2018 Rugby Championship
-
@stargazer Far be it from me to question your dossiers
- but, this recent article from Knowler suggests Todd most likely isn't available - especially for the second Bled. -
From Fox Sports
Wallabies to hold trial game ahead of first Bledisloe Cup Test THE Wallabies will hold a “mate against mate” trial game in Sydney on August 3 as coach Michael Cheika tries a fresh approach in a bid to break a now 16 year Bledisloe Cup drought. Australia has a poor recent record in the opening Bledisloe Test in Sydney and Wallabies hopefuls will now get a valuable hitout and opportunity to push their selection case in the trial match at Leichardt Oval. Waratahs players will not be involved given they are still alive in the Super Rugby finals. The trial teams are yet to be announced but it shapes as a “probables v possibles” type game with Cheika coaching a Wallabies squad and Australian women’s sevens mentor John Manenti guiding a Super Rugby selection. The opening Bledisloe Test is at ANZ Stadium on August 18. The Rebels, Brumbies and Reds all missed the Super Rugby playoffs and the Wallabies have held a training camp in Sydney this week. “We were keen to have more Super Rugby teams playing for longer, obviously, and if we look at the last two years we just want to keep the intensity of footy up,” Cheika said. “Spending five weeks on the sideline before a Bledisloe Test match is not what we want ideally. “We want guys to play footy. “It’s not just about the contact, because you can get all that in training. “But just the little things. “The pressure in front of a crowd, the referee telling you what to do, the dressing room build up, all those things. “The mental side of footy.” The game brings Australia into line with the All Blacks and their annual pre Bledisloe “game of three halves” hitout. It will kick off at 6.45pm AEST with free entry although gold coin donations will be funnelled into grassroots rugby. Australian men’s sevens coach Tim Walsh and Rebels assistant Kevin Foote will help guide Manenti’s side. The match will also be streamed on rugby.com.au. -
Wallabies playmaker Matt Toomua in line for Bledisloe Cup return and deal with Rebels
Christy Doran
July 27, 2018 3:56pm
CHRISTY DORAN@christypdoranMatt Toomua is expected to sign with the Melbourne Rebels next week, putting him in the frame to play the opening Bledisloe Test against the All Blacks.
THE stars are aligning for Leicester Tigers playmaker Matt Toomua to make a dream return for the Wallabies and run out against the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe Cup Test on August 18.
Toomua joined the Tigers in the English Premiership in 2016 and after an injury plagued first season has enhanced his reputation as one of the most talented inside backs in the world playing alongside England duo George Ford and Manu Tuilagi.But the gifted playmaker is back in Australia and with next year’s World Cup on the horizon he is expected to finalise a two-and-a-half year deal with the Melbourne Rebels next week.
It’s understood Toomua’s wife, Australian cricket star Ellyse Perry, will also continue her sparkling sporting career in Melbourne.
By signing with the Rebels, the 28-year-old Toomua would be immediately eligible to add to his 33 Tests in the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship opener against New Zealand in Sydney, despite having another season left to run on his contract in England.
Toomua is familiar with Rebels coach Dave Wessels, who was an assistant during his time in Canberra with the Brumbies.
Toomua remains under contract with the Tigers until 2020 after signing an extension last November, but it’s understood he has a clause which would allow him to return to Australia in May following the 2018-19 European season.
It remains unclear how heavily Toomua will feature for the Rebels next year.
The Rebels’ final regular season match is on June 14 and Super Rugby rules require players to feature in three or more games to be eligible for the finals series.
Toomua’s workload with Leicester will also be taken into consideration.
The Wallabies are currently in camp in Sydney but Toomua is not allowed to train as the international window is closed.
The only 2018 Wallabies Test sitting outside the international window is the third Bledisloe in Yokohama on October 27.
That means the Wallabies would need to negotiate with the Tigers for his release, as well as fellow Leicester star Tatafu Polota-Nau.
The impending return of Toomua is a major coup for Australian rugby — even if he doesn’t get selected for the opening Bledisloe.
The former Brumbies fly-half/inside centre hasn’t played a Test since limping off injured against the All Blacks in Sydney in 2016.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has a big hole at No 10 behind vice captain Bernard Foley.
Kurtley Beale and Reece Hodge filled the role during the June series against Ireland, but the former is Cheika’s inside centre and the latter has been used off the bench to cover a number of positions given his excellent versatility.
Young Rebels back Jack Maddocks and Reds flyhalf Hamish Stewart are seen as long term No 10 options, but both are coming off their first full Super Rugby seasons and neither have played a Test.
-
@bones said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
Geez I'm surprised he's only 28.
Yeah he’s been around for some time. When I saw him play schoolboys he seemed a class above at that level. A pretty gifted player. The Brumbies picked him up straight out of school.
-
@act-crusader seems quite the contrast when you find out HBC is 27.
-
Couldn't find a better thread to post this.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/32763/why-are-the-all-blacks-so-good-cnn-finds-out
-
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12098966
Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman and Nathan Harris.
Props: Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Karl Tu'inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Brodie Retallick and Patrick Tuipulotu.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Jackson Hemopo, Akira Ioane, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire and Luke Whitelock.Backs
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.
Midfielders: Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo and Ben Smith. -
-
@machpants said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
A ridiculous number of loose forwards, and still more to come!
I've been wondering if Hansen is actually any good at picking loose forwards.
Since he had the easy picks of McCaw, Read, Kaino, the additional ones have been pretty average and not really fired up.
Perhaps his one achilles heel?
-
@nzzp said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@machpants said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
A ridiculous number of loose forwards, and still more to come!
I've been wondering if Hansen is actually any good at picking loose forwards.
Since he had the easy picks of McCaw, Read, Kaino, the additional ones have been pretty average and not really fired up.
Perhaps his one achilles heel?
Sam Cane just slapped you.
-
@mariner4life said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@nzzp said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@machpants said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
A ridiculous number of loose forwards, and still more to come!
I've been wondering if Hansen is actually any good at picking loose forwards.
Since he had the easy picks of McCaw, Read, Kaino, the additional ones have been pretty average and not really fired up.
Perhaps his one achilles heel?
Sam Cane just slapped you.
Liam Squire, Frizzell and Six Foot Ardie just rabbit punched him
-
@nzzp said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@mariner4life said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@nzzp said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@machpants said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
A ridiculous number of loose forwards, and still more to come!
I've been wondering if Hansen is actually any good at picking loose forwards.
Since he had the easy picks of McCaw, Read, Kaino, the additional ones have been pretty average and not really fired up.
Perhaps his one achilles heel?
Sam Cane just slapped you.
Liam Squire, Frizzell and Six Foot Ardie just rabbit punched him
like he felt it from those fucking lightweights. Luke Whitelock was probably there too, but nobody noticed him.
-
@nzzp said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@mariner4life said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@nzzp said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@machpants said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
A ridiculous number of loose forwards, and still more to come!
I've been wondering if Hansen is actually any good at picking loose forwards.
Since he had the easy picks of McCaw, Read, Kaino, the additional ones have been pretty average and not really fired up.
Perhaps his one achilles heel?
Sam Cane just slapped you.
Liam Squire, Frizzell and Six Foot Ardie just rabbit punched him
Aside from the Tongan, who are the guys you would have selected over the other two throughout their AB career (remembering that Ardie was actually pretty good early on in his sub role)?
Then Tongan is that guy every coach seems to pick because he might have the next Kirwan on his hands and he'll be able to take the credit.
-
@nzzp said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@machpants said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
A ridiculous number of loose forwards, and still more to come!
I've been wondering if Hansen is actually any good at picking loose forwards.
Since he had the easy picks of McCaw, Read, Kaino, the additional ones have been pretty average and not really fired up.
Perhaps his one achilles heel?
The continued non-selection (injury replacement only) of 5’14’’ Matt Todd has been a major downfall
