Brumbies lose Mortlock
17 Mar 2010
Keo.co.za brings you the latest Super 14 news from Australia.
Brumbies lose Mortlock
Andy Friend has made two changes to his match 22 for the Brumbies’ clash against the Blues on Friday.
Wallabies outside centre Stirling Mortlock has been ruled out for the trip to Auckland after picking up a neck and shoulder injury against the Sharks last weekend.
Tyrone Smith replaces Mortlock in the No 13 jersey while Andrew Smith finds a place on the wood.
Wallabies prop Guy Shepherdson, who has been out of favour this season, has been dropped from the reserves as Jerry Yauyanutawa is promoted to the bench.
Brumbies – 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (C), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Maafu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Subs: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Andrew Smith.
Tahs stay the same
Phil Hickey has made no changes to the Waratahs’ match 22 to face the Force on Saturday.
Despite injury concerns for No 8 Wycliff Palu (hamstring) and prop Al Baxter (calf), Hickey keeps the exact line-up who thrashed the Lions 73-12 last weekend.
Waratahs – 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Tom Carter, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (c), 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Will Caldwell, 19 Ben Mowen, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Kurtley Beale, 22 Rob Horne.
This thread will be updated throughout the course of the day.
42 Comments
17 Mar 2010, 07:24 am
he has not looked good
17 Mar 2010, 07:25 am
@grant10: And the Rebels are apparently willing to offer him a 3 year contract!
17 Mar 2010, 07:27 am
@WOLFMAN21: 2 he must sign….quickly!
Appears to have lost a yard…
17 Mar 2010, 07:30 am
@grant10: And the ability to catch the ball! He is pretty sound on defence but nowhere on attack any more.
17 Mar 2010, 07:36 am
same position as the bok captain I feel, mind is willing but the body she is no longer strong enough…true legend in a world where that term is used more the P3 does illegal substances..
17 Mar 2010, 07:39 am
@poppa69: Agreed, Mortlock just isn’t being forced to cope with a move from 13 to flanker or to flyhalf.
Smit’s body might still be up to playing 2, but we do not know this as he is being forced to play prop and just his body so that he can cope with this.
17 Mar 2010, 07:47 am
@WOLFMAN21: I feel for Smit…
I wonder why coaches persist in trying to convert players? surely if there is a genuine lack of quality in a position, then you develop fringe players who have a preference for that position…
bring them up to speed with the sound base of playing a position all their life versus throw a world class player from another position into the test arena wilth little or no experience in the new position? madness, and its not just limited to Smit, the ABs have twice made the error of playing FBs at centre, with disastrous results..
17 Mar 2010, 07:47 am
You guys are being a bit harsh on Stirlo.
He’s 34 now, sure he might have lost a yard of pace but he’s still good enough for Super 14. Not sure about the Wallabies.
And he’ll sign a one year deal with the Rebels, not three.
17 Mar 2010, 07:52 am
@WP_: but he is becoming more injury prone, a sure sign that all those years of test match rugby are beginning to take its toll physically.. hell, I hope the Aussies play him through the next world cup, same as Smit
17 Mar 2010, 07:53 am
@poppa69: LOL
Ja boet….
dont get me started.
17 Mar 2010, 07:53 am
Tyrone and Lealifano midfield pairing. A lot of X factor right there, if they limit the mistakes they will be potent.
Good to see they went with the rookie Andrew Smith on the bench. Looking forward to see what this guy can do if he gets a run.
Mentioned this previously, but he was Shute Shield (Sydney club comp) player of the year last year, and player of the tour on the Brumbies pre-season tour to France.
@WP_: Doubt it will be a one year deal. His biggest drawcard to going to the Rebels (as opposed to Europe for the big bucks) is the offer of a multi-year contract, to be a leader for the rookie franchise.
17 Mar 2010, 07:55 am
@poppa69: Ioane at 13 for the world cup. Deans will give him more time on the EOYT again this year building toward NZ in 2011.
17 Mar 2010, 07:55 am
@WP_: I reckon he is going to Japan. Lot of ex Brumbies mates over there and the softer game, same time zone, a real YEN too.
17 Mar 2010, 07:58 am
@DonutDunning: not sold on Ioane just yet, but if he maintains his form then a real possibility… has really benefitted from moving back to the Reds, though did find form and won his wallaby jersey while with the force…
17 Mar 2010, 07:59 am
On Shepherdson, I wonder if the Rebels will make an offer.
My initial thought was they would make a play for young Waratahs prop Dan Palmer, but the Brumbies have secured his services for next year.
Hasn’t been in great form this year, but has a lot of experience and still fairly young for a prop.
A change of scenery could easily get his game back to where it should be.
17 Mar 2010, 08:01 am
@poppa69: I think Smit’s got more going for him that Mortlock for the next world cup mate, but it will be nice for Morto to play…
@DonutDunning: A three-year-deal ? Till he’s 37? wow…
Yeah Ioane is a quality player, will surely be the first choice 13 this year
17 Mar 2010, 08:06 am
@WP_: I think both will really be struggling to get there next year… still have half a S14, the test match calender this year, a much longer super rugby comp next year before the WC, Id wager money we dont see either there..
