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Hodge a UK tour doubt but Wallabies issue happier update on Cooper
By AAP
Reece Hodge is a doubt for the UK leg of the Wallabies spring tour but coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Quade Cooper will feature after discussions with his Japanese club. Hodge lasted only 13 minutes of Australia's 32-23 tour-opening win over Japan in Oita on Saturday after sustaining a pectoral muscle injury.
Their fifth straight victory notched up Australia's longest win streak in six years but it left Rennie sweating on scans and he explained that while Hodge will still fly to London with the squad on Sunday, the utility back is no certainty to play against either Scotland, England or Wales. "The plan is that he will travel," Rennie said.
"We have still got a couple of weeks until we play Scotland so that will buy us some time to get clarity around what we do if it is (as) long-term (injury). We will assess that in the coming days."
Respectful of where his paycheque is coming from, Cooper has been ever-diplomatic in recent weeks when asked if Saturday's game would be his last Test of the year. Although World Rugby regulations dictate that clubs must release players for international duty, Cooper wants the blessing of the Kintetsu Liners.
It appears the playmaker has that, with Rennie offering an emphatic "yes" when asked if Cooper would be on the Wallabies plane to the UK on Sunday. They will play three Test matches on consecutive weekends at Murrayfield, Twickenham and the Principality to close out the year.
Meanwhile, Australian-raised back-row warrior Ben Gunther has made an impassioned plea for the Brave Blossoms to be included in the Rugby Championship after Japan almost pulled off a historic win over the Wallabies. Gunther was immense as a late try to Wallabies debutant Connal McInerney clinched the nine-point victory for Australia.
"Obviously we didn't get the result that we wanted but it shows that the Japanese level of rugby now is very competitive. Like, we are taking it to tier-one teams. We don't look at them as though they are going to smash us. We look at them as if we can beat these teams week in, week out."
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I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
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