Boks press for ELV changes
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The global battle that is the ELVs in Rugby continues as South Africa has fallen into line with the northern hemisphere insisting upon changing the ELVs to that of the global ELVs for next years Super 14.
Both Australia and New Zealand are happy to continue with the rules as per the Super 14 this year but the Boks are concerned as they will play the British Lions next year and the Spring tour with the global ELV laws.
The main difference between the two sets is that the ELVs used in the 2008 Super 14 award was that free kicks are awarded for offences that are generally penalties under the global ELVs. This is particularly visable around the ruck and breakdown where the free kicks have kept a fast paced Tri-Nations tourament and Super 14.
The debate will go on but the ELVs have a long way to go until the IRB make a final decision in August 2009 on whether to continue or not with the ELVs.
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Boks stars to play for Barbarians
Jake White the former Springboks World Cup winning coach of 2007, will unveil a Springbok heavy line-up. According to reports from South Africa a number of major Springboks have accepted an offer to play for the Barbarians.
Some of the players who have already accepted an offer are Percy Montgomery, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Schalk Burger, Bakkies Botha and John Smit. From other nations Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins and Joe Rokocoko have been confirmed from New Zealand.
The Barbarians will play at the new look Wembley Stadium on 3 December against the Wallabies.
Deans names Wallabies 34 man squad
Robbie Deans today announced the Wallabies team to play on the Spring tour of Europe during November and early December.
Deans unveiled a side with 4 debutants in James O’Connor, the bolter from the Western Force at just 18. Quade Cooper from the Queensland Reds, Sekope Kepu from the Waratahs and David Pocock from the Western Force all make their first Australian squad.
A number of domestic players who have played little part for the Wallabies throughout the year will also make their appearance in the squad such as Digby Ioane, Mark Chisholm and Lachlan Turner.
Several notable absentees from the squad are Brumbies trio Mark Gerrard, Stephen Hoiles and Clyde Rathbone, all can wonder why they have been overlooked and what they have to do to win back favour.
Nathan Sharpe dodged a bullet will tour with the Wallabies, it may be his last chance to salvage a test career that only a few weeks ago looked over.
The Wallabies squad is;
Forwards:
Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
Alastair Baxter (Waratahs)
Richard Brown (Western Force)
Mark Chisholm (Brumbies)
Matt Dunning (Waratahs)
Adam Freier (Waratahs)
James Horwill (Reds)
Sekope Kepu (Waratahs)
Hugh McMeniman (Reds)
Dean Mumm (Waratahs)
Stephen Moore (Reds)
Wycliff Palu (Waratahs)
David Pocock (Western Force)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs)
Benn Robinson (Waratahs)
Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
George Smith (Brumbies)
Phil Waugh (Waratahs)
Backs:
Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
Berrick Barnes (Reds)
Luke Burgess (Waratahs)
Quade Cooper (Reds)
Sam Cordingley (Reds)
Ryan Cross (Western Force)
Matt Giteau (Western Force)
Peter Hynes (Reds)
Digby Ioane (Reds)
Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies)
James O’Connor (Western Force)
Brett Sheehan (Waratahs)
Timana Tahu (Waratahs)
Lote Tuqiri (Waratahs)
Lachlan Turner (Waratahs)
Deans to announce Wallabies squad tomorrow
Auatralian Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will tomorrow announce his 33 or 34 man squad for the European Spring tour. His squad will hinge on the fitness of Lote Tuqiri who is under an injury cloud as he recovers from knee surgery.
The Wallabies who will play six matches on tour including a clash against New Zealand on 1 November in Hong Kong will take a side very much focused toward the future as the blooding for the 2011 World Cup continues.
Several well known stars could be left out of the side with some doubts over the continuing international future of Nathan Sharpe and Phil Waugh as new talent emerges. Former test players such as Stephen Hoiles, Mark Gerrard, Mark Chisholm are all in consideration to return the squad.
We will bring you all the news tomorrow on the Wallabies selections.
Could Rugby have a World Series?
Reports from the Daily Mail in the UK have claimed the IRB are looking at organsing a Rugby World Series that would occur every two years.
The World Series would start as a round robin as part of the Six Nations and the current Tri-Nations teams including Argentina with results counting towards the World Series. Tests between the hemisphere’s rugby teams would continue to take place between June and November.
The top two teams would play-off every two years, most likely at the new Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people where the winner could take over in excess of AUD $20 million.
Chances are any plans of getting this up and running before the next World Cup would be unlikely but if the IRB can get all the Union’s on board then it could start by 2010.
Christchurch to be Wallabies 2011 Rugby World Cup base
Early planning for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand has the Australian Wallabies based in Christchurch.
Although the plans are only preliminary it is likely Christchurch is likely to host the Wallabies enabling Robbie Deans to return hack to the home where he provided the Crusaders with five Super 12/14 championships.
It is expected final plans for where each team will be based will be formally announced towards the end of 2009.
Tuqiri in doubt for Spring tour
Lote Tuqiri is in some doubt for the upcoming Spring tour of Europe after undergoing an arthroscopy on Monday that will see him out of action for six weeks. Tuqiri has some loose knee cartliage removed that has caused him some difficulty throughout the Rugby Tri-Nations.
Tuqiri will be named in the Wallabies touring squad of 33 but will be monitored to ensure he is fully fit before the Wallabies depart on 27th October.
The star winger had an arthroscopy on Monday to remove loose knee cartilage and may be on the sidelines for up to six weeks before returning to full training.
McCaw to play for Barbarians
Richie McCaw will play for an internationally star studded Barbarians side to take on Australia on 3 December at Wembley. The match will be the first rugby clash at the new Wembley Stadium.
McCaw will partner with former South African World Cup winning coach Jake White as they take on Australia in the final match of the Spring tour for the Wallabies.
The Barbarain’s last encounter was a 22-5 victory at Twickenham over South Africa in December 2007.
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.