17 Mar 2010, 08:08 am
@WP_: read your 1 st para….sentimentality again!!
17 Mar 2010, 08:08 am
@poppa69: I’d say Smit will definately be there.
17 Mar 2010, 08:09 am
@poppa69: 17
I agree
17 Mar 2010, 08:09 am
@WP_: 19
you would….but dont bet your house on it.
17 Mar 2010, 08:10 am
@grant10: He’s three years younger you doush
17 Mar 2010, 08:11 am
@grant10: 21
You have been reading Black Panther
17 Mar 2010, 08:12 am
@WP_: Yes…but he is playing out of position…..
17 Mar 2010, 08:13 am
@grant10: Well we’ll see how long that continues… I reckon he’ll be back to 2 before long
17 Mar 2010, 08:13 am
@RugbyRulz: at least BP is not a sentimental romantic girl guide….like these ‘ play smit even if he is in a zimmerframe ‘ ladies on this site….
17 Mar 2010, 08:15 am
@WP_: 25
i think Bissy, G Botha and T Liebenberg will over the next 18 months prove smit a less than merit selection….
but as you say….lets wait and see….
17 Mar 2010, 08:16 am
@grant10: Yes lets.
Caus I dont think there’s a way PdV will ever leave Smit behind…
17 Mar 2010, 08:18 am
@WP_: 28 When PdV asked John to shift to prop… he effectively asked him to hang up his boots and plug his memoirs.
17 Mar 2010, 08:19 am
mmm … as i see it, this week will also only have 1 NZ win. That will be 3 wins in 3 weeks for NZ teams. All by the Crusaders. Maybe merge 2 NZ sides and make way for a team from the best rugby playing country == SA! …
17 Mar 2010, 08:21 am
I really like John, his skill (hooker), captaincy, media savvy and general persona. He is perfectly suited to supplant one of the idiots in commentary.
17 Mar 2010, 08:26 am
SA are treading the same thin line NZ did after 87 WC, taking an aging team is not how to retain the title… but please, continue on…
I see zulu-baby has got lost and found himself on a rugby blog.. Blues will beat the Brumbies this weekend, Saders will beat the Lions, and the sharks are no certainties against the landers (even with the travel “advantage”!!!!)…
17 Mar 2010, 08:33 am
@WP_: 28
PDV then as sentimental old marshmallow as some on this site…..Kiwis are licking there lips in anticipation….will feed at scrum time…and all our dreams will be in tatters…..
just like the sharks.
17 Mar 2010, 08:34 am
@RugbyRulz: 29
well…well…well…
so there are some experts on the site…..
thank the angels…
17 Mar 2010, 08:36 am
@Zulu_baby: 3 wins in 3 weeks will still total more wins then two of your teams all season… in fact, three wins in three weeks may be greater then the number of wins 3 SA teams have thus far in the S14…
lions, Sharks and Cheetahs = two wins all season???
worst NZ team has half that amount…
so your point was what exactly?
17 Mar 2010, 08:40 am
@grant10: Jus you’re a doos of the highest order…
Who made you the judge of what is sentimental.
He’ll take him cos of his experience and cos he’s still one of the better 2s in the country
Idoit.
17 Mar 2010, 08:52 am
@WP_: Only reason Smit will be in the Bok set up is because he is the incumbent captain. The time has come for the baton to be passed and the new guard (BdP or whomever) to step up.
Matfield will be the next captain to take the Bok through to the 2011. Then he is gone too.
17 Mar 2010, 08:54 am
These guys give their heart and soul to rugby, if anyone questions it they do not deserve to call themselves fans.
The day comes when their bodies can’t take the repetitive strain, not to mention the wear and tear mentally.
It takes special individuals to represent their country, give them due and respect their time… when it is up.
17 Mar 2010, 08:57 am
@RugbyRulz: 37
Damn….all your brains getting me late for an appointment here!
AGREE 100%
YOU ARE SO ON THE BUTTON!
now cheers
17 Mar 2010, 09:56 am
@RugbyRulz: That thinking is why you are writing about it on this site and not the Springbok Coach.
And I’m thankful for that.
Smit will lead the Boks at RWC 2011
17 Mar 2010, 10:12 am
@poppa69:
worked for england in 2003. even made them competitive in 2007.
please tell me who the aged boks are you’re referring too in any case? i cant think of any that are too old
17 Mar 2010, 12:53 pm
I hope Stirlo squeezes a bit more juice from the lemon yet. He has had his day as Capt but knew the writing was on the wall. He took his demotion from the Captaincy with good grace therefore placing the team above his own ego.
An awesome player at his peak, the Brumbies would still look weaker without him at centre.
@poppa69:
why would anyone ‘feel for Smit’ ? the guy is clearly happy to put his own agenda above other players and teams. It reeks somewhat of a glorified ego trip. There are better players than him in both his target positions at TH & hooker and he knows it.
I, for one, hope he goes on and on. He should have quit after EOYT’09 and his legacy would have been enshrined as 1 of the alltime Great Capts (and with a crystal ball, would have timed that resignation after that TriN victory at the Tron).
The evidence is in the pudding – there has been far more press written about him as a long-established player (usually reserved for new star players) than there has been about the Sharks or his rivals themselves.
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