Brumbies commence 2009 plans
Welcome back!
The Brumbies commenced their 2009 season yesterday with a team gathering where all current Wallabies attended and the new recruits were unveiled.
New coach Ansy Friend taking off the reigns from Laurie Fisher in 2009 unveiled his plans for 2009 with a video detailing snippets from the Brumbies performances in 2008 and detailed how he wanted the team to play in 2009.
The team for 2009 were full of excitement yesterday as a new phase in the rebuilding of the Brumbies commenced with new jerseys being handed out in the team planning day.
The Brumbies minus their Wallabies stars commence training next week.
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.
Waugh fighting for place on Spring tour
Phil Waugh is under significant pressure to retain his spot on the Wallabies Spring tour in November 2008. Waugh was did not play against the All Blacks in Brisbane started the season regarded as the equal of George Smith but is now clearly down the pecking order after Smith excelled at every opportunity.
Phil Waugh, 28, has been a tireless performer for the Wallabies and Waratahs over the years but his time is looking nigh as a brood of young players emerge to take his place. The Ruck and Maul posed the question only several weeks ago if we have seen the end of Waugh and it seems we may have been on the mark then.
Waugh will struggle to hold his spot with Western Force young gun David Pocock, 20, and Richard Brown, 24, the debutant that had a cracker of a game breathing down his spot. Both players could easily be included in the squad ahead of Waugh and backup George Smith as the Wallabies openside flanker.
THe 33 man squad will be announced soon before the Wallabies go into a series of training camps before the end of season tour.
Springboks target Brumbies squad
The Brumbies have been receiving interest from a number of foriegn based players in particular from South Africa, UK and the Pacific Islands. Brumbies coach Andy Friend commented that he has been contacted by overseas based players regarding a move to the Brumbies under the new Australian Foreign Player Policy that allows each Australian team to sign two foriegn based players.
Friend indicated that the most interest was from South Africa with one player providing a DVD of their performances. The Brumbies have mentioned an interest in picking up two upcoming players as opposed to a marquee player and an upcoming star. The Brumbies see a greater benefit in developing a player than can stay at the club for longer than two years and can challenge for Wallabies team selection.
The move of Clyde Rathbone to the Brumbies a few years ago has no doubt been a big incentive for other South African players to consider a move to Canberra. Rathbone has settled in well representing Australia and playing a major role at the Brumbies. The Brumbies at this stage are unlikely to recruit any foreign based stars in 2009 at this stage.
Mitchell causes Western Force player revolt
John Mitchell, the Western Force coach, has a player revolt on his hands as a number of leading players consider exiting the club. The Western Force who started the 2008 Super 14 season strongly struggled as the year went on and this could be put down to some difficulties in the club between players and coach.
Rumours have been circulating for many months of leading players looking to escape the Force after communication with coach John Mitchell having broken down. Star players like Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharpe and Drew Mitchell are hoping to leave the Western Force if Mitchell does not leave first.
The players have reportedly become sick of the coaching style of Mitchell who has also experienced a player revolt at the All Blacks that lead to his sacking after the 2003 World Cup loss ton Australia.
Nathan Sharpe could well return to the Queensland Reds at the end of his contract which Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau have been linked with the Brumbies.
Giteau who left the Brumbies to a million dollar a year contract at the Force is keen to return to his family and his close friendship with Mitchell could well lead Mitchell into the Brumbies hands.
Western Force eye Bismarck du Plessis
The Western Force are already on the lookout for their marquee player in 2009 with Bismarck Du Plessis being identified as a potential first up marquee signing for the Force.
The Western Force are likely to be one of the first Australian sides to sign a foreign based player under the new ARU Foreign Player Policy approval. The Force and Waratahs have arguably the deepest pockets and are in the best position to sign a star player.
Bismarck du Plessis is likely to drop back to the second choice hooker for the Sharks in 2009 as John Smit returns from his French sojurn.
In other Australian Super 14 news, the Brumbies identified that they are less likely to sign a foreign player in 2009 rather focusing their effort on the 2010 season which will allow adequate time to identify a suitable marquee player and a potential foreign star that could one day play for the Wallabies.
Brumbies look to new Captain in 2009
Andy Friend the new Brumbies Super 14 coach in 2009 announced on ABC Radio in Canberra this morning that the Brumbies are actively considering standing down Stirling Mortlock as captain and announcing a new captain in 2009.
