Month: September 2019

What did we learn from the most fiery Aussie derby of them all? 

1. The Beale paradox

Kurtley Beale could present the greatest challenge when it comes to Test selection. Beale outlayed Matt Toomua on Saturday night at inside centre, in the battle between the pair presumably most likely to don the gold jersey. For Michael Cheika the dilemma will be whether to keep Beale in the utility role that made him a game breaker in the Rugby World Cup or to reward his strong start to the Super Rugby season.

2. Concussion or nah?

Most people who saw Israel Folau collide with Jordan Smiler 41 seconds into the game thought his night was over before it had really begun. After a long consultation with the doctor, Folau was escorted off the field for a concussion test, to be replaced by Dave Horwitz. He was back just seven minutes later, raising some eyebrows. The knock didn’t seem to affect his night, with a try and  his usual heavy involvement.

3. Derby lives up to the hype

So often Super Rugby derby matches fail to live up to their billing. Days of verbal niggle and external commentary all boil down to disappointing contests. Not so on Saturday night as two of the most fierce rivals went head-to-head. The Waratahs played a level above what they have showed in recent weeks and the Brumbies stood up to every challenge. The only downside is that’ll probably be the last time we see these sides face off for the rest of 2016.

4. Folau the finisher

It doesn’t matter where he plays, Israel Folau scores tries. The usual fullback played at outside centre on Saturday night but still managed to nab a five-pointer. This one made him the Waratahs’ equal highest try scorer of all-time, drawing level with Lote Tuqiri. Tuqiri took 79 games to reach the mark, Folau has taken just 51. He might have lost the outside centre battle to Tevita Kuridrani but he was one of the Waratahs’ best again.

5. Tomane boosting Test credentials

Two tries in the first 16 minutes just wasn’t enough for Joe Tomane as he continued a super 2016, at Allianz Stadium.. He has been a great finisher for the Brumbies all year and showed that again. He is clearly already in Test calculations, having been part of the 2015 World Cup squad, and as one of the form Aussie wingers in the competition so far, has only improved his odds of being involved in the June Test series. He finished with 113 metres and three five-pointers in a decisive performance.

 

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The Waratahs aren’t ready to risk Bernard Foley’s health as the flyhalf remains in doubt for the side’s clash with the Crusaders this Sunday.

Foley was cleared to play against the Rebels last Friday night but had a recurrence of symptoms afterward, with photosensitivity the giveaway.

“There’s enough scary articles and different things out there and productions and film around concussion and it’s an issue today that it didn’t used to be,” Waratahs backs coach Chris Malone said.

“Therefore, from a coaching perspective, it’s (only) a game at the end of the day.

“I’m fully confident that in time, ‘Nard’ will be sweet. And that may well be tomorrow. That may well be the day after that.

“So we’ve just got to play it by ear and ensure that we look after him.”

Malone said Foley had not reported any kind of head knock from the game, but the playmaker was involved in a few crunching hits throughout the tight match.

Bryce Hegarty replaced Foley in the opening four matches of the year but David Horwitz could be the man to don the No.10 jersey against the Crusaders, with the Waratahs keeping an open mind.

Horwitz has slotted into first receiver plenty of times this season, even when playing alongside Foley last weekend, and Malone said he had impressed.

“We’re going to probably play around with some combinations in training to ensure we get a repeat of the team performance we got from last weekend,” he said.

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“As the week goes on, we’ll clarify exactly how we go in terms of our makeup if Bernard’s not there.

“He (Horwitz) played well last week, he did, and he stepped up into first receiver a lot, probably touched the ball more times than Bernard did.

“(There’s been) good growth from Dave and he’s really come along in terms of being in the squad.

“Then there’s Bryce, there’s Irae Simone who can come back into the team. There’s also Mack Mason and Andrew Deegan, a couple of younger guys, No.10s, we’ve just to figure out what’s our best configuration, what’s going to make the team tick the best because obviously importantly this week we want a big team performance against the Crusaders.”

