France to start Machenaud against Wallabies

Updated November 08, 2012 22:42:29

Young scrum half Maxime Machenaud will start for France against Australia at the Stade de France on Saturday with the more experienced Morgan Parra on the bench.

The 23-year-old Machenaud earned his first and only cap when France crushed Argentina 49-10 in Tuncunma in June.

France also named novice prop Yannick Forestier in one of five changes from the team which played Argentina when Saint-Andre rested several experienced players.

Machenaud will link up with fly half Frederic Michalak, who started by his side in Argentina on his return to the France team after two years' absence.

Scrum half Parra, who has 43 caps, was called into the squad though he is still recovering from a thigh injury.

"The choice was all the easier because Morgan could not train in the past three days," France's manager Philippe Saint-Andre told a news conference.

"But we will not beat Australia with 15 players. We'll need 22 or 23."

France: Brice Dulin; Wesley Fofana, Florian Fritz, Maxime Mermoz, Vincent Clerc; Frederik Michalak, Maxime Machenaud; Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Yannick Nyanga; Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape (capt); Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szarzewski, Yannick Forestier

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Thomas Domingo, Vincent Debaty, Jocelino Suta, Damien Chouly, Morgan Parra, Francois Trinh-Duc, Yoann Huget

Reuters

Tags: rugby-union, sport, france

First posted November 08, 2012 22:42:29

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Goosen making first start as Steyn is axed

Updated September 27, 2012 11:01:32

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 09:12:57

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Beale to start at 10 for Wallabies

Updated September 27, 2012 17:20:55

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 17:20:55

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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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Slade makes shaky start in Carter's place

Updated October 02, 2011 22:07:08

Colin Slade made a nervous start after being thrust into the spotlight as replacement for New Zealand's star fly half Dan Carter in the 79-15 win against Canada on Sunday, turning in an error-strewn performance before hobbling off injured.

With the All Blacks still reeling from news that Carter will miss the rest of the World Cup with a serious groin injury picked up at training on Saturday, Slade found himself promoted from understudy to New Zealand's main playmaker.

Slade, playing his 10th Test, received an early confidence boost when he set up New Zealand's first try in the sixth minute in Wellington, bursting through Canada's defence and floating a beautifully-weighted 20-metre pass to Zac Guildford, the winger scoring in the corner.

But things went downhill from there for the 23-year-old as he threw some sloppy passes as first receiver, one of which almost resulted in an intercept try.

Slade also had a forgettable match with the boot, missing three of seven conversion attempts and a penalty before he was moved to the wing early in the second half to make way for Piri Weepu at fly half.

While 54-Test veteran Weepu, who normally plays half-back, looked comfortable in the playmaker role, albeit against a wilting Canadian team, Slade's cameo on the wing lasted little more than 10 minutes before he hobbled off in the 64th minute.

Weepu slotted home all four of his conversion attempts, including a difficult sideline effort, as well as setting up the last of Guildford's four tries in the 77th minute and Vito's second shortly after.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has another fly half option in Aaron Cruden, who was called into the squad after Carter's injury.

Slade is seen as the more traditional fly half, with a solid kicking and defensive game, while Cruden, who has only six Test caps, possesses more attacking flair.

However, Henry indicated before the match that he may prefer a no-frills playmaker in Carter's absence, saying Slade and Cruden will need to "work within boundaries that are possible".

"If you've only been out there half a dozen times, it's not so intuitive, so you need to spend the time making sure the clarity's right, and maybe a wee bit more simple, so the menu's not too large it becomes overwhelming," Henry said.

Whether he believes Slade can offer that solidity after Sunday's display remains to be seen.

AFP

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

First posted October 02, 2011 22:04:54

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Late start

Updated November 09, 2011 17:18:37

World Cup-winning All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is to undergo surgery on his injured foot and will definitely miss the early Super Rugby rounds next year.

McCaw was troubled throughout this year by a screw inserted in his right foot during surgery on a stress fracture and did not take a full part in training during the World Cup to avoid aggravating the injury.

Following the All Blacks' cliff-hanger 8-7 win over France in the final last month, the 30-year-old flanker has had a scan on the foot and seen a specialist.

Team doctor Deb Robinson said it has been decided to remove the screw.

"While the initial stress fracture in his foot has partially healed, the scan revealed that there is an area of bone stress around the screw," Robinson said.

"The best option for him is to have surgery to have the screw removed. He will also have some bone grafting done and then his foot will be left alone to heal."

The All Blacks talisman will have the operation later this month and Robinson said no timeline had been set for his return to rugby.

"Following the surgery, Richie will be in plaster for two weeks and then a moonboot for a month," she said.

"After around 10 to 12 weeks he will be able to start running and then will gradually return to rugby training."

Todd Blackadder, the coach of McCaw's Crusaders side has resigned himself to starting the next Super Rugby season without his captain and his other star, fly half Dan Carter, who suffered a groin injury in the World Cup.

While Carter's injury was unforeseen, Blackadder said McCaw should probably not have played in the tournament at all.

"He was lucky they didn't X-ray him because it will probably have confirmed he shouldn't have been," he said.

McCaw, who became the first All Black to play 100 Tests in the 37-17 World Cup pool victory over France, missed the first two months of the Super 15 tournament this year after having the screw inserted in his foot.

AFP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, new-zealand

First posted November 04, 2011 13:54:41

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