Cooper to trial then box

Updated December 06, 2012 07:26:38

The Queensland Reds are planning for controversial playmaker Quade Cooper to be pulling the strings in their opening hit-out of 2013 - six days before his boxing debut.

Cooper is on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams' February 8 heavyweight bout with Francois Botha in Brisbane and is also set to train with Williams in Japan next month.

The Australian Rugby Union, in conjunction with the Reds, is expected to make a formal announcement on Cooper's playing future on Friday.

At this point, the Reds still expect Cooper to honour his unratified three-year contract and play in their first Super Rugby trial on February 2.

Queensland coaching director Ewen McKenzie wants all his fit players to turn out against the Blues at the Toowoomba Sports Ground, and Cooper's no exception.

"He's signed with us and I'm progressing on that basis," McKenzie said. "Everyone will play; how much time will vary depending on what's going on.

"So we'll see what the circumstances are like at the time."

Queensland have yet to announce their opponents and date for their second and last preseason trial, a week before its season-opener against the Brumbies in Canberra.

The Reds will also want Cooper to play the second match, if possible, as they traditionally like to run out their strongest team.

"We've got to get off to a flyer," McKenzie said. "We've got the Brumbies and then the Waratahs at home so we have to make sure we're ready to go."

With Will Genia recovering from a knee reconstruction and young gun Nick Frisby also returning from surgery, utility back Ben Lucas is likely to start the season at half-back.

In a blow to the Reds' second-row depth, rising lock Dave McDuling has undergone a second knee reconstruction a year after rupturing the ACL in his "good" knee.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, boxing, qld, australia

First posted December 06, 2012 07:26:38

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Force not panicking over trial thumpings

Updated February 17, 2012 20:00:13

Western Force coach Richard Graham insists it is not time to panic just yet despite watching his team crash to successive thumpings in Super Rugby trial matches.

The Force, beaten 25-0 by the Brumbies earlier this month, were thrashed 40-10 by Queensland in Perth on Thursday night.

If the five-tries-to-one pumping was not bad enough, the Force's woes were compounded when lock Sam Wykes suffered a suspected hamstring injury in the dying minutes of the match.

But Graham is urging fans not to become too disheartened over the losses, saying he expects a big turnaround for the season opener against the Brumbies in Canberra on February 24.

"Trial form in February doesn't count for anything," he said.

"Next week, there's four or five points on offer and that's going to be important for us.

"I think there's probably more concern about the performance (against Queensland) rather than the loss.

"In the first 40 minutes, we just copped a lesson in terms of physicality around the breakdown.

"That was probably the concern.

"Clearly, when there's a scoreline like that ... guys are going to be under pressure."

The Force struggled for fluency against the Reds, with their ball handling particularly atrocious despite the good conditions.

Graham said he would not alter training plans over the next week despite the nature of the loss.

"The whole thing is you don't want to make decisions, or you don't want to react in a manner that says what you've been doing isn't working," he said.

Graham said Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga (stomach bug), Nick Cummins (leg) and Nathan Sharpe (calf) would be ready for the start of the season.

But flanker Richard Brown will not be available until round two at the earliest after undergoing major shoulder surgery last year.

Queensland, inspired by the likes of Digby Ioane and Will Genia, was far more clinical than the Force, with its ability to string phases together on a consistent basis proving the difference.

And in more bright news for the defending champions, outside centre Anthony Fainga'a made it through 40 minutes unscathed in his first game back since shoulder surgery.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie was pleased with the hit-out, but played a straight bat when asked whether his team were in good shape to defend their title.

"Well, we're not actually defending the title, we're going out there to win it," McKenzie said.

"We've got confidence from last year, but nothing we did last year is going to count too much.

"We've got to start again."

AAP

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

First posted February 17, 2012 20:00:13

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Beale sidelined for final trial match

Updated February 17, 2012 11:04:48

Melbourne Rebels full-back Kurtley Beale has been ruled out of this Saturday's preseason match against the Crusaders at AAMI Park with injury.

The Rebels' new recruit suffered a slight hamstring strain during Thursday morning's training session and will be rested from the game.

"Scans reveal the injury is minor, but he will miss this weekend's game against the Crusaders at AAMI Park as a precaution," Rebels coach Damien Hill said.

Hill said Beale will be eased back into training over the next fortnight and is confident he will be ready for their first Super Rugby fixture against the Waratahs on March 2.

AAP

Tags: super-14, rugby-union, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted February 17, 2012 11:04:48

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Barnes tightens up in Waratahs trial

Updated February 17, 2012 23:12:46

Berrick Barnes' early departure from Friday night's trial demolition of Tonga appeared precautionary, but the Waratahs will still be holding their breath ahead of next week's Super Rugby opener against Queensland.

The New South Wales star playmaker was only down to play 40 minutes at the Sydney Football Stadium, but was replaced in the 30th minute, nursing a groin complaint - as the Waratahs cruised to a 52-0 victory.

New South Wales was confident Barnes was just experiencing tightness in his right groin, with the stand-in captain having the area strapped as soon as he was replaced by Daniel Halangahu.

Waratahs coach Michael Foley said Barnes would be properly assessed on Saturday, but at this stage there was no doubt about his availability for the Reds match.

"We haven't got the full medical there but it was really just the kicking that was irritating his groin and when that started to flair up a little bit we took the precaution of taking him off the field before it became more serious," he said.

"There's a couple of niggles that will be assessed but we actually got through a game without any (injuries) so that's a good thing."

Barnes' departure came quite suddenly, given the five-eighth had just thrown the last pass for Rob Horne's try and potted his third conversion for a 21-0 lead.

Halangahu did not even have his shirt on when Barnes came from the field, and because of the delay, the Wallaby five-eighth even motioned to play on - a good sign the problem is not overly serious.

But if Barnes was not able to back up in time for next Saturday night's blockbuster against the Reds, it would push the Waratahs' injury troubles towards a crisis.

Already missing the likes of Rocky Elsom (March return), Dan Vickerman (April return), Lachie Turner (season) and most likely Drew Mitchell for round one, New South Wales will be desperate for its number 10 to steer the ship against the defending premiers.

The news was better for giant number eight Wycliff Palu, Horne, prop Benn Robinson and Adam Ashley-Cooper on his Waratahs debut, who all got through unscathed.

Foley said he is happy with where stars like Ashley-Cooper, Palu and Robinson are at.

"You saw a bit of impact from Cliff at times, Adam made a couple of incisive runs and certainly Benn scrummaged well, so a good start for all of those guys," he said.

"I think we probably came out of that feeling like there were times when we didn't control the ball well enough ... some things for us to work on next week but generally some pleasing things."

Impressive South African number nine Sarel Pretorius showed off his brilliant running game, scoring the first try of the night and was named man of the match.

With the match broken into a first half and then three periods of 20 minutes for a total playing time of 100 minutes, confusion set in at the SFS when half the crowd of 4,063 stood up and walked out after a hooter was blown at 80 minutes.

Even the match officials left the field and had to be called back.
AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted February 17, 2012 23:06:25

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