Wallabies struck with injuries
Welcome back!
The Wallabies continue to struggle under the weight of injuries as two more front line players have fallen and will be unavailable for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand in Hong Kong.
Peter Kimlin strained his quad in training while luckless Hugh McMeniman rolled his ankle in a vigourous training session under the coaching of Robbie Deans.
Deans has been putting the Wallabies through a series of rigourous training sessions that has pushed the players to the limit in the aim of getting the players prepared for a tough european tour that will test the improvements of the Australian game in the last six months.
The Wallabies will depart for Hong Kong in less than two weeks time.
Luke Watson digs a deeper hole again…
South Africa’s Luke Watson can’t help but speak his mind and he has done it again but this time it may cost him dearly.
Watson was quoted on rugby365.com in an article as saying that “the problem with SA Rugby is that it is controlled by Dutchmen (Afrikaans-speaking white South Africans)”. He went on to say that he was kept from vomiting on the Springbok jersey because of the bigger picture and that ”the men who sit on my left and right of me in the change room despise me for who I am”.
Watson went on to say, “We need to see the bigger picture and realise that the here and now is not just the here and now, but the here and now only exists because of those who went before us and because of those who are still to come. Me having to wear the Springbok jersey, to keep myself from vomiting on it, because there is a bigger picture, because men and women have bled for me to get there.”
Watson has long been a man of controversy and no doubt this will be heavily scrutinised by the South African Rugby board and if it has not been taken out of context then Watson may be contemplating his words for years to com
Chris Latham stars for Worcester in European Challenge Cup
Chris Latham has overcome some early setbacks in his move to Europe and set Stadio Plebiscito in Italy alight scoring three tries in Worcester’s 55-6 win over Petrarca Padova in the first round of the European Challenge Cup.
Latham was electric scoring a hat-trick in his sides 9 try victory to commence the European Challenge Cup in fine form in hopes of avenging their defeat in the final from last year.
In other European Challenge Cup results Eddie Jones Saracens team thrashed Mont de Marsan 53-3 as a host of English clubs clocked up victories.
Heineken Cup: Toulouse edge Bath 18-16 in thriller
Toulouse produced a come from behind last gasp victory to defeat Bath 18-16 after a David Skrela penalty at the Stade Municipal. Toulouse were far from their usual expansive self being out-enthused by Bath and also taking a back seat to the expansive play of Bath.
Bath had their chances to secure victory, even scoring two tries to nil but were unable to secure victory mostly due to the wayward kicking of Buth James.
In other matches Leinster scored a 27-16 win over Edinburgh at their hoodoo ground Murrayfield to secure full points in the first round of the Heineken Cup. Leinster scored four tries to one with tries going to Rocky Elsom, Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Felipe Contemponi.
Results from the first round of the Heineken Cup;
Sale 32 Clermont 15
Munster 19 Montauban 17
Wasps 25 Castres 11
Perpignan 29 Treviso 16
Leicester 12 Ospreys 6
Stade Francais 26 Ulster 10
Harlequins 29 Scarlets 22
Newport-Gwent 32 Glasgow 22
Cardiff Blues 56 Calvisano 20
Gloucester 22 Biarritz 10
Heineken Cup: Munster narrowly defeat Montauban 19-17
Munster started their defence of the Heineken Cup with a narrow 19-17 victory against Montauban, Montauban were less than four minutes from victory until the always reliable boot of O’Gara secured victory for Munster in what could have been the biggest upset in recent memory.
Munster were neither great nor terrible and were generally evenly matched against there undancied rivals from France. Both sides scored a try but it was O’Gara’s boot that saved Munster in the end. Munster will be hoping it was a match that allowed them to blow out any cobwebs before their next match.
In the other result from Friday Perpignan defeated Treviso 27-16. Perpignan scored three tries to one but were unable to shrug off the Italian side in a disappointing win at home. Perpignan was expected to collect the bonus point but failed and will be up against it next weekend against Ospreys.
