More games on cards for fringe Wallabies

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25-02-10, 06:26
travelling_gerry

More games on cards for fringe Wallabies

More games on cards for fringe Wallabies

GREG GROWDEN

February 25, 2010
In a bid to uncover talent before next year's World Cup, the Australia A concept is back on the agenda and the Wallabies are scheduled to play several midweek games during the end-of-season northern hemisphere tour this year.
After the success of the two midweek games during last year's tour, Australian Rugby Union officials are trying to organise two or three extra matches where they can again field fringe Test players, as well as the four internationals in November.
The Wallabies are scheduled to start their northern jaunt in late October with a Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong. The next Test is expected to be against Wales in Cardiff, but the match is still to be confirmed, before the Wallabies play England, Italy and France. The extra midweekers against major club sides are likely to be played in England and France, with even a match in Ireland a strong possibility.
Also, when England travel to Australia in June for their two-Test tour, there are plans for midweek games in Perth, before the Subiaco Oval Test, and in NSW, probably in Gosford, Newcastle or Wollongong, before the Sydney international. Rather than England playing the provinces, it is expected the Australia A team, which has played only occasionally in recent seasons, will be reformed for two midweek games.
ARU officials know they must stage as many representative games as possible before the World Cup to give those just outside the Test arena the chance to show off their wares against quality opposition.
Team officials rated the Wallabies' midweek match against Gloucester last November an outright success, especially as it was used by centre Quade Cooper as the stepping stone to get in the Test line-up later that week against England at Twickenham. This had the desired effect of convincing all the back-up players in the Wallabies touring party that they had an important role on that tour and were not just midweek fodder.
Also, Queensland halfback Richard Kingi and winger Luke Morahan stood out against Cardiff.
In Super 14 news, while the Waratahs are irritated they have to confront Springboks second-rower Victor Matfield when they play the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday night, (4.10am Sunday, Sydney time) at least the Brumbies have had a reprieve, as the Stormers will be without their Test back-rower Schalk Burger in Cape Town this round.
The Waratahs, after losing Dean Mumm for two weeks on a striking charge, have queried the SANZAR judiciary for finding Matfield not guilty of striking and charging into a ruck last weekend.
Burger, a similarly antagonistic figure, is sidelined with a hamstring tear, which forced him off during the first half of the win against the Waratahs last round.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...0224-p3k4.html
25-02-10, 12:18
AndyS

Much as I would have loved to see the Force take on England, this is probably the best outcome for Aus rugby in general. Hopefully the ARU have realised that it is a non-negotiable part of the development pathway, especially in the absence of even a semi-pro competition to underpin the international team.

It was incomprehensible to me that they cancelled the A program, although the PNC committment would undoubtedly have cost them money. But it is probably a measure of their management style that the response to that was to cancel the entire program, rather than actually look to the alternatives. I would have thought they should be able to at least break even on the A matches, if not make money. I am sure they will here and I'd be amazed if they couldn't in Sydney (and they should play it elsewhere if they can't). Looking at the EOYT tour as well, if they are playing a Bledisloe in Hong Kong, why not an Aus A match in Tokyo against Japan or an Asian/Pacific Barbarians side? Similarly during the European tour - why just play clubs? Scotland only seems to be playing a couple of internationals, so would they fancy a warm-up? Argentina will be in Europe, but only seem to have one match organised. What are Spain or Portugal doing while the first team plays Italy - there must be all manner of possibilities if they could just make the mental leap to view it as two part overlapping teams touring together.
25-02-10, 13:03
Sheikh

If the ARU can't make a profit at MES with Aus A vs Eng A then their marketing department deserves a rocket.

I'd like a simultaneous EOYT for Aus A playing teams like Romania, Georgia, Russia, etc. It doesn't even have to be a separate tour (with separate costs), just a slightly larger touring party with the Aus A squad flying away for their games.
25-02-10, 13:29
Happy

Quote:

EOYT for Aus A playing teams like Romania, Georgia, Russia, etc

yesyesyes!!!
25-02-10, 19:14
Burgs

Somehow NZ can regularly justify fielding both a Junior All Blacks AND a Maori All Blacks, strangely they are the top nation in the code...

