Brumbies defy Cheika SBW’S surgery success
SYDNEY: The ACT Brumbies have gone against the will of Australia coach Michael Cheika by naming David Pocock, Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa in their team for tomorrow’s Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves (8am SA time kickoff).
Cheika had requested the Wallabies trio be rested as the match against the Japanese team in Canberra falls just six days before the opening Test of Australia’s series against Six Nations champions Ireland.
The Brumbies, however, are engaged in a battle to arrest a worrying decline in crowd numbers and were reluctant to rest three of their best players for an afternoon match they hope will attract 15000 fans.
The side can also still make the play-offs as they sit 11 points behind the Australian Conference-leading NSW Waratahs with four matches remaining, meaning a bonus-point win tomorrow would help them stay in the hunt.
Openside flanker Pocock, and props Sio and Alaalatoa will all start against the Sunwolves along with fullback Tom Banks, centre Tevita Kuridani and scrumhalf Joe Powell, who were also named in Cheika’s squad for this month’s series.
A seventh player in the Australia squad, uncapped hooker Folau Fainga’a, is suspended after being sent off for a headbutt in the victory over South Africa’s Bulls in Pretoria last week and will be replaced in the front row by Connal Mcinerney.
“We don’t play 15 or 20 home games. We play eight, and people pay to see Pocock, Sio and Alaalatoa, they want to see them week in and week out,” coach Dan Mckellar said.
“We just felt the scheduling and the timing of (the request) was a little bit off, and at this point in time we need to do what’s best for the Brumbies. We both understand each other’s positions, in this instance we can’t come to an agreement. It’s far from ideal ... and we need to make sure moving forward this doesn’t happen again.”
Brumbies officials have warned that the twice Super Rugby champions might “cease to exist” if crowd numbers did not improve but Cheika had suggested fans in the Australian capital would turn out even if the trio were not playing.
“They’re a good crowd down there in Canberra,” the coach said this week.
“They’ve always been very supportive of their team and I’m sure they’ll be out there in force this weekend, regardless of whether those three lads are playing or not.”
The Sunwolves will be resting their Japan internationals for the trip to Australia ahead of June Tests against Italy and Georgia. – Reuters WELLINGTON: All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams, said yesterday that the surgery he undertook for a knee injury that ruled him out of this month’s Test series against France had been successful.
New Zealand had earlier said that Williams would miss the three-match home series after aggravating an existing injury while training with his Super Rugby team the Auckland Blues this week.
The All Blacks said Williams’ keyhole surgery to tidy up a loose piece of bone in the knee would keep him out of action for at least four weeks.
“It was only a small op but the doc said it was successful,” the 32-year-old Williams wrote on his Twitter account yesterday.
“I’m going to miss running out there with the Blues/all Blacks. However, I’m genuinely excited to watch my fellow midfield brothers in that black jersey showcase their amazing skills.
“I’m excited to help the team where I can but for now better help my wife with these nappies,” he added alongside a picture of him in hospital with his children.
Williams’ absence is a concern for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, with the Crusaders’ Ryan Crotty still battling concussion symptoms after a head clash against the Blues.
pictured,
Crotty will miss the Chiefs’ game today, with the All Blacks assembling in Auckland the day after ahead of the first Test at Eden Park on June 9.
Williams and Crotty have been Hansen’s first-choice centre pairing since the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The potential absence of Crotty, who can play both midfield positions, could ensure a lengthy run in the number 12 jersey for the Hurricanes’ Ngani Laumape.
The 25-year-old is likely to partner either Anton Lienert-brown or Jack Goodhue in the midfield.
Goodhue, 22, and the 23-year-old Lienert-brown can also play both midfield positions.
All three have been tipped for major roles in Hansen’s 2019 World Cup plans.
Williams fractured his wrist in March and only returned to the field for the Blues three weeks ago against the Hurricanes.
He had been named to start against the Rebels at Eden Park today but his expected absence could mean he might not even be fit in time for the Blues’ next Super Rugby match against the Queensland Reds on June 29.
■ Waisake Naholo finished off a beautiful team try to ensure the Highlanders kept up their hunt for the Super Rugby play-offs as they beat a spluttering Hurricanes 30-14 in Dunedin yesterday. – Reuters