Drop Horwill and Cooper, urges Dwyer

Updated September 28, 2011 16:42:29

Former World Cup-winning Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer has some advice for the team in New Zealand - drop captain James Horwill and playmaker Quade Cooper for the final pool game against Russia.

Dwyer, who coached Australia to victory at the 1991 Rugby World Cup, said Friday's 67-5 win over the United States was impressive after the shock loss to Ireland, but it left selectors with a headache.

"The best starting XV has looked pretty settled for some weeks now, but a decline in the most recent form of some players, and some very positive signs from others returning from injury, have provided plenty of options," he said.

"Some of them look decidedly better options than the status quo of the Tri Nations championship line-up."

In his weekly column for the Green and Gold rugby website, Dwyer said the return of Berrick Barnes and James Slipper from injury has opened the door for a range of selection changes.

He believes lock Horwill, who only assumed the captaincy when Rocky Elsom was dumped ahead of the tournament, should be on the bench.

"I have not been impressed with Horwill; he gives much the same as Dan Vickerman, but not as well," he said.

"(Will) Genia as captain ... I actually saw some leadership on Friday night," added Dwyer, referring to Genia's makeshift promotion to skipper against the US while Horwill was rested.

"Barnes for Cooper. Cooper needs to get his head right - dare I say again.

"We don't need the all-or-nothing plays, all of the time.

"Barnes looks our best kicker, both for goal and out-of-hand."

The Australian party is spending a few days in the solitude of Hanmer Springs, north of Christchurch, to regroup for their final group match in Nelson on Saturday.

Dwyer said it was the time for coach Robbie Deans to think long and hard.

"Too late for changes? It's never too late for the right changes," he said.

"It will be a brave move, for sure, but I would rather go down fighting than just surrender."

AFP

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

First posted September 28, 2011 14:54:16

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Saffy urges Rebels to lift

Posted June 4, 2011 15:49:00

Melbourne Rebels flanker Jarrod Saffy says his side must lift its work rate and enthusiasm if it is to avoid the wooden spoon and end its inaugural Super Rugby season on a high.

The Rebels were given a rugby lesson by the high-flying Stormers at AAMI Park on Friday night, with the South Africans' defence suffocating any chance of attack by the home side.

They also managed to score four tries in the bonus point 40-3 victory, with Rebels' coach Rod Macqueen describing the performance as the most disappointing of the season.

Saffy said the Rebels were simply out-enthused and must do better in their remaining two games - against the Brumbies on Friday night and then at home to the Force.

"It was very disappointing," he said.

"We always knew we were going to be up against it with the Stormers.

"But we thought we were going to perform but it wasn't our night, we were simply out-enthused."

While the Stormers, who led the South African conference, had the best defence in the competition, Melbourne let itself down with poor handling and aimless kicking.

Saffy said the visitors, who were preparing for the upcoming Super Rugby finals, wanted the victory more.

"It all comes down to desire. They wanted it more than us," the former league star said.

"They ran harder than us and they tackled harder than us.

"We really need to lift up our talk and our enthusiasm and really get up for these next two games."

The Rebels sit last on the Australian conference and overall competition, but are still within striking distance of the Brumbies and the Lions in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

Two of Melbourne's three wins this year came against the Canberra side and the Force.

"They're going to be extremely tough. It's a really tight comp," Saffy said.

"Hopefully, we can get up for these games and finish the season on a positive note."

The Rebels' challenge in Canberra could be made more difficult, with hard-working young lock Hugh Pyle and full-back Richard Kingi under injury clouds after both limping off AAMI Park.

- AAP

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

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Hickey urges Tahs to remain patient

Posted June 2, 2011 21:15:00

NSW coach Chris Hickey will preach the virtue of patience, as his side battles to retain control of its Super Rugby destiny by beating the resurgent Bulls in Pretoria.

The defending champion Bulls have bounced back into finals contention with four straight wins heading into the clash on Saturday morning (AEST).

Entering the round, the sixth-placed Waratahs (46 points) are just one point and place above the Bulls with the Highlanders a further point back.

NSW could drop to as low as eighth if they lose to the Bulls and the Highlanders score a home win over the struggling Force in Dunedin a few hours earlier.

Hickey predicted a fair bit of fluidity among the places in the lower half of the top six over the remaining rounds.

"Getting a win out of one of these games in Africa, keeps our fate in our own hands, particularly going back to play the Highlanders, one of the teams that are competing for a (finals) spot," Hickey said.

"The Sharks, the Bulls and the Stormers have got to play each other over here over the next three weeks as well, so I think there will still be a fair bit of movement around those four, five, six positions on the table."

He was confident the Tahs could win in Pretoria if they stuck to their game plan.

"I think we've developed some strategies that we're confident will work well for us and I think it's a matter of having the patience to stick with those strategies for 80 minutes," Hickey said.

"I think it's really important in this sort of game, there's a certain amount of patience involved when you play a team like the Bulls."

NSW fortified its line-out by bringing in 202cm Kane Douglas in alongside 203cm Sitaleki Timani, with acting skipper Dean Mumm moving from the second row to blindside flanker.

"They have got a very strong line-out and you also know you've got to be competitive around the park at the ruck and the tackle," Hickey said.

"We just felt for this game against the Bulls it's important we probably took a bit more height into our line-out."

Veteran Al Baxter replaces injured in-form prop Sekope Kepu in the other change to the pack that started in last week's loss to the Sharks.

In the backs, Berrick Barnes comes in at inside centre, with Tom Carter moving to outside centre in place of the injured Ryan Cross.

"It was something we thought about there, having the two ball players and it also gives us two kicking options," Hickey said.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke added almost 200 Super caps of experience to his pack by promoting hooker Gary Botha and flanker Danie Rossouw to the run on side.

-AAP

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

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