Reece Hodge makes positional switch for Wallabies
Michael Cheika has confirmed his matchday squad ahead of Friday night’s Bledisloe Cup trial in Sydney, which is free for all to attend.
The Wallabies coach will use an extended squad to fine tune their match preparations ahead of the Bledisloe opener in Sydney on August 18 at ANZ Stadium. They Wallabies trial side will take on an Australian Super Rugby Selection team featuring several former Wallabies.
Rolling substitutions will be permitted for Friday night’s trial with the broader squad to each receive substantial playing minutes.
David Pocock will captain the side in the absence of Michael Hooper as he overcomes a hamstring strain.
Reece Hodge will start in the No. 13 jersey after injuries grounded Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani, while young Queenslander Hamish Stewart will steer the ship from flyhalf. Hodge has spent most of the season at flyhalf, and has spent most of his time in a Wallabies shirt on the wing.
Jed Holloway and Jake Gordon have both been rewarded for their fine Super Rugby form while some members of the NSW Waratahs were not considered for selection after bowing out of the finals last weekend.
Tomorrow night’s clash will be broadcast live and free to all Australians, as well as Wallabies fans around the world, with the game to be streamed on RUGBY.com.au.
WALLABIES
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Faingaa, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Adam Coleman, 5. Rory Arnold, 6. Adam Korczyk, 7. David Pocock (C), 8. Caleb Timu, 9. Will Genia, 10. Hamish Stewart, 11. Jack Maddocks, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Reece Hodge, 14. Marika Koroibete, 15. Tom Banks.
Reserves: 16. Tetera Faulkner, 17. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Izack Rodda, 20. Harry Hockings, 21. Lukhan Tui, 22. Liam Wright, 23. Isi Naisarani, 24. Joe Powell, 27. Jed Holloway, 28. Jordan Petaia, 29. Sefa Naivalu, 30. Jake Gordon.
AUSTRALIAN SELECTION
1. James Slipper, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Sam Talakai, 4. Blake Enever, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Pat Sio, 9. Moses Sorovi, 10. Andrew Deegan, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Duncan Paia’aua, 13. Tom English (C), 14. Pama Fou, 15. Semisi Tupou.
Reserves: 16. Hugh Roach, 17. Fereti Sa’aga, 18. Mees Erasmus, 19. Angus Blyth, 20. Tevin Ferris, 21. Mick Snowden, 22. Sam Lane, 23. Fabian Goodall.
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Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.
They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).
That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).
Go to commentsThe only benefit of the draft idea is league competitiveness. There would be absolutely no commercial value in a draft with rugby’s current interest levels.
I wonder what came first in america? I’m assuming it’s commercial aspect just built overtime and was a side effect essentially.
But the idea is not without merit as a goal. The first step towards being able to implement a draft being be creating it’s source of draftees. Where would you have the players come from? NFL uses college, and players of an age around 22 are generally able to step straight into the NFL. Baseball uses School and kids (obviously nowhere near pro level being 3/4 years younger) are sent to minor league clubs for a few years, the equivalent of the Super Rugby academies. I don’t think the latter is possible legally, and probably the most unethical and pointless, so do we create a University scene that builds on and up from the School scene? There is a lot of merit in that and it would tie in much better with our future partners in Japan and America.
Can we used the club scene and dispose of the Super Rugby academies? The benefit of this is that players have no association to their Super side, ie theyre not being drafted elshwere after spending time as a Blues or Chiefs player etc, it removes the negative of investing in a player just to benefit another club. The disadvantage of course is that now the players have nowhere near the quality of coaching and each countries U20s results will suffer (supposedly).
Or are we just doing something really dirty and making a rule that the only players under the age of 22 (that can sign a pro contract..) that a Super side can contract are those that come from the draft? Any player wanting to upgrade from an academy to full contract has to opt into the draft?
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