Rob Horne sat out training for the second day in a row on Tuesday, and though he is in no official doubt, his possible absence could open the door for Israel Folau to wear No.13 and Cam Clark to fill the fullback spot. 

The Waratahs take on the Crusaders on Sunday afternoon, kicking off at 4:05pm AEDT LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via radio on RUGBY.com.au

The Rebels have named a familiar starting XV to take on the Highlanders, with Mitch Inman the only change in Tony McGahan’s team.

Inman comes in at outside centre, with Tom English shifting to the wing to cover for the injured Sefa Naivalu (shoulder).

Melbourne have named the same starting forward pack for the third consecutive week, while there is one potential debutant on the bench in Rebels U20s captain Esei Haangana.

“I’ve been pleased with the progress we have made over the last two weeks however our contribution at the backend of these games has resulted in losses,” McGahan said.

“So we need to make sure that we apply those lessons and play out the full 80 minutes – starting this weekend.”

TEAM

IN: Siliva Siliva, Mick Snowden, Lopeti Timani, Sione Tuipulotu, Esei Haangana

OUT: Pat Leafa, Ben Meehan, Sefa Naivalu

Rebels team to take on the Highlanders

1. Fereti Sa’aga

2. James Hanson

3. Laurie Weeks

4. Culum Retallick

5. Steve Cummins

6. Jordy Reid

7. Colby Fainga’a

8. Amanaki Mafi

9. Nic Stirzaker (C)

10. Jackson Garden-Bachop

11. Marika Koroibete

12. Reece Hodge

13. Mitch Inman

14. Tom English

15. Jack Debreczeni

Extended Reserves (two to be omitted)

16. Siliva Siliva

17. Tom Moloney

18. Tyrel Lomax

19. Dominic Day

20. Lopeti Timani

21. Jake Schatz

22. Esei Haangana

23. Mick Snowden

24. Sione Tuipulotu

25. Ben Volavola

Highlanders team to face Rebels

1. Aki Seiuli

2. Liam Coltman

3. Siate Tokolahi

4. Joe Wheeler

5. Tom Franklin

6. Gareth Evans

7. Dillon Hunt

8. Luke Whitelock

9. Aaron Smith

10. Marty Banks

11. Patrick Osborne

12. Richard Buckman

13. Malakai Fekitoa

14. Tevita Li

15. Ben Smith (c)

Reserves

16. Greg Pleasants-Tate

17. Daniel Lienert-Brown

18. Siosuia Halanukonuka

19. Elliot Dixon

20. Tupou Sopoaga

21. Kayne Hammington

22. Fletcher Smith

23. Matt Faddes

The Rebels take on the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night, kicking off at 5:35pm AEDT, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

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Sekope Kepu’s never felt like this before.

The 31-year-old is back home and buzzing ahead of his first Waratahs match since 2015.

“I haven’t felt like this before a Super Rugby competition in a long time,” he said, speaking to reporters at the team’s captain’s run.

“I like the way, the style we’re going to try and play this year and the way Daryl wants us to play, I’m pretty excited to be honest.

Kepu said more responsibility had been handed to the players under Gibson, a move that was shown with the introduction of a  peer-voted leadership group this season.

It’s a mentality the Waratahs picked up off their AFL neighbours, the Swans, whose success on-field has been mirrored with their off-field leaders in recent times.

“The onus that he’s put on the skipper and the leadership group and all the players in general having a voice and everyone’s opinions are taken into consideration, is something that’s awesome,” Kepu said.

“It’s something that’s new to me but I’m really enjoying it.”

Kepu watched on in the early stages of 2016 as the Waratahs scrum struggled, before the emergence of eventual Wallabies debutant Tom Robertson and on Saturday night the pair will be packing down together.

The 31-year-old wants to rebuild the ‘aura’ of the Waratahs scrum as they look to start the season on a high note.

“When you build that aura and that reputation as a scrum as a whole, then you win that battle before you get out there on the field,” he said.

