Wallabies Profile - Richard Brown
Welcome back!
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 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.
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 World Cup 2011 announce venues for finals
The Rugby New Zealand CEO Martin Snedden announced today that Christchurch and Wellington would each host two quarter-finals at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and confirmed the previous plans for the semi-finals and final.
Martin Snedden, the former New Zealand cricketer, now CEO of Rugby New Zealand announced the good news today that Christchurch and Wellington will both host two quarter-finals.
The news has been met with great excitement particularly in Christchurch and is a clear indication of the commitment to ensuring the major rugby destinations outside of Auckland get quality rugby matches at the business end of the tournament.
Snedden, went on to confirm Eden Park in Auckland would host the semi-finals, 3rd placed match and the final. Eden Park was chosen on the basis of it being the biggest available stadium and was a clear choice for the major tournament matches.
The four quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 7-9 October while the semi-finals will be played on the weekend of 15-16 October.
The bronze final will be staged one or two days prior to the final which is scheduled to be played on the weekend 21-23 October 2011.
The bases for the 20 rugby teams will be announced late in 2009, so watch this space for where your favourite team will be based.
All Black Tuitavake out for six weeks
New Zealand All Blacks winger Anthony Tuitavake has been ruled out rugby for six weeks after suffering a fractured cheekbone against Samoa yesterday.
Graham Henry had initially given the all clear for the All Blacks after the clash but scans revealed the worst for Tuitavake. The fractured cheekbone is also likely to affect cost him a role in the remaining Air NZ Cup matches for his team.
Scans have revealed that Tuitavake fractured a cheek bone in the All Blacks victory over Samoa in New Plymouth on Wednesday.