Wallabies Profile - Ryan Cross
Welcome back!
Ryan Cross, 28, joined the Western Force in 2007 after playing 9 years for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League. Cross never represented his state or country in rugby league but was the fifth highest try scorer in Roosters history.
Cross represented the Australian Schoolboys as a junior in 1996 and 97. Cross played regularly for Australia A last year and has been a regular off the bench for the Wallabies this year impressing in all his opportunities on the field.
Cross is strong defender with good pace and aggressive running, his regular position is outside centre. Cross is 191cm tall and weighs 99kgs. Cross has many more appearances for the Wallabies ahead of him in his career.
All Blacks 2009 Test Schedule
The New Zealand All Blacks announced their 2009 Test Schedule today. The good news for All Blacks fans is they get to see their team all over the country with 2 matches to be held in Wellington and one each in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland and Hamilton.
The real winner of the 2009 schedule is Hamilton who missed out on an international this year and will be keen to impress next year.
Sat 13 June - All Blacks v France - Carisbrook, Dunedin 7.35pm
Sat 20 June - All Blacks v France - Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.35pm
Sat 27 June - All Blacks v Italy - AMI Stadium, Christchurch 7.35pm
Sat 18 July - All Blacks v Australia - Eden Park, Auckland 7.35pm
Sat 12 Sept - All Blacks v South Africa Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 7.35pm
Sat 19 Sept - All Blacks v Australia Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.35pm
Wallabies Profile - Richard Brown
RIchard Brown, 24, was born in August 1984 and made his first class debut against the Brumbies for the Western Force in 2006. Brown is 189cm tall and weights 101 kgs. Brown has collected 32 Super Rugby caps in his three years with the Western Force.
Brown is a tough and uncompromising flanker who can play anywhere in the backrow. His height makes him a lineout candidate and his aggressive tackling and hard running has made him one of the best at the Western Force. 2008 was his breakout year and provided Richard Brown with a call-up to the Wallabies training squad in May.
Brown will make his debut for the Wallabies off the bench against the All Blacks in the final Tri-Nations match of the summer and is likely to represent Australia alot more over the coming years.
Live Text Rugby - Australia vs New Zealand
The Ruck and Maul is looking at covering the Rugby test between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane on saturday night at 8pm in the form of text updates every couple of minutes.
As it is not always possible to see the match around the world and most sites i have seen on the net seem to just give update the score without giving you any form of commentary then it is hard to judge how the game is going.
I am interested in you our readers and if this is something that you would be interested in. Email me at wes@theruckandmaul.com or add a comment to this post. If I get a few responses then I will provide Live Text Rugby in the form of updates on average every two minutes, it will look something similar to below;
10th Min - Wallabies attacking on All Blacks goal line, 3rd phase, defence line looks weak, Wallabies on a roll.
12th Min - Wallabies score in corner on 8th phase, GIteau try, Wallabies dominating breakdown.
13th Min - Giteau converts from sideline. All Blacks look exhausted.
If you like me covering the match like this then let me know and I will cover the match for those that can’t watch. If I don’t get responses it won’t happen so let me know.
All Blacks unchanged for Brisbane
Graham Henry has predictably named an unchanged side to the team that beat the Wallabies and All Blacks in recent weeks. The All Black stars Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Sitiveni Sivivatu have all been ruled fit and are looking forward to taking on the Wallabies in this make or break Tri-Nations clash.
The inclusion of McCaw is a huge boost to the All Blacks, he is a proven winner in his 64 tests and has an amazing 89% success rate, superior to that of Dan Carter on 86%. The impact McCaw has on the game is trememdous and will give the All Blacks a massive boost this weekend.
The New Zealand All Blacks team is;
Mils Muliaina; Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn; Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa/Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.
Wallabies make 5 changes for All Blacks clash
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made five changes to the Wallabies starting side as the Australian’s prepare for their biggest match of the year.
Predictably George Smith, Stephen Moore, Al Baxter and Nathan Sharpe have won spots in the side. Berrick Barnes was ruled unfit and Ryan Cross will take his place in the side resulting in a Wallaby reshuffle. Ryan Cross moves to outside centre and Mortlock moves in one position to inside centre.
The addition of Cross to the side is a major boost for the League convert who has been sensational in anytime he has spent on the field.
Adam Ashley-Cooper has retained his spot at fullback and will bounce back this week. Timana Tahu, Dean Mumm and Tatafu Polota-Nau have been dropped from the squad with Adam Freier and Richard Brown the new men in the squad.
For Richard Brown this will be his first crack at Wallabies selection and will win his first cap off the bench. The hard running and agressive Western Force player has been rewarded for a strong year where he was one of the best at the Force.
The full side is;
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.
Jonathan Kaplan to set record in Bledisloe Clash
Whistleblower Jonathan Kaplan will join retired New Zealander Paul Honiss on 46 test matches when he takes the whistle this weekend in the final Tri-Nations clash of the year.
Paul Honiss set the record earlier this year before he retired but Kaplan will equal and then break the record in November as the most capped referee. The naming of South African Kaplan will no doubt send shivers down the spine of Wallaby supporters after his efforts in matches where Australian teams have played previously.
The NSW Waratahs and Brumbies have long memories of matches where they have very blighted by Kaplan’s decisions that cost them vital games. The Wallabies will need to be extra vigilant at the ruck and scrum as Kaplan will be police this area heavily and any sign of the Wallabies not shaping up cost them dearly.
Do you have an opinion on Jonathan Kaplan, share your thoughts in the post comments.
Wallabies ponder key selections
Robbie Deans will name his Wallabies squad tomorrow as the Wallabies prepare for their most important match of the year. Robbie Deans is likely to make a number of changes with Nathan Sharpe replacing Hugh McMeniman at lock, George Smith returning for Phil Waugh and Berrick Barnes subject to fitness replacing Timana Tahu.
Robbie Deans is also likely to make a change at prop with Matt Dunning returning to the bench and Al Baxter starting the match up front with Benn Robinson and Stephen Moore returning at the expense of Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Adam Ashley-Cooper’s spot at fullback is also under threat from Drew Mitchell as Ashley-Cooper struggled against the Springboks in Johannesburg after returning from a broken hand. The two weeks off is likely to serve him well and Ashley-Cooper may just retain his spot.
The Wallabies are well and truly fired up for this make or break clash and will surely not let the home fans down in Brisbane. It will also be Rocky Elsom’s final match before he moves to play for Leinster on a short term contract. The Wallabies will be hoping to send him off in style and give Elsom something to return to in next year’s Rugby Tri-Nations should he return.
The Ruck and Maul will report the Wallabies side when announced tomorrow.
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.
Rugby: New Zealand 101 Samoa 14
The New Zealand All Blacks humbled Samoa running in 15 tries in a 101-14 victory over a depleted Samoan team. The All Blacks were unstoppable scoring quicker than the timeclock throughout the match, at times the All Blacks notched tries with ease.
Mils Muliaina scored three while Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui both scored two tries in the victory. The All Blacks led 47-7 at halftime but the Samoans were unable to withstand the barrage in the second half as the tries started amassing.
Samoa managed to get on the scorebard through tries to Uale Mai and Alafoti Faosiliva.
Hopefully the result will drive the New Zealand and Australian rugby boards to take a more active role in developing the talent in the Pacific Islands to allow them to play more regular international football and retain their most talented personnel instead of losing them overseas.
A good starting point would be to involve the Pacific Islands in an expanded Super 14 or through a provincial New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Pacific Islands competition.
New Zealand 101
Tries: Mils Muliaina 3, Conrad Smith 2, Richard Kahui 2, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Ali Williams, Jerome Kaino, Isaia Toeava, Piri Weepu and Penalty Try
Goals: Dan Carter 6 conversions, Stephen Donald 7 conversions
Samoa 14
Tries: Uale Mai, Alafoti Faosiliva
Goals: Uale Mai conversion, Roger Warren conversion