Higginbotham given the boot

Higginbotham given the boot

25 Oct 2012

Scott Higginbotham’s two-Test suspension has cost him his place in the Wallabies’ end-of-year tour squad.

Higginbotham kneed and headbutted Richie McCaw in the 18-18 Bledisloe Cup Test draw in Brisbane last Saturday and would have missed the first two Tests of their tour against France and England. Radike Samo appears to have taken his place in the squad.

‘To have included Scott within the 30 would have created an additional challenge in terms of selection for the opening two matches which would have compromised the group,’ said Wallabies coach Robbie Deans. ‘Scott was aware once he was suspended that this was a possibility.’

In some good news for the Wallabies, captain David Pocock makes his return from injury along with Stephen Moore, Berrick Barnes and Digby Ioane.

Wallabies squad: Forwards – Benn Robinson, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Ben Alexander, Paddy Ryan, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Stephen Moore, James Hanson, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Sitaleki Timani, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Dave Dennis, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Liam Gill, Wycliff Palu, Radike Samo. Backs – Nick Phipps, Brett Sheehan, Kurtley Beale, Berrick Barnes, Pat McCabe, Anthony Faingaa, Ben Tapuai, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Nick Cummins, Drew Mitchell, Mike Harris.


12 Comments

  • 1.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 08:02 am

    Ohhh what a shame

  • 2.Brads: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 08:31 am

    Delving into etymology and dissecting the history of Higginbotham’s surname, we get a vivid explanation of what he was thinking when he committed his blatant acts of mean spirited idiocy.

    Higgin: An old English name meaning intelligence.
    Botham: Another old English name meaning bottom or the lowest value.

    Ergo – Higginbotham = A man of low intelligence.

    In other words, he was thinking but the gear box was in neutral and he couldn’t see passed the moment.

  • 3.katman: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 08:44 am

    Samo’s better anyway. Even at 34 or how ever old he is.

  • 4.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 09:55 am

    Players like Higginbotham get sorted

  • 5.Brads: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:09 am

    @gonzo-4:
    We will have to wait and see with this chump, but based on history, you simply cannot train the moron gene out of people.

    If he reoffends we will know he is a lost cause, much like other head butting and even worse, eye gouging serial offenders.

  • 6.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:21 am

    @Brads-5: After Richie’s book coming out and saying he backed Henry’s reappointment, probably Deans had a quiet word with the forwards that it’s open season :)

    But if Deans wants a shot at the AB job he’ll have to get discipline back in order. Second in the world or not, Gatland is looking good for the job because team culture seems to be big with the NZRFU. The Lions tour will be a nice start to the interview process

  • 7.Brads: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 10:31 am

    @gonzo-6:
    Deans is a spent force. There is no way he will ever be the AB’s head coach.

    As for Gatland, he will need to put some space between himself and Wales to be seriously considered. I have trouble seeing him doing that.

    Aside from all that speculation, we should be looking at the likes of Joseph and Rennie. These two guys have been impressive.

    Much more so than the paint by the numbers Blackadder.

  • 8.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 11:14 am

    @Brads-7: Rennie could be interesting, depending on whether he can keep the Chiefs performing. A great achievement in his first year at this level but people will always think Wayne Smith and SBW had a lot to do with it.

    I guess it depends on which way the NZRFU flops in 2016. Henry was originally told he’d never coach the ABs after going to Wales. When JK applied this year he was told he couldn’t because he hadn’t coached a first tier nation. Or was it the lack of recent NZ experience? Haha, an interview process designed for only one candidate really.

    By 2016 if we don’t snap up Cotter/Schmidt they could end up partnering up to coach one of the European national teams and cause us some headaches. At least we’ll have some decent options even in 2020

  • 9.whatever: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 22:43 pm

    hahaha, I caught a little pufffy……..all bluster and BS, no substance………..beautiful………

  • 10.whatever: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 22:44 pm

    hey, at least dipsh it can still read this…doooooooooooooooooooos

  • 11.whatever: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2012, 22:45 pm

    This is really cra p Keo, get your sh it together or have you snorted away all the profits and now can’t pay the bills?

  • 12.DonutDunning: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 00:16 am

    Higginbotham’s suspension was a perfect opportunity to blood a young blindside flank or number 8 on the tour.
    Instead Deans takes a geriatric Samo, the made