Perhaps more should be made of the Aus U20's as well, perhaps some warm up fixtures prior to the JWC against the four (five) Australian Super Rugby Academy or A sides as well. There is no way that these junior players (on average) would ever be reaching the maximum number of matches in the collective bargaining agreement as the senior players do.
25-02-10, 20:03
James

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgs

Somehow NZ can regularly justify fielding both a Junior All Blacks AND a Maori All Blacks, strangely they are the top nation in the code...

Perhaps more should be made of the Aus U20's as well, perhaps some warm up fixtures prior to the JWC against the four (five) Australian Super Rugby Academy or A sides as well. There is no way that these junior players (on average) would ever be reaching the maximum number of matches in the collective bargaining agreement as the senior players do.

And a domestic rugby competition.

I'd have loved to see the Force play England that would've been great but can the ARU at least favour the locals a little in the make up of the Aus A side. Make sure guys like Tom Hockings, Nick Cummins, Pek Cowan etc etc run out (if not in the plans for the test match).
25-02-10, 20:13
TOCC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgs

Somehow NZ can regularly justify fielding both a Junior All Blacks AND a Maori All Blacks, strangely they are the top nation in the code...

Perhaps more should be made of the Aus U20's as well, perhaps some warm up fixtures prior to the JWC against the four (five) Australian Super Rugby Academy or A sides as well. There is no way that these junior players (on average) would ever be reaching the maximum number of matches in the collective bargaining agreement as the senior players do.

QLD's academy side has played a game every week, on top of that Qld Permier XV(side made up of premier grade player) is playing every couple of weeks as well.

Saturday, 6 February 2010 7:30PM Reds Academy - 59 v Australian Barbarians - 7 Ballymore
Saturday, 13 February 2010 4:25PM Reds Academy - 48 v Queensland Premier XV - 7 Suncorp Stadium
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 7:15PM Reds Academy v Club Atletico San Isidro Ballymore
Sunday, 28 February 2010 3:00PM Reds Academy v NSW A Ballymore No 2
Sunday, 7 March 2010 3:00PM NSW A v Reds Academy TBA

whilst CASI, Barbarians and Queensland Premier havent exactly provided quality opposition, it has been good for fitness and basic skills.

Maybe RugbyWA needs to arrange these matches
25-02-10, 20:25
Burgs

The more matches the merrier TOCC and credit to Qld for arranging them, though I would suggest costs would be a little better to entice teams to Qld than WA. That said we have in the past had touring teams through. While there are varying standards in this field across the four franchises I don't think any of them are doing enough.
25-02-10, 21:20
mudskipper

What about Australia A in the Pacific nations cup?
26-02-10, 08:36
palitu

there is no Aus A :(
26-02-10, 12:10
TOCC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgs

The more matches the merrier TOCC and credit to Qld for arranging them, though I would suggest costs would be a little better to entice teams to Qld than WA. That said we have in the past had touring teams through. While there are varying standards in this field across the four franchises I don't think any of them are doing enough.

playing a game against a team comprised of the premier grade players isnt a matter of enticing teams to the state, its about showing initiative and getting out there. Ive heard people say that they think that a few of the top teams in the WA could hold there own in the QLD premier comp, so its not a matter of not having the skilll there, its a matter of not going out and arranging it.
26-02-10, 12:26
Happy

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

And a domestic rugby competition.

great idea.. that would............... oh hang on, we tried that, it failed despite everyone ELSE in the country pushing for it!
26-02-10, 13:32
Sheikh

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudskipper

What about Australia A in the Pacific nations cup?

They were in 2007 & 2008, coming second both times. Then some bright spark in the ARU decided to pull the plug on them. It'd be an excellent place to bring them back - the Junior ABs would probably prefer it as it'd increase the level of the competition.

I doubt we'd get a match over here, though!
26-02-10, 14:40
blueandblack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheikh

...

I doubt we'd get a match over here, though!

Aust A v Pacific Nations? Pretty sure we might. It's no Bledisloe you know....