rebels confident of retaining pair

Posted April 12, 2011 18:08:00

The Melbourne Rebels are confident they can retain Danny Cipriani and Nick Phipps as they try to build on their encouraging debut Super Rugby form.

The Rebels, who are coming off two wins and the bye, will welcome back several players from injury for Friday night's away match against the Highlanders.

Cipriani is understood to be attracting interest from European clubs, while the Waratahs could target Phipps to replace their France-bound number nine Luke Burgess.

While Rebels coach Rod Macqueen would not comment on speculation linking his club to Wallaby James O'Connor, he was happy to talk up the potential retention of Cipriani and Phipps.

"This time of year, you get all those reports coming through," Macqueen said before Tuesday's training.

"We are talking to some players, obviously we've got to think about succession planning.

"I think you'll find Phipps and Cipriani are pretty secure, they're pretty happy with where they are and we're pretty happy obviously with the way they're playing at the moment."

The Rebels will welcome back lock Hoani Macdonald, fly half James Hilgendorf and inside centre Cooper Vuna as they prepare for a tough four-game run.

After the Highlanders, they face Auckland, the Waratahs and the Reds.

"It's going to be a pretty difficult period for us," Macqueen said.

A big focus for the expansion team remains improving their slow starts to matches.

"We're doing it on purpose, so we can come from behind and organise the character for the side," Macqueen said with tongue firmly in cheek.

Vice-captain Gareth Delve said the bye had come at a good time for the Rebels and was not concerned they might have lost some momentum from their two wins.

"We've had seven really tough rounds of rugby ... it gave us a chance to freshen up," he said.

"The boys were a bit achy, a bit sore and we get a few back as well.

"The cavalry will come in now and lift the spirits around the club, lift a bit of energy."

Delve added that after a tough initiation into Super rugby, it was time to see how the young club dealt with a taste of success.

"We've been on a bit of a good run so this is a sign of our mental strength now, to see how well we are when things are going good, as opposed to just recovering from adversity," he said.

"We need to show we can be consistent."

- AAP

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