“So, that’s something we’re aiming to do and we’re just working together as a team.

“We’ve got great front rowers, great hookers. (They have) awesome experience, with Roachy (reserve hooker Hugh Roach) and it’s good to have Fitzy (Damien Fitzpatrick) back, he’s done some time over in France there so he would’ve learned a lot.”

Robertson’s switch to loosehead came with news of Kepu’s return last year and the 22-year-old has had cameos in the spot for the Wallabies and in NSW’s trials, but forwards coach Cam Blades said there was some way to go still.

“We had four long-standing props that have served the state really well and whilst one or two of them are still here, once some of the senior members moved on, there hadn’t been opportunities for those young guys (but now there is),” he said.

“Tom’s going well.Like all of his game it’s a work in progress.

“It’s been a pretty rapid rise for him and I think certainly loosehead prop in the long-term will be something that suits him quite well.”

Blades said the set piece was still a work in progress for the entire side.

“Last year we were exposed a little bit early through the loss of some of those really experienced guys and some of the younger, less experienced players had to learn on the coal face a lot,” he said.

“That was obviously shown in some of those inconsistent performances early in the season and the way we finished the year, especially from a scrum perspective, was good.

“You’re always trying to get better and whilst we proved late last year, we still want to turn ourselves into a really world-class pack and we’re far from that at the moment.”

One young Waratah has been dealt a painful blow on the eve of his Super Rugby debut – Brad Wilkin has suffered his second ACL injury.

Wilkin missed the entire 2016 season after a knee reconstruction and managed to injure his good knee in Thursday’s training.

He will be replaced in the side by Senio Toleafoa against the Force.

The Waratahs take on the Force on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via radio on RUGBY.com.au.

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James Dargaville is happy to be back fit and running again after a shoulder reconstruction kept him out of action for more than five months.

The young wing has firmly set his sights on a solid Super Rugby campaign for the Brumbies.

“It’s been a little while since I injured my shoulder in the first round of the NRC competition last year,” Dargaville said.

It was good to get a run against the Waratahs in Mudgee and then to back that up at the Brisbane Tens a week later was fantastic.”

Whilst not getting carried away at the possibility of a starting spot for the Brumbies in their season opener against the Crusaders in Christchurch, the former Vikings player is happy to play anywhere for the team.
“Anywhere in the backline is going to be competitive so the only thing I can do is train hard and hopefully I will end up in a position.”

“Just being a good Rugby player and fitting in is the most important thing. We have some great players here so if I can get a spot on the wing or anywhere else then that would be great.”

“The main focus will be to get the team in the best possible position to win games.”

“It’s a very exciting time to be a Brumby.”

The Brumbies kick off their 2017 Super Rugby home campaign against the Durban Sharks at GIO Stadium on March 4. Memberships can be purchased at www.brumbies.com.au

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Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa saw things from a different side in 2016 and his newfound versatility could help him partner up with long-time friend Scott Sio.

Originally a loosehead, Alaalatoa was second in line behind Sio at the Brumbies in 2016 but featured at tighthead for the Wallabies in the back end of the year, which could lay the groundwork for a Sio-Alaalatoa partnership at Super Rugby.

It was that switch that Alaalatoa said had influenced him most during his first Wallabies stint.

“The main thing was just moving to the other side of the scrum for me, playing all my Super Rugby at loosehead and trying to transition over to tighthead was probably the biggest change for me but something I’m looking to develop over the next few years,” he said.

Nine Tests in 2016 has only whet Alaalatoa’s appetite for Test rugby, with his focus on earning a national spot with strong Super Rugby form.

“We’ve got a lot of a younger squad this but it’s very exciting for us. With the Wallaby background, it’s made me a lot more hungry to be there again,” he said.

With Stephen Moore and David Pocock gone from the Brumbies’ forward pack, Alaalatoa said there was a handful of players taking a more prominent role on and off the field, including Sio.

