Super 14 could be Super 15 in 2010
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Australian Rugby supremo John O/Neill speculated that in 2010 we could see a 15 team Super Rugby competition.
The addition of another team would be from Australia perhaps Melbourne or the Gold Coast and the season would run from March to August, where each team would play a home and away against their own domestic provinces and would play each foreign team once similar to the current Super 14.
It would also allow for an expanded final series, perhaps as long as six weeks.
O’Neill went on to say that the European teams could tour in August and the Tri-Nations could be played between September and October. The additional rugby would be well received in the souther hemisphere after critism of the short Super 14 series that runs only four months.
The Super 14 will expand it’s final series from 4 to six teams in 2009 and further changes are almost certain for 2011 when changes are likely to the format and teams that emcompass the Super 14. Pacific Nations teams and even Japan have been discussed as possible teams that could play a part in the an expanded 2011 Super 14 competition.
One potential hitch is the Northern Hemisphere nations who may protest against touring in August as this is the start of their pre-season in Europe. We will watch this closely at The Ruck and Maul and keep you posted of any developments.
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.
ARU knock back selecting foreign based players
The Australian Rugby Union board today knocked back the selection of Australian foreign based players dashibg hopes of selecting players such as Rocky Elsom for the European tour.
With more Australian rugby stars travelling to Europe to ply their trade there was some hope of the loosening of the selection of Australian players based particularly in Europe. The decision is in keeping with the New Zealand All Blacks who have maintained a focus on selecting only New Zealand based players.
Depending on the likely exodus and player depth over the next few years these restrictions are likely to be loosened as we lead into the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
South Africa have this year selected some of their leading players from European teams such as Victor Matfield and John Smit. After a slow start for Matfield he quickly started delivering the goods.
The Ruck and Maul Mailing List
The Ruck and Maul has unveiled a mailing list to help keep you up-to-date with the latest rugby news and results. Our mailing list will also enable our visitors to receive the latest offers and free giveaway’s that will enhance our reader’s rugby experience.
Some of the featured giveaway’s will be rugby merchandise such as rugby books, rugby gear and so forth. Here at The Ruck and Maul we want our readers to enjoy Rugby and be able to keep up-to-date with all the important news that is happening.
Our first giveaway will be a new book to be released by George Gregan called Halfback Half Forward that will be released on Tuesday 26 August. All you have to do to win this prize is join the mailing list and send an email to wes@theruckandmaul.com describing in 25 words or less what is the best memory you have of George Gregan, good or bad.
I will select the best and mail the book to you anywhere in the world at no cost. This is no trick and totally genuine. The Ruck and Maul is a legimate website run by myself a mad passionate Rugby fan and I want to share the passion I have for Rugby with you all.
So simply email me at wes@theruckandmaul.com in 25 words or less your best memory of George Gregan, good or bad and I will select the winner based on creativity, be funny if you like.
The winner will be drawn on Monday 15th September after the Rugby Tri-Nations have concluded. Remember you need to join The Ruck and Maul mailing list to be eligible and send an email to wes@theruckandmaul.com.
Wallabies in Qantas flight mishap
The Australian Wallabies flew out of Australia today to Johannesburg ahead of their two week trip to South Africa to play two vital Tri-Nations Rugby matches that will likely decide the series.
The flight was not without dramas however as the Qantas flight was delayed by five hours after the scheduled flight had to be abandoned after passengers were reportedly offloaded from the plane due to technical issues.
The Boeing 737 flight continued the recent woes of Qantas which has been in the media for a range of technical issues in recent weeks. With Qantas major sponsors of the Qantas Wallabies it could not have come at a worse time for them.
After the five hour delay the flight from Sydney departed to South Africa on another plane. The Wallabies will be hoping this will be the only hitch experienced on their trip to South Africa.
Wallabies squad for South African tour
Robbie Deans announced his Wallaby squad for the tour of South Africa today and spring a major selection surprise by dropping Nathan Sharpe, 30, from the tour squad. The loss of Sharpe is a major blow to his career as he has clearly been overtaken by James Horwill in the pecking order.
James Horwill exhibits many of the same tendencies that has made Dan Vickerman one of the best locks in the game. Both have a tough and uncompromising style which has proved a hit with new coach Deans. Sharpe has been questioned over the years for inconsistent performances and lacking the killer punch, qualities Vickerman and Horwill can never be accused of when they play for the Wallabies.