The rumours have been doing the rounds for a week or so now but this is the first confirmation that the Brumbies are considering standing down Mortlock as captain. Friend acknowledged that Mortlock was under pressure with the responsibilities from the Wallabies captaincy and media responsibilities and that relieving him as the Brumbies captain may allow him to focus on his other duties.
This would in no way mean Mortlock would not have a leadership role on the field as he is an inspirational leader but it would devolve him of the media obligations that can add considerably to the workload. The same approach was done several years ago at the Brumbies when George Gregan was still the Australian Wallabies captain and Stirling Mortlock replaced Gregan as the Brumbies captain. Gregan was still as vocal as ever on the field and the Brumbies barely missed a beat.
So who is in line to take over as captain should the Brumbies follow through on their discussions? THe most likely candidates are Stephen Hoiles, George Smith and even Mark Gerrard as a dark horse in the pack.
Do you follow the Brumbies? If so what do you think of Andy Friend’s comments.
ARU approve foreign players in Super 14
The Australian Rugby Union board today approved the inclusion of foriegn players in the Australian Super 14 teams. The new Foreign Player Policy is highly conditional and restricts each Australian Super 14 franchise to a maximum of two overseas based players.
Australian Super 14 teams will be able to sign one marquee foreign player. This marquee player can be an international player but can never qualify for Australian selection due to the IRB regulation restricting each player to only represent one country throughout their career.
Each Super 14 team will also be allowed to recruit a second developing foreign player who has yet to represent his country at international level in tests, sevens or A-team level. This player can then qualify for Australian selection after three years of consecutive residency.
Super 14 teams can also choose to select two developing players instead of one marquee and one developing player. The ARU has imposed the additional restictions of each bid for a foreign player having to be submitted through the ARU and approved prior to the contract proceeding. The ARU has also restricted these foreign players to only a two year contract at any one Super 14 team.
This change opens the door to bringing in players that would draw a high degree of international appeal to the Australian game. Players such as Sebastien Chabal and Shane Williams would have a tremendous following should any Australian team attempt to bring them to their franchise. It is certainly a smart marketing move from the ARU and bodes well for the game.
Southern Hemisphere look at tour alternatives
Australia and New Zealand are looking at alternatives to the northern hemisphere touring teams visiting Australia and New Zealand in June. This comes after the disregard shown by northern hemisphere teams who have sent understrength teams here for the last few years.
This year saw one of the weakest touring teams to tour the respective countries in a critically undermanned French side that sported a team of virtual unknowns. The northern hemisphere teams are in a tough spot as they are sending teams at the end of a long and tough domestic competition and often the sides that arrive in Australia and New Zealand are struck by injuries and stars looking for a end of season break.
This has resulted in touring sides being cannon fodder for the big southern hemisphere teams. The northern hemisphere recently made some commitments after pressure from the ARU and NZRU to send their best sides and had recently assured their domestic competitions would finish by the end of May. However, despite this the French will not conclude their competition until the 6th June so it makes the whole commitment a joke.
In response to this the ARU ans NZRU have proposed a possible southern hemisphere plan where the All Blacks would tour Australia in June and play the Waratahs, Reds and Brumbies. This would be followed by the Wallabies going to New Zealand to play the Hurricanes, Blues and Crusaders.
Should this proceed it will likely be a huge positive for the region as it will draw huge crowds and return the ARU budget to a better position after they have taken a loss in recent in recent times especially with the French team that toured this year drawing lacklustre crowds.
Currently planned fo 2009, France are scheduled to play two Tests in New Zealand and one in Australia while Italy are also scheduled to tour Australia.
ARU open door to Overseas Players
The Australian Rugby Union have opened the door for overseas players to join domestic rugby teams such as the Force, Waratahs, Red and Brumbies. This is a major change for the ARU as they aim to keep the game developing in Australia.
At the moment it is still a proposal but is being finalised by the local unions with it to be put to an ARU vote on 5th September. The proposal is one that is likely to proceed as it provides a mouth watering opportunity to splash out and lure some big stars to the Australian Super 14 teams.
The most likely teams to splurge would be the NSW Waratahs and the Western Force who have a strong corporate sector to bankroll the teams. South Africa and the European countries have all embrased foreign players and the standard and appeal of the game in those countries has improved on the interest shown towards overseas based stars.
The introduction of overseas players would also provide some flexibility towards the expansion of the game in Australia should the Super 14 expand and Australia increase to five teams in the future.