Peter Kimlin secures Wallabies selection
Peter Kimlin has won selection into the Wallabies touring squad after earlier in the week training with the Wallabies squad. Kimlin had thought he was just making up the numbers gaining some valuable experience until Robbie Deans announced he was to join the squad for the European tour that departs in two weeks time.
Kimlin was over the moon with the decision but also in shock that his dream of playing the the Wallabies is now certainly guaranteed and that it has come perhaps years before he seriously expcted his chance to come.
Kimlin, 23, who mostly played off the bench for the Brumbies in the Super 14 this year looks set to not only become a regular in the starting lineup for the Brumbies next year but also set to win his first test cap in Europe.
Kimlin who stands 198cm is a tall and aggressive player who has a high work-rate and has impressed at the Brumbies in 2008. This and his strong form for Australia A caught the eye of the Deans and this secured him the call into the Wallabies squad.
A local Canberra product Kimlin is in a good position to push for a long term role with the Wallabies and could form a dynamic lock pairing with James Horwill in the years to come.
George Gregan joins Barbarians
George Gregan has accepted an offer to play under the Jake White and Eddie Jones inspired Barbarians side to take on the Wallabies on 3 December 2008.
Gregan currently playing in Japan is still the world’s most capped international rugby player and joins one of the most impressive Barbarians side ever to be formed. Gregan joins other greats of the game such as All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw and a host of Springbok players including John Smit, Percy Montgomery, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger.
The All Blacks have also contributed a host of players such as Jerry Collins, Carl Hayman and Joe Rokocoko.
The match will be the first Rugby match at the new Wembley Stadium.
Italian Squad revealed
Nick Mallett announced his Italian squad to play Australia, Argentina and the Pacific Islands in November. Mallett selected a 30-man tean and will take them into training in Rome between 19-21 October.
Italy will play Australia at on 8th November, Argentina on 15th November and the Pacific Islands on 22nd November.
The Italian squad is;
Forwards:
Matias Aguero (Saracens)
Robert Barbieri (Treviso)
Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais)
Marco Bortolami (Gloucester)
Carlo Antonio Del Fava (Ulster)
Santiago Dellape (Toulon)
Carlo Festuccia (Racing Metro)
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Calvisano)
Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro)
Carlos Nieto (Gloucester)
Fabio Ongaro (Saracens)
Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais)
Salvatore Perugini (Toulouse)
Tommaso Reato (Rovigo)
Josh Sole (Viadana)
Alessandro Zanni (Calvisano)
Backs:
Andrea Bacchetti (Rovigo)
Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais)
Gonzalo Canale (Clermont)
Pablo Canavosio (Viadana)
Gonzalo Garcia (Calvisano)
Marcato (Treviso)
Andrea Masi (Biarritz)
Luke McLean (Calvisano)
Luciano Orquera (Brive)
Riccardo Pavan (Parma)
Simon Picone (Treviso)
Matteo Pratichetti (Calvisano)
Kaine Robertson (Viadana)
Giulio Toniolatti (Capitolina Rome)
2009 Super 14 Fixtures
The provisional 2009 Super 14 schedule has been released. The season commences on Friday 6th February and will conclude with a six team final series.
Checkout the fixtures below.
