4 players sent home from Wallaby camp

[Darren]

Four players have been sent home from the Wallabies’ World Cup training squad camp in Canberra today after failing fitness requirements during today’s testing sessions at the AIS.

Wallabies Mark Gerrard, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Lote Tuqiri and Morgan Turinui will return to their home States this afternoon to undertake fitness programs after failing to meet the required fitness levels during the camp.

Qantas Wallabies Coach John Connolly said that players were required to meet certain standards of physical fitness during the camp.

“We set some standards for this camp at the end of the Spring Tour and the four players have been sent home for failing to meet those standards,” said Connolly.

“They will resume training with their Super 14 teams tomorrow to start fitness programs,” he said.

Connolly said that taking action against the four players would send a strong message to others hopeful of inclusion in the final World Cup squad.

“Players were told at the start of the camp that if they were unable to meet certain standards they would be removed from the camp,” he said.

“We have very limited time available to us for physical preparation before the World Cup and this camp was to give us a platform from which to build on for the rest of the year,” said Connolly.

The remaining squad of 43 players will complete the final day of the 3-day camp tomorrow (Friday 5 January), having completed core strength, running and strength tests over the past two days.

[Burgs]

No suprise with Morgan but gee Lote, I thought you were a million dollar player????

[travelling_gerry]

3 Tahs players.....doesnt sound like the pre-season has been good there...

opening there for now for Tai

[Burgs]

Australia well behind the Black ball

By Peter Jenkins
January 05, 2007

FOUR Australia players have been sent home from a training camp after failing fitness tests, including the game's marquee player Lote Tuqiri.

Australia coach John Connolly was trying to stay calm at the centre of the storm last night.

But privately his blood pressure will be on the rise, and for very good reason.

Australia is already facing a battle to be on a par with the All Blacks when the global titles kick off in September.

The Kiwis have thumbed their noses at the Super 14 series, and angered the tournament's broadcasters, by standing down their elite players from the first half of the competition which gets under way next month.

The All Blacks will be spending that time on their strength and conditioning, with the aim to make them even more physically imposing than they were during 2006 come the World Cup in eight months.

Connolly does not have that luxury with his players.

The Australian franchises will be playing them throughout Super 14 and, once in game mode, the time devoted to weights and general fitness starts to taper significantly.

As Connolly said yesterday: "We have very limited time available to us for physical preparation before the World Cup and this camp was to give us a platform from which to build on for the rest of the year."

So what happens when Connolly sends his blokes out for an endurance sprint session? Four fail to complete the task or make the time targets set.

There are, with the two players The Daily Telegraph spoke to last night, extenutating circumstances involved.

Mark Gerrard has had the pressing demands of fatherhood to deal with over the Christmas period and Morgan Turinui is adamant he needed a rest after playing almost 40 games last year.

But World Cup years are about sacrifice, no short cuts and single-minded attention to detail.

The message sent out from the camp yesterday fell short of that ideal. Just like the players fell short on their fitness tests.

[Mtbeaver]

No suprise with Morgan but gee Lote, I thought you were a million dollar player????

Yeah, i agree with burgs here, Lote's one of the much more recognized Wallabies players. Looks like someone needs to put more in at training!

[RuckNMaul]

looks like hes (lote) more worried about getting mentioned in the papers about how much they are gonna pay him than training.
This will have to knock his price down

[pruc]

opening there for now for Tai

gerry remember tai plays for the force and knuckles doesnt like the force. poor tai

[Rodent]

I think Lote mistook the meaning of getting a "Big Fat Bonus"...

Someone needs to explain to Lote the idea is the bonus is big and fat, not that you get a bonus for being in said condition!

[frontrow]

Easy mistake to make i suppose...

[pruc]

haha good call rodent. lote ...was my favourite player untill this issue arose. he has so much talent but is abussing it!

[RuckNMaul]

aww
i was hoping to get the bonus for being big and fat

[Shaun]

Ahhh the sweet smell of justice Lote gets away with too much... he has been put in his place...that's the way I like it ah ha ah ha

[Mtbeaver]

Easy mistake to make i suppose...

You'd know all about that wouldn't you front row

[Rodent]

Force boys must be looking good for some starting spots in that Wallabies team now that the rest of the wingers appear to be fat bastards!

Stanners, Shep, Diggers and Drew all in the hunt!

[frontrow]

You'd know all about that wouldn't you front row

exactly beaver, now who ate all the pies, lote