“In terms of the forwards, we have big Scotty [Sio] there who hasn’t really been in a leadership role before and he’s stepping up with a voice,” he said.

“With the backs you have Tevita (Kuridrani) and Henry (Speight) who don’t normally say anything but now are in the leadership crew so I think it gives those guys who’ve been around for a while an opportunity to  step up and lead a group that’s obviously very young.

“Obviously everyone’s just very excited to play so I think in terms of the forwards our game’s always been very forward dominated but all the excitement comes from the backs.”

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Alaalatoa is hoping to be fit for Saturday’s trial against the Waratahs, with a slight hamstring twinge holding him back.

One player who is looking to use the preseason as a springboard to a Super Rugby spot is former Queensland backrower Lolo Fakaosilea.

The youngster had an injury-hampered 2016 but wants to find a spot in the Brumbies’ intimidating backrow in 2017.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” he said.

“I’m just going to keep working hard, I’m here to prove a point, just to earn my right get the spot.”

The Brumbies take on the Waratahs at 6pm on Saturday night at Mudgee.

It was a match of discovery rather than rivalry in Busselton as the Force played out a 22-14 trial match win against Perth Spirit.

Players were switching sides, with no benches named for the intraclub trial, giving Force coach Dave Wessels his first look at a number of new faces in a match setting.

In good news for the Force, Matt Hodgson and big-name recruit Tatafu Polota-Nau made it through their injury returns unscathed, nine days out from the Force’s next preseason test..

A hat-trick to South African-born Force Academy player James Verity-Amm sparked the Force’s comeback, as the club’s next generation pushed their credentials.

In the opening stages, it was the Spirit side on top with NRC player of the final Richard Hardwick crossing early and Australia U20s player Alex Newsome stretching the Spirit’s advantage to 14 points.

Verity-Amm snatched one back and five minutes later, the fullback had his second, making the margin a four-point gap at the break.

Midway through the second half, he made it three for the night and gave the Force their first lead of the game.

Newsome had swapped sides by the end of the match, scoring the final try for the Force to give them a 22-14 win.

While the match showed off some of the franchise’s new recruits, how the Force will look come Super Rugby time remains to be seen, with a handful of high-profile players still working their way back from injury.

Prop Francois Van Wyk was added to that list on Saturday, suffering a lower leg injury, while winger Marcel Brache copped a head knock.

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Their next preseason outing will be a February 6 trial against the Rebels on the Gold Coast.

FINAL SCORE

Western Force 22

Tries: Van-Amm 3, Newsome, Cons: Grant

Perth Spirit 14

Tries: Hardwick, Newsome, Cons: Prior 2

Force outside back Luke Morahan is heading to Bristol, the UK club confirmed overnight.

Morahan has been one of the vital cogs in the Force’s backline since moving west ahead of the 2014 season.

The 26-year-old shot back into the Wallabies frame last year after a three-year absence from Test rugby and started at fullback against France.

Morahan told Bristol’s website he was looking forward to the change, joining the recently promoted side.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to play in England, but also to be a part of the ambitious journey that Bristol Rugby is on,” he said.

“The Club’s management sold me the vision and how much rugby means to the people of the city.

“It’s an exciting new challenge and one me and my family are looking forward to. I am confident that everything is in place at Bristol for us to be a successful club.”

It’s been a rollercoaster season for Bristol, who sacked former coach Andy Robinson early on in the season, before appointing current Connacht coach Pat Lam for 2017-18 and beyond.

Interim coach Mark Tainton said Morahan would be a handy addition for the side.

“Luke is an impressive player with excellent technical abilities. He’s got a lot of raw pace and versatility and can play across the backline,” he said.

“We were really encouraged by Luke’s attitude and enthusiasm throughout the recruitment process. He’s an international player who wants to play for Bristol Rugby and has really bought in to what we are trying to achieve.”

Bristol currently sits at the bottom of the Premiership ladder, having won just three of its 17 games so far.