In a loss for the Wallabies, young scrumhalf Burgess has been ruled out after sustaining a knee injury in training on Wednesday. Sam Cordingley is likely to named in Burgess’s place for the Wallabies. His experience could prove a bonus for the Wallabies when they take on the Springboks in Durban.
Wallabies stars Rocky Elsom and Adam Ashley-Cooper are expected to miss the first test in Durban, but are likely to return for the final match of the tour. James Horwill and Lote Tuqiri are also in some doubt but have over a week to prove their fitness for the must win clash.
The Wallabies team is;
Stirling Mortlock, Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Adam Freier, Matt Giteau, James Horwill, Peter Hynes, Hugh McMeniman, Drew Mitchell, Dean Mumm, Stephen Moore, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Brett Sheehan, George Smith, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner, Phil Waugh, Dan Vickerman.
Wallabies enjoy break before South Africa trip
The Wallabies are on a short break before the team reunite on Wednesday for a two day training camp in Sydney. The Wallabies will finalise their team on Thursday before making the trip to South Africa on Friday morning.
The break is a welcome respite from what will be an intense two weeks in South Africa where the Wallabies will aim to claim the Tri-Nations under new coach Robbie Deans. South Africa will be going into the game after their encounter in Cape Town against New Zealand. A win will have them energised with the Tri-Nations in their grasp, a loss against the All Blacks will have them fired up to redeem themselves. Either way the Wallabies will be up against a hostile team and crowd.
The Wallabies will carefully assess their two star players Adam Ashley-Cooper and Rocky Elsom. Both are battling against time to be fit for the tour. Ashley-Cooper is recovering from a broken hand and appears to be the most in doubt while Elsom is a likely starter after recovering from an ongoing foot injury.
The loss of Elsom in the last game against the All Blacks was costly as the Wallabies were dominated at the ruck and the combination of Waugh and Smith was ineffectual. If Ashley-Cooper is unfit Drew Mitchell is likely to be named the fullback.
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.
Can the Wallabies Win?
Well can the Wallabies win? That is the question on every Wallaby fans tongue with the first Tri-Nations match in Australia only two days away.
The Robbie Deans era has not started with the bang many fans had hoped but it has still won it’s first three tests against Ireland and France. The first test in this new era will be the Springboks. THe Springboks are on a high with a recent come from behind win against New Zealand in Dunedin, the famous house of pain. The 30 match winning streak at home was broken without their captain John Smit and the All Blacks were shocked at the loss on home soil.
The Springboks are arguably a far better team that that which won the World Cup last year in France. They now play an open style of play with new coach De Villiers inspiring a new brand of play unveiling the depth of the South African’s with stylish and open attacking play. This is combined with the dynamic athletism of the forwards and the mobility of a massive forward pack. The Springboks could unveil an era of unprecedented success on the world stage but first the team that stands in front of the them is the wily Wallabies.
The Wallabies are far from the dynamic team that won the World Cup under Rod McQueen in 1999 but after almost 10 years the depth is returning to the Wallaby team. Can they produce the goods against the Springboks who are on a high with the recent win over New Zealand? Well it will depend on the forwards being able to contain the dynamic Boks team.
The Wallaby forwards have been monstered in recent years and while we have seen patches of superiority in their early matches they were far from dominant against the under strength French. The backline is as good as any in the world but has a few players who are still quite inexperienced by international standards but brimming with talent.
I would love to see the Wallabies win but with the Boks having had two tough matches in a row I suspect they will be too match hardened for the Australian’s in Sydney. I think when both sides compete again in South Africa we will see Australia pose a far greater challenge to the Boks. For me the Boks have too much firepower and speed in the backs while the forward pack will monster the Wallabies around the park. I am not convinced Al Baxter is the man for the front row and would like to see Ben Alexander be thrown to the wolves as I think he is the future of the Australian scrum.
The Wallabies also need to show more aggression at the breakdown, Smith will be in everything but I don’t think he alone can keep the Wallabies in the contest but he will give us as good a chance as possible in his record breaking test.
The Ruck and Maul Prediction: Springboks by 10.