2013年8月14日星期三

Embarrassed Brumbies refusing to panic


Brumbies coach Jake White hopes his team's horror showing against the Western Force will end up being the wake-up call they needed heading into the Super Rugby finals iphone cases for 5.

A whopping 17 handling errors combined with a series of brain fades consigned the Brumbies to a shock 21-15 loss to the lowly Force in their final-round clash in Perth on Saturday night.

The Brumbies would have been rewarded with second spot on the ladder and a home semi-final had they secured a bonus-point victory against the Force.

Instead, their embarrassing showing means they now need to win three finals games - including two on the road - if they are to snare this year's title.

Their quest begins in Canberra next Sunday afternoon, when they take on South Africa's unpredictable Cheetahs in an elimination final.

A win in that encounter would propel the Australian conference leaders into a daunting semi-final showdown with the Bulls in Pretoria a week later blackberry phone covers.

White conceded his team were mentally off their game against the Force, but backed them to return to their clinical best against the Cheetahs.

"We know we can't get any worse than we were tonight," White said.

"It's going to be a wake-up call now.

"We have now obviously got the low road in that we've got to play three games if we want to win the championship.

"But it's not all doom or gloom.

"We know we've played a lot of good rugby this year.

"We can't be worrying about the fact (of whether) this is going to dent any confidence."

In a quirk of the fixtures, the Brumbies and Cheetahs haven't met this year.

Although the Brumbies have won four of their past five encounters against the Bloemfontein-based side, they only prevailed by a point when the teams met in Canberra last year.

The Cheetahs have enjoyed their best season to date with a strong all-round attacking game and solid defence, and will be aiming to make their maiden finals appearance a memorable one wigs shop.

The Brumbies haven't featured in the post-season since winning the title in 2004, and remain quietly confident of going all the way despite their flop against the Force.

But they will need fullback Jesse Mogg and flyhalf Matt Toomua to regain their mojo if they are to achieve their goal of winning the title.

Both players endured a shocker against the Force, with Toomua committing the most basic of errors when he forgot to ground the ball after catching a wayward shot at goal by Force fullback Jayden Hayward.

2013年8月4日星期日

O'Connor benched for Rebels swansong


Axed Melbourne Rebels star James O'Connor will have to make his final appearance for the franchise from the bench in their Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders at AAMI Park on Friday.

The Wallaby five-eighth's exclusion from the starting side comes just days after he was told he would not be offered a contract at the Rebels for 2014 thailand real estate.

Also preparing for his last game with the Rebels, coach Damien Hill said O'Connor was on the bench because he hadn't been able to train with the team since being selected in the Wallabies for the Lions series in early June and had been fighting an injury this week.

"James wasn't able to train Monday and Tuesday which gives him only the captain's run to prepare," Hill said.

"He has done extremely well to make himself available on the bench. I know this is a match he is very keen to play in."

The swansong from the bench will cap off a tough week for O'Connor.

The 23-year-old was thrashed with the Wallabies on Saturday night, reportedly spotted in a Kings Cross nightclub at 5.30am on Sunday and lost his gig at the Rebels later that day.

Then it emerged the Western Force, the club he left somewhat acrimoniously to join the Rebels, may be the only Australian Super Rugby franchise ready to pick him up.

Rebels teammate and Wallabies forward Scott Higginbotham further rubbed salt into the wounds on Tuesday when he endorsed O'Connor's departure from the club.

"If he sorts out those off-field issues, then there is no issue with him," Higginbotham said.

The Rebels had already excused O'Connor's good friend and Wallabies teammate Kurtley Beale from the Highlanders match which ends their season, saying he'd be better continuing his counselling for alcohol issues in Sydney, though they are keen to get him back next season.

Meanwhile, departing winger Cooper Vuna will return to the starting side for the match with Welshman Gareth Delve to captain the side in his last game for the franchise Hong Kong loan important notice.

"To be a foundation Rebel and help build this club from scratch, with incredible people, has been great," Delve said.

It will also be the final Rebels match for halfback Nick Phipps, prop Nic Henderson, hooker Ged Robinson, Vuna, assistant Rebels coach John Muggleton and coach Hill - who will be replaced by Wallabies coaching co-ordinator Tony McGahan next season.

Rebels: Angus Roberts, Jason Woodward, Tom English, Rory Sidey, Cooper Vuna, Bryce Hegarty, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (c), Scott Fuglistaller, Jarrod Saffy, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Res: Shota Horie, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Jones, Jordy Reid, Nic Stirzaker, James O'Connor, Kimami Sitauti.