 

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The Spanish boss hailed the ‘outstanding’ display from his players to pick up three points at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola admitted the thought of losing more ground on Liverpool played on his mind as Manchester City dug deep to claim a 3-1 win at Everton.

The reigning champions headed into Saturday’s Premier League clash at Goodison Park eight points behind Liverpool, who beat Sheffield United 1-0 in the day’s early kick-off.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelled out Gabriel Jesus’ opener before half-time, but Riyad Mahrez caught out Jordan Pickford from a free-kick 71 minutes in and Raheem Sterling made sure of the points.

With the gap at the top back to five points after seven matches, Guardiola acknowledged the pressure is on his side to keep pace with last term’s runners-up.

“We knew Liverpool won again and the gap was eight points, so big,” Guardiola said at his post-match news conference. 

“So, we won three points and it’s five [points] in September, with a lot of points to play for.

“We know which team we’re playing right now – they are seven victories in a row, champions of Europe and playing good football. 

“This is our rival and we know we can’t drop too many points because last season they lost just one game. 

“The season is long, we have to keep going and be there, maybe we can push them a little bit more and try to make the third Premier League in a row.”

Ederson produced a couple of impressive second-half stops to help City on their way to a fourth win on the bounce in all competitions, much to the delight of Guardiola.

“He saved two incredible chances at 2-1 and it was a good game of football,” he added.

“We were absolutely outstanding. At Goodison Park it’s always difficult – we started incredibly well as usual, we created chances and scored. 

“After that we had a lot of problems to control out left side with Gylfi Sigurdsson, they had one more player there, we had a lot of problems.

“In the second half, except set-pieces and conceding free-kicks and long balls we played good.”

Everton winger Theo Walcott was taken from the field on a stretcher in the opening stages of the match after blocking Sterling’s cross with his face.

Walcott was taken to hospital but Marco Silva confirmed after the game that the 30-year-old had been discharged.

“He’s already in our dressing room,” Silva told reporters. “He’s okay, he’s taking his shower and will go home to rest.

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“He had a scan [at the hospital]. Up to now everything is okay. We’re just waiting to speak more to the doctor.”

The result at the Wanda Metropolitano was enough to keep Real top of the early-season La Liga table with an unbeaten record

Real Madrid’s goalless draw against rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday gave Zinedine Zidane a third consecutive clean sheet in La Liga for the first time across his two spells at the Bernabeu.

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The result at the Wanda Metropolitano was enough to keep Real top of the early-season La Liga table, with the team unbeaten as they look to wrest the title back from champions Barcelona.

This was the third time in the last three seasons that the two great city rivals have ground out a goalless draw, having managed only six goalless games between them in their history previously.

It was also the second time the pair have drawn without scoring at Atletico’s new stadium, matching the number of blanks they managed at the old Vincent Calderon Stadium.

Real sit top of the league despite only winning four of their seven games so far this season.

Last weekend’s 2-0 win against Osasuna built on the 1-0 win they earned against Sevilla on the previous matchday meaning they are now enjoying a record-breaking run under Zidane.

Against Atletico, Karim Benzema nearly snatched the victory for Real with his headed effort 15 minutes from time at the Wanda Metropolitano, forcing a great save out of Jan Oblak.

Joao Felix and Saul Niguez went closest for Atletico, who registered just one attempt on target as their winless run in competitive meetings with Madrid stretched to a seventh match.

Atletico put seven goals past Madrid in July’s pre-season clash in New Jersey and looked the more likely side to make a breakthrough in the first half of this latest showdown.

Joao Felix twice went close for the hosts, dragging a shot wide of the target with the angle against him and blasting narrowly wide from 25 yards.

Champions Barcelona made it back-to-back league wins with a 2-0 win over Getafe earlier on Saturday, offering hope they have turned a corner following their slow start.

It is Real who are out in front at the top of La Liga, though – this draw moving them one point clear of Atleti and surprise package Granada, while Barca are a further point behind.