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Its 2011......
New Zealand...the hosts....have had to approach the ARU to sub-host the tournament due to shortage of clean venues and accommodation.
Australia will play all their pool matches in Australia while Perth hosts a pool containing Argentina, the current world champions as well as England (Th in REC 2007), Fiji, USA (with new Manager Larry NJ) and REC débutantes Russia who are coached by Australian John Connolly.
The Australians are feeling confident under coach "Aussie" John Mitchell who took the Western Force to the Super 14 finals in 2009 only to lose in a close final to the Auckland Blues before winning the 2010 Final against the Crusaders.
Mitchell relinquished the coaching job of the Western Force before the 2011 Super 14 season to his assistant John Mulvihill who has coached the Perth Spirit to their 3rd ARC championship and their 2nd Super 14 final win in 2011 against the Hurricanes where Cameron Shepherd kicked a conversion after the siren to secure a 1 point win.
The Wallabies have been in scintillating form since Mitchell took over from Ewan McKenzie who had led the Wallabies to 16 losses by playing Waratah props Baxter and Dunning for all the tests as well as insisting that his back line combination of Norton Knight and Peter Hewat were the answer to Australias problems.
Since taking over the coaching role Mitchell has led the Wallabies to Tri Nations glory with wins over both New Zealand and South Africa both at home and away.
Australian skipper Matt Giteau says that his team is ready for the challenge ahead and will be looking to his vice captains AJ Whalley and Matt Henjak to share the burden.
The Western Force also boasts a number of players in the Wallaby squad including veterans Scott Staniforth and Nathan Sharpe in their 3rd World Cup as well as Drew Mitchell, Nick Cummins, Cam Shepherd, try scoring machine "Boof" Hardy as well as exciting flankers Richard Brown and David Pocock.
the story continues..............
Also, NZ have denied visa requests from all South African and English referees.
Jonathan Kaplan is said to be recovering from the severe case of Schizophrenia that was diagnosed during the 2007 World Cup, in his first press interview since the electro shock treatment he said "Yeah I was really unwell, I was surprised people outside Australia didn't see it,I mean I was reffing sick for at least eight years, and it seemed to manifest itself particularly against non-springbok teams. I apologise unreservedly for the many matches I cost the Western Force particularly, I'm not sure why but I made it impossible for them to win for the first two years."
C'mon the![]()
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meanwhile.....Australian Rugby Union CEO Mr Peter O'Meara announced.....
.......that even though the Wallabies are confidant of doing well in the upcoming tournament, high performance manager Ricky Stuart still thinks the squad doesn't have enough mungos and he's working up a hit list with the assistance of veteran selector Michael O'Connor.Originally Posted by travelling_gerry
Since the introduction of the new laws, formerly known as ELV's, fat props have virtually disappeared from the game. Nations that have athletic forwards, Fiji, Tonga etc, have become virtually unbeatable. Stuart believes our best hope is to recruit some highly mobile mungo forwards and hire scrum gurus Al Baxter & Billy Bunter to educate them in the arcane science that is Rugby scrummaging.
the latest accucations of illegal player payments in the super 14 will be vigorously investigatedOriginally Posted by travelling_gerry
"It is something that would never be tolerated during my tenure",he added![]()
In other news Monday Maul has reported that high ranking sources within the ARU have confirmed that Australia's newest Super Rugby team the Melbourne Maniacs are being investigated for illegal third party compensation. You will recall that the Maniacs entered the expanded Super 24 competition this past year and immediatly set out to sign some of the biggest names in World Rugby. High ranking sources have said the discrepancy seems to be that primary Maniac sponsor the Crown Casino allowed senior Maniac players access to VIP tables in the casino's high roller area. It is thought that unlucky Maniac winger Lote Tuqiri spent at least two nights in the Casino's VIP area and other Super teams are questioning how he could get in the VIP area as he is clearly not an important person. This may be the final straw for Tuqiri. Wallaby supporters will remember the days when Tuqiri used to be highest paid Australian player, but since his try against England in the 2007 World Cup, it has been all down hill for Tuqiri. He finally crossed over the line for the first time in almost 4 years last week when he scored a try in practice.
In an exclusive TWF interview, the manager of the Eagles promised to bring a team of cheerleaders along for entertainment on off days.