Super 14 Fixtures for 2009
| Round | Date | Home | Away | Venue |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Blues | Crusaders | Auckland |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Cheetahs | Stormers | Bloemfontein |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Sharks | Bulls | Durban |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Reds | Hurricanes | Brisbane |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Chiefs | Brumbies | Hamilton |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Lions | Waratahs | Johannesburg |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Force | Highlanders | Perth |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Bulls | Reds | Pretoria |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Stormers | Sharks | Cape Town |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Lions | Cheetahs | Johannesburg |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Hurricanes | Waratahs | Wellington |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Highlanders | Brumbies | Dunedin |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Force | Blues | Perth |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Crusaders | Chiefs | Christchurch |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Stormers | Reds | Cape Town |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Sharks | Lions | Durban |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Brumbies | Crusaders | Canberra |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Bulls | Blues | Pretoria |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Force | Cheetahs | Perth |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Waratahs | Chiefs | Sydney |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Hurricanes | Highlanders | Wellington |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Stormers | Blues | Cape Town |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Lions | Bulls | Johannesburg |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Waratahs | Highlanders | Sydney |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Chiefs | Sharks | Hamilton |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Reds | Cheetahs | Brisbane |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Crusaders | Hurricanes | Christchurch |
| 4 | Saturday, 28th February | Brumbies | Force | Canberra |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Bulls | Stormers | Pretoria |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Waratahs | Reds | Sydney |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Blues | Sharks | Auckland |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Highlanders | Crusaders | Dunedin |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Chiefs | Force | Hamilton |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Hurricanes | Cheetahs | Wellington |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Brumbies | Waratahs | Canberra |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Stormers | Lions | Cape Town |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Reds | Sharks | Brisbane |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Highlanders | Chiefs | Dunedin |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Blues | Cheetahs | Auckland |
| 6 | Saturday, 14th March | Crusaders | Force | Christchurch |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Lions | Brumbies | Johannesburg |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Waratahs | Crusaders | Sydney |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Chiefs | Blues | Hamilton |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Hurricanes | Bulls | Wellington |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Highlanders | Cheetahs | Invercargill |
| 7 | Saturday, 21st March | Force | Sharks | Perth |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Lions | Hurricanes | Johannesburg |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Sharks | Brumbies | Durban |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Reds | Chiefs | Brisbane |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Crusaders | Stormers | Christchurch |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Highlanders | Bulls | Dunedin |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Blues | Waratahs | Auckland |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Sharks | Hurricanes | Durban |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Cheetahs | Brumbies | Bloemfontein |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Waratahs | Stormers | Sydney |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Crusaders | Bulls | Christchurch |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Force | Reds | Perth |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Chiefs | Lions | Hamilton |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Cheetahs | Sharks | Bloemfontein |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Waratahs | Bulls | Sydney |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Blues | Lions | Auckland |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Force | Hurricanes | Perth |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Brumbies | Stormers | Canberra |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Highlanders | Reds | Dunedin |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Sharks | Crusaders | Durban |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Reds | Lions | Brisbane |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Brumbies | Bulls | Canberra |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Hurricanes | Stormers | Palmerston North |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Cheetahs | Chiefs | Bloemfontein |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Blues | Highlanders | Auckland |
| 11 | Saturday, 18th April | Waratahs | Force | Sydney |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Cheetahs | Crusaders | Bloemfontein |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Bulls | Chiefs | Pretoria |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Force | Lions | Perth |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Blues | Reds | Auckland |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Highlanders | Stormers | Dunedin |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Hurricanes | Brumbies | Wellington |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Sharks | Highlanders | Durban |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Lions | Crusaders | Johannesburg |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Cheetahs | Waratahs | Kimberley |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Hurricanes | Blues | Wellington |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Reds | Brumbies | Brisbane |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Stormers | Chiefs | Cape Town |
| 13 | Saturday, 2nd May | Bulls | Force | Pretoria |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Bulls | Cheetahs | Pretoria |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Brumbies | Blues | Canberra |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Crusaders | Reds | Christchurch |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Sharks | Waratahs | Durban |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Stormers | Force | Cape Town |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Chiefs | Hurricanes | Hamilton |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Lions | Highlanders | Johannesburg |
Queensland Reds secure Braid
The Queensland Reds have signed the outstanding flanker Daniel Braid. Braid who lined up against the Wallabies this year for New Zealand has been the backup for Richie McCaw in recent times and was the New Zealand Super 14 player of the year in 2007.
The signing of Braid as the first foreigner who is not eligible for Wallabies selection by the Reds is the first signing by under the new foreign based player policy recently introduced. Braid will replace David Croft who retired at the end of the 2008 Super 14 season.