Wobblies’ Super 14 snub
14 Mar 2006
Leading Wobblies are expected to be rested from several Vodacom Super 14 matches next season to ensure they are fresh for the World Cup.
According to Aussie rugby writer Greg Growden, the early February start will cause problems for Australia’s franchises because Wallabies players are required to take a nine-week break after their tour of Europe.
Test players have five weeks’ annual leave, one week of “active rest” and three weeks of restricted training that cannot include opposed sessions. That break stretches into late January/early February, ruling players out of trial matches and possibly early Super 14 rounds.
Australian Rugby Union officials are also considering whether players should have rest periods during next season because the Super 14 will be closely followed by two domestic Tests against Wales and one against Fiji in mid June, with the Tri Nations tournament starting immediately afterwards.
11 Comments
14 Mar 2006, 10:52 am
The Good side is that the second stringers will get S14 game giving the coach more options on his RWC reserve / Shadow squad.
The flip side is the players in the nucleous squad will need more time to get settled in come RWC as they would not have been playing competitive rugby till then.
14 Mar 2006, 11:06 am
Hmmm. The Spears might win one then. Not the Cats though.
14 Mar 2006, 11:22 am
we need to do the same
14 Mar 2006, 11:45 am
Just a thought after the first few weeks of rugby this year:
Does England’s pasting at the hands of the French last weekend mean that maybe the Boks did quite well to finish within 4 points at the end of a long season last year?
Are England useless away from Twickenham (lost to Scotland at Murrayfield, made a meal of the match in Rome vs. Italy & lost to France by a mile)?
Are SA rugby players just not clever enough to play good rugby?
Why do we always lose the tight ones?
Why can we never murder Australasian sides? Instead, when we win, it’s more a case of we’re lucky they didn’t get it together this weekend.
Has anyone noticed the difference when for example Ma’a Nonu or Rico Gear run vs. one of our South African “flyers”? Why do Gear & Nonu seem to be charging at the line when our backs seem to be juggling a hot potato?
I’m beginning to think SA will only ever win matches by having a dominating pack, a kicking flyhalf and a defensively sound backline. No flair in the backs is required …
Man, the Aussies & New Zealanders play beautiful rugby. Where are James Small, Andre Joubert, Henry Honiball & Danie Gerber when you need them.
14 Mar 2006, 13:24 pm
Growden, what nonsense. just as bad as the Gregan retirement stories.
Players didn’t need rests in ’99 when we won the world cup. The right players in the correct positions and coaching staff are needed. non of this lote tuquiri at 13, George Smith number 8 business.
14 Mar 2006, 13:24 pm
I say this is our chance to finally win a S14! We must play all our Springboks. After all, we’ve already won a World Cup.
14 Mar 2006, 13:35 pm
BrumbyIV, After reading the initial story I think it has more to do with the fact that under contractual obligations Wallaby players need 9 weeks rest. This means with the EOYT finishing in mid/late November and the S14 starting even earlier next year their will not be enough time for the players to be ready. The last thing the wallabies or Brumbies would want is for an underdone Steve Larkham going into the S14 under-prepared and getting injured and missing a lot of rugby.
14 Mar 2006, 13:39 pm
Aussie D, they have taken a week off the tri nations and many of the brumbies test players didn’t play in the trials.
14 Mar 2006, 14:59 pm
surfbok.Honniball is in Bergville on his farm.Joubert is in Dbn.Small is in CT and Gerber is at the falcons.
15 Mar 2006, 09:35 am
If dem Wobbles win the nexted world cup I’ll eat my hat ha ha ha ha ha
16 Mar 2006, 00:07 am
RWC 2007: France, wet conditions, Brumby IV: Does Australia have the forward pack to compete in the Scrums in conditions that suit more of a New Zealand style forwards game???
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