Arg 15- AB's 54. The AB's win the Rugby Championship.
Arg 15- AB's 54. The AB's win the Rugby Championship.
Berrick Barnes suffered punctured lung in yesterday game.. http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-union/unio...930-26t4f.html
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
"The Wallabies are scouring the country for replacements to send to Argentina to bolster their decimated troops ahead of their final Rugby Championship match.And coach Robbie Deans said due to visa and flight availability, the new players may not make it to Rosario in time for a training session before the Test."from above article in Sydney Morning Herald...this isn't going to end pretty.
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
Jesus. At altitude, too. I'd love to see a comparative analysis of injuries at different test grounds. Loftus seems to produce more, and especially more head injuries, than others.Originally Posted by NotreDameRFC
Vorsprung durch Pfennig.
http://rugby.com.au/News/NewsArticle...8/Default.aspx
Australian Rugby Union welcomes IRB statement on weekend's substitution ruling
10/4/2012
By ARU Media Unit
Australian Rugby Union welcomes today’s admission from the International Rugby Board that match officials were at fault when they blocked a replacement by the Qantas Wallabies and left the Australians a man short for the final 14 minutes of last Saturday’s Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship match with South Africa in Pretoria.
The Qantas Wallabies attempted to replace the injured Tatafu Polota-Nau with fellow hooker Saia Faingaa, only to be told by match officials they were prohibited from making further substitutions.
Prop Benn Robinson was forced into a makeshift role as lineout thrower, scrums moved to uncontested and the Qantas Wallabies – in the face of a crushing injury toll – were forced to navigate the final quarter hour with only 14 players on the field.
They had earlier lost prop James Slipper to the sin bin, during which time the Springboks scored two of their five tries, one of them from a rolling maul while No.8 Radike Samo was being treated by medical staff for injury and the Australian pack was reduced to six forwards.
The match official team was led by referee Alain Rolland, who under the Laws of the Game, is the sole judge of fact. In this instance the referee and his team failed to interpret the law correctly.
It is ARU’s position that management of the issue was not best practice – and, in Rugby, accountability exists in equal measure for match officials as it does for players and coaches.
ARU hopes the referee has learnt from this error.
Despite the match officials’ inaccuracy, ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill AO, said no decisions on the night affected the final result of the Test won 31-8 by the Springboks.
“South Africa were absolutely the better side, we congratulate them, they dominated the match, and that is not up for debate at all,” Mr O’Neill said.
“However, given the circumstances where the Wallabies were dealing with a massive and mounting injury toll, it was frustrating and unfair for the team to carry additional burdens.
“The challenges they faced at a ground where no Australian team has ever won were difficult enough.
“So I appreciate the IRB acknowledging the match official team failed to recognise Law 3.12 which should have seen Saia Faingaa given the green light to replace Tatafu, and allow the Wallabies to play out the match with a full complement of 15 players.”
http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/Ne...9/Default.aspx
Qantas Wallabies team to play Argentina at Rosario named
10/4/2012
By Qantas Wallabies Media Unit
Western Force winger Nick Cummins will become the 11th new cap, and the 38th player to represent Australia in what is the 10th Test of a challenging year after today being named in the Qantas Wallabies starting side which will close the inaugural Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship in Argentina on Saturday night (10.00am, Sunday morning, AEST).
Selection comes a day before the popular winger’s 25th birthday, as he moves into a reshaped backline for the clash against Los Pumas at Rosario, in the after math of the dramatic night at Loftus Versfeld last weekend which removed this season’s backline stalwarts Berrick Barnes and Adam Ashley-Cooper from selection calculations.
The pair, who between them can lay claim to 118 Test caps, were both injured during the 8-31 loss to South Africa which opened Australia’s away tour in the competition.
Barnes was one of just three players, alongside current skipper Nathan Sharpe and winger Digby Ioane, to have started in all nine Tests played by Australia to date in 2012.
He was also one of four players to have filled the fullback berth during those nine games with Ashley-Cooper – who had started in all but the season-opening Test against Scotland in Newcastle – being another.
That honour now falls to Queensland Reds back Mike Harris, who will also take over the duties from Barnes as Australia’s lead-off goal-kicker. Harris has already proved himself in that role, kicking the match-winning penalty goal after the final siren when Australia beat Wales 20-19 in Melbourne to clinch the James Bevan Trophy Series earlier in the year.
After not originally being named on the bench at Loftus, and only taking his place after loose forward Scott Higginbotham was ruled out following a pre-game fitness Test, Harris wound up finishing last weekend’s match at fullback, from where he scored his maiden Test try.
Overall, the Australian run on team for the final Rugby Championship encounter features six changes from the side which came from behind on the Gold Coast to beat Argentina 23-19 just three weeks ago.
There are five changes to the XV from that which started the previous match: Harris and Cummins replace Barnes and Dominic Shipperley respectively, while Ben Tapuai reclaims a place in the Test side standing in for Ashley-Cooper.
A late entrant to the Wallabies squad this season after himself being lowered by a shoulder injury in Fx Pro Super Rugby, Tapuai will make just his second Test appearance this weekend, after debuting in the Test against Wales at Cardiff on last year’s brief Spring Tour.
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says the promotion of Cummins rewards his hard work in the background as a squad member through the season to date, noting that his extra size will be an asset in handling the Pumas’ physical approach across the field.
“Nick has waited patiently for his chance, but has earned the right to represent his country,” Deans says.
“We know that the Pumas will be coming straight at us, and will be looking to profit in the collision in the same way that the Springboks did last week. We’ve addressed that, both internally in our discussions, but also with our selection, where we have gone for the players we feel are best suited to that approach.”
On Tapuai, Deans says a Test return was always a case of when, not if, after the Queensland Reds midfielder made an impressive start to his international career on last year’s tour.
“Ben would have been involved earlier, but for injury disrupting his progress,” Deans says.
“But he has worked hard in our environment, gained match fitness playing a significant amount of club rugby in Brisbane, and brings a skill set that we feel will be useful in countering the Pumas, who will get off the line quickly in defence.”
In the forwards, Sitaleki Timani makes a welcome return to a bulked up pack, taking over from Dave Dennis on the blindside flank. The big NSW Waratahs forward’s previous six Test appearances have all been earned in the second row.
“As with the backs, we’ve looked to increase our physicality to counter the direct force that will undoubtedly be coming the other way,” Deans says.
“Although he hasn’t played at six in Test matches, Sita does have some background in the position, and he’s coming in relatively fresh after a four-week injury break. Dave [Dennis] has had a big workload, both in Super rugby where he was a regular, but also by featuring in every Test so far, which is a significant achievement in what is his first year as a Test player. That work load has taken its toll a little bit, but he will still be available to provide cover for either Sita, or the second rowers Kane [Douglas] and Nathan [Nathan Sharpe] off the bench.”
A further change sees James Slipper promoted to start at loosehead prop, switching roles with Benn Robinson, who moves to the bench.
“Notwithstanding last week’s yellow card, James has consistently made an impact this year,” Deans says.
“As is the case with Dennis, we feel we are better served to use the players in the reverse order to last week, with Slipper starting while Robinson provides the fresh legs later in the contest.”
In anticipation of a physical forward onslaught from Argentina, the Qantas Wallabies selectors have again opted for a five-forward, two-back split among the substitutes.
Higginbotham, who was ruled out shortly before kick off in South Africa due to a back complaint, has overcome the problem to take his place on the bench this week.
Brett Sheehan, who made his fourth appearance, but the first in four years, from a career that exclusively features Test matches on South African soil, continues as halfback understudy, while Shipperley will be hoping to add to his favourable Rosario memories if inserted into the game.
The Queensland speedster visited Rosario in 2010, alongside fellow Wallabies’ squad members flankers Michael Hooper and Liam Gill, and fullback Luke Morahan; with the quartet being part of the Australian side which reached the final of that year’s IRB Under-20 World Cup in the city.
Shipperley made his mark at the tournament by scoring a hat-trick in the side’s semi-final win over South Africa. This allowed the team to achieve Australia’s best ever finish at the tournament.
The weekend’s starting XV totals a combined 345 previous Test appearances – 110 of which belong to Sharpe, the Australian captain.
In playing his 111th Test, Sharpe moves into outright second for the most Test matches played by an Australian, while also edging ahead of the 110-matches played by flanker George Smith, to become the most capped Australian Test forward in history.
To put Sharpe’s previous service in perspective, the combined number of caps amassed by Saturday night’s starting backline numbers 88, while the other seven run on forwards boast 147 appearances between them.
The Qantas Wallabies team to play Argentina in The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship Test on Saturday at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario (kick-off: 8.10pm Argentine time, 10.00am, Sunday 7 October AEST) is:
15. Mike Harris (Queensland Reds)
14. Nick Cummins (Western Force)
13. Ben Tapuai (Queensland Reds)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
9. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
8. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
7. Michael Hooper (Brumbies)
6. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force, captain)
4. Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
1. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
Run on Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
17. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
18. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)
19. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
20. Liam Gill (Queensland Reds)
21. Brett Sheehan (Western Force)
22. Dominic Shipperley (Queensland Reds)
Australia v Argentina – Historical Notes
• Saturday’s match will be the 19th Test to have been played between the Qantas Wallabies and Los Pumas. Last month’s 23-19 win on the Gold Coast was Australia’s 13th success against Argentina. Four games have been lost while the first Test of the 1987 series was drawn 19-19 at Buenos Aires.
• The teams have met on seven previous occasions on Argentine soil. Each side has won three times alongside the draw 25 years ago. This will be the first Test that Australia has played at an Argentine venue other than Buenos Aires.
• Australia’s biggest winning margin on Argentine soil is 11 (17-6 in 2002) while it’s highest winning score is 23 (23-15 in 1997).
• Argentina has played just two previous Tests at Rosario, beating Romania 68-22 in 1998 and Scotland 21-15 ten years later. Current Pumas coach Santiago Phelan made his debut in the position during the latter match.
• Argentina’s second largest city, Rosario is three hours drive from the capital, Buenos Aires.
• The Wallabies have appeared in Rosario before, winning a non-Test match 29-18 against Rosario during the 1997 tour.
• Australia made its debut in Argentina 33-years ago, losing its maiden match 13-24 in Buenos Aires. The tourists fought back to square the series with a 17-12 win in the second Test.
• The 11-point defeat that Australia sustained during its first ever Test match in Argentina in 1979 remains the Wallabies’ heaviest loss away to Los Pumas.
• The two countries have met twice previously at the Rugby World Cup, with Australia winning 32-19 at Llanelli (Wales) in 1991, and 23-8 in Sydney 12 years later. The latter match opened the 2003 tournament.
I like to see a comparative analysis of injuries at different test grounds
Last edited by peterr89; 17th-November-2012 at 01:39.
what price the argies?
Connacht Rugby
"Live to win. Born to lose"
Favs here at 1.90. Evens at home with PP.
worst Australian xv ever.
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
Habana just equalled Christian Cullen's record of 7 trys in a Tri nations/rugby championship.
Many more games now though!
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody - Bill Cosby
Christ, but that was some attack from the ABs! The Boks dominated possession and territory and yet every time the ABs got ball, you felt they could rip the Boks to shreds. The ABs play with such pace, they attack the line so directly and hold the rush defense and each of the players are capable of making the correct decision with the ball in hand to find the open player, putting him through the gap or getting him outside the defense. Given the opposition, that was the finest attacking performance I have seen from a team in a long time.
In McCaw, Read, Nonu, Carter and Conrad Smith, they have are some of the best players in the game. I'm not sure who is going to beat them next, but whoever does it will have to dominate upfront and deny them ball.
All Blacks on 16 consecutive wins... A near certainty that they'll break the record during the upcoming Autumn tour. (They'll face a very depleted Aus side in a dead-rubber on Oct 20th before that... Followed by Scotland and Italy to take the record.)
On that note, I enjoyed this chirp on Twitter during the Bok game:
This All Black side might be better than the Lithuanian one that won 18 tests in a row, but it's unfair to compare teams from different eras.
"Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man." - The Dude abides.
"Forwards win matches. Backs decide by how much." - DK
A nice rugby fraternity story here....
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/ber...ary-all-black/
He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
Final Oz, AB game in Brizvegas this weekend.....
Keeweees....
Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Daniel Carter, Aaron Smith
Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock
Reserves: Andrew Hore, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.
Wobblies
Mike Harris, Nick Cummins, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper; Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps;
Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Scott Higginbotham, Nathan Sharpe (c), Sitaleki Timani, James Slipper, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Saia Faingaa, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.
He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
Just saw the result of the Oz AB game....
wow...
just shows... you throw enough sh!t against the wall.... some of it will stick....
Well done Oz.....
He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
Missed this report at the time. So Rolland got his knuckles rapped in October.
As, I'm reliably informed, had happened in September, when he robbed Munster of a win in Todger Park by penalising a dominant visiting pack, late in the game.
Let's all hope that he gets it right in Thomond Park on Saturday.
Anyway, what I came here to post was this:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=_D_h5l6Nk2o
Pure magic from the wonderful Hernandez, during the recent Rugby Championships.
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