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Replacement dilemma for Connolly
1/10/2007 12:13:54 PM
Sportal
Wallabies coach John Connolly admits he has a selection dilemma in replacing injured No.8 David Lyons in his World Cup squad.
Lyons broke his left leg in Saturday's 37-6 win over Canada and will not play any further part in the World Cup. The Wallabies can replace Lyons, but Connolly said he would not necessarily select a forward to make the trip while there was still a doubt over fly-half Stephen Larkham.
"It's possible it won't be a forward, it may be an inside back," he said. "The reason for that is that we're very hopeful that Stephen Larkham, if we progress further in the tournament, will be available after the quarter-finals. We'll probably bring an inside back as just as a back up for that, if it didn't happen."
Kurtley Beale is the man most likely to benefit from a decision to go with an inside back rather than a direct replacement for Lyons. But Connolly said that he had to weigh up whether the player who came in was experienced enough to step straight into a World Cup semi-final.
"I guess the decision to make on that if is you brought a 10 in, it would probably be Kurtley Beale, then you ask yourself the question, is he the one who would step into a semi-final or a final? Or are you better served by moving Matt Giteau in and bringing a 12 in. I suppose that's the thing we'll probably vacillate over," he said. (Can we PLEASE stop moving Gits around...let him do what he does best ffs)
If Connolly does decide to go with an inside centre, the man most likely is Morgan Turinui, who has been performing well in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championships.
In good news for the Wallabies, Nathan Sharpe will be free to play on Saturday after being cleared of an elbow injury.
Lyons, meanwhile, faces a tough recovery, with team doctor Martin Raftery saying there was a danger of deep vain thrombosis, which Lyons has already suffered from earlier this year.
"We've got to control that bleeding and swelling, while at the same time getting him back on to his DVT treatment. Otherwise he's gonna redevelop that clot, and that'll will cause a complication. So it's a balance between mobilising him to stop him from getting the clot, but immobilising him for his fracture," he said.
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau."
moving gits around isnt the answer. the players are going to get confused as to where he is or is meant to be and they will fumble and hesitate if mid game say in an 8th phase they forget hes playing somwhere different and go to pass to him.
he needs to have a set posisiton so he can exploit it and further develop his own game in that position.
Well it's settled!
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Wallabies recall Turinui
October 01, 2007
FORMER Australia vice-captain Morgan Turinui has been called in to the Wallabies' World Cup squad as a left-field replacement for injured No.8 David Lyons.
Centre Turinui played the most recent of his 20 Tests in the forgettable 2005 European tour when he was one of George Gregan's deputies as the Wallabies lost three of their four matches.
Lyons was ruled out of the World Cup on the weekend after breaking his leg and also suffering a suspected ankle dislocation in the 37-6 win over Canada in Bordeaux.
The Australia selectors have opted against replacing the back rower with another forward as they look to cover the possible loss of veteran playmaker Stephen Larkham. (How does this cover Bernie?)
Turinui is preferred at inside centre by coach John Connolly which would allow him more latitude to move Matt Giteau from No.12 to five-eighth as a back-up for rookie playmaker Berrick Barnes. (Does someone want to remind Knuckles that we've already got two outside centres....and no i'm not counting AAC or Tuqiri in that)
Barnes will start Saturday's quarter-final against England in Marseille and may hold the reins through the rest of the tournament with Larkham recovering from a knee operation.
AAP
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau."
Another wasted air fare.
Too cynical to say he was the best Tah left outside of the NSW ARC Teams in the Finals...
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
From the ARU Site: http://www.rugby.com.au
Seems a bit strange but I suppose he's been in good form. Scott Fava is obviously right out of the picture.
Turinui gets Cup call up
Story by Sportal for the ARU
Monday, October 01, 2007 - 20:19 PM (AEST)
Powerful veteran Morgan Turinui has been named as the replacement for injured forward David Lyons in the Wallabies 30-man World Cup squad.
Lyons was ruled out for the remainder of Australia's campaign after breaking the fibula in his left leg during Saturday's Pool B victory over Canada in Bordeaux.
Turinui, who has been playing with the Sydney Fleet in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship, will fly out of Sydney on Wednesday.
He is set to join the team in France for the rest of the campaign on Thursday.
The 20-Test veteran has not recorded a Test cap for the Wallabies since 2005, when he played all 13 Tests for the year and vice-captained the team.
OK...we're really testing my merging powers tonight....i'll go find my other post...hehe
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau."