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Friday, 16 October 2015

Cheika Loses Pocock and Folau

David Pocock and Israel Folau have lost their fitness battles ahead of Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against Scotland at Twickenham.

Pocock has been ruled out by a calf problem sustained in the 15-6 victory over Wales last weekend and is replaced by Ben McCalman at number eight.

Folau suffered an ankle complaint in the same Pool A game and makes away for Kurtley Beale at full-back with Quade Cooper promoted to the bench.

Michael Hooper returns from suspension to start at openside while lock Rob Simmons is drafted into the starting XV, displacing Dean Mumm to the replacements.

Captain Stephen Moore and centre Matt Giteau will become the seventh and eighth Wallabies to make 100 international appearances when they line up against the Scots.

“Those lads don’t need to have played 100 games for Australia to have the respect from me and the other players in the team,” head Coach Michael Cheika said.

“It’s what they do in training every day, how hard they work and what they’re prepared to sacrifice that sets them apart.”

Australia thumped England by a record score at Twickenham and edged Wales at the same venue, but Cheika insists Scotland will be the Wallabies’ most dangerous foes yet.

“This will be the most difficult game we play and that’s not disrespecting our other opponents at all because every match has been tough, but this will be the toughest,” Cheika said.

“There’s going to be a lot of pain, it’s going to be physical and I want the players to enjoy that as well because that’s when it’s worth it.

“Guarding against complacency is pretty easy because we don’t think we are complacent.

“We’re acutely aware that this is really important for our own journey as a team.

“I’ve seen a lot of the Scottish players saying they can win — and they can, they can.

“It’s the reality of sport and what we need to make sure is that our mindset is really clear on what we’re prepared to do to get that victory.”

Australia: K Beale, A Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, M Giteau, D Mitchell; B Foley, W Genia; S Sio, S Moore (captain), S Kepu, K Douglas, R Simmons, S Fardy, M Hooper, B McCalman

Replacements: T Polota-Nau, J Slipper, G Holmes, D Mumm, S McMahon, N Phipps, M Toomua, Q Cooper.

Thursday, 24 October 2013

European Reach Half Solution

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The English, French, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and Italian governing bodies have agreed to change the structure of European club rugby.

After meetings in Dublin, they agreed on the formation of two tweaked competitions of 20 teams each as well as a change in revenue distribution.

But top English and French clubs, who have proposed a breakaway competition from next season, were not present.

The Anglo-French plan has been backed by the four Welsh regions.

Premiership Rugby (PRL) in England and Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) in France say they will have no involvement in the Heineken Cup or Amlin Challenge Cup from next season.

Instead of competing in European Rugby Cup (ERC) competitions, the PRL and LNR plan to form an alternative Rugby Champions Cup.

PRL and LNR are unhappy at how teams qualify for the Heineken Cup, especially from the RaboDirect Pro12 league, and how proceeds are shared.

Currently, only the top six clubs in England and France are guaranteed a place in the Heineken Cup, whereas at least 10 Pro12 outfits - including both Scottish teams (Edinburgh and Glasgow), both Italian teams (Treviso and Zebre) and a minimum of three sides each from Wales and Ireland - have automatic entry into the competition.

As part of the new proposals, only seven clubs from the Pro12 would qualify for the primary tournament.

In addition, the revenue would be split evenly between the three leagues - the English Premiership, France's Top 14 and the Pro12 - as proposed by English and French clubs in June of last year.

But PRL told the BBC that Thursday's developments offer "no more than half a solution" to the crisis.

Remaining stumbling blocks are the rival television broadcasting deals between Sky and BT and the insistence of English and French outfits that clubs should run European competitions, not the unions.

Representatives from the Rugby Football Union, French Rugby Federation, Scottish Rugby Union, Welsh Rugby Union, Irish Rugby Union and Italian Rugby Federation were all present in Dublin.

They issued a statement which read: "Progress has been made on a number of issues relating to the future of European club rugby competition.

"The primary competition would be made up of 20 clubs, with six each from PRL and the LNR, and seven from the Pro12 tournament.

"The clubs would come through meritocratic qualification from their respective leagues and, in the case of the Pro12, there will be at least one club guaranteed from each country.

"In year one, the 20th place would be allocated through a play-off match between the seventh-placed PRL and LNR clubs.

"The secondary competition would consist of up to 20 clubs made up of the remaining 18 PRL, LNR and Pro12 clubs. Two places could be allocated to clubs qualifying from a third competition.

"There is also consensus that distributable revenues generated through the competitions would be divided one third, one third, one third per league with the stipulation that monies to be received by the Pro12 countries would not be less than the current levels."

The PRL, the LNR and the four Welsh regions have not yet been consulted on the proposals and it is unclear who will run these proposed European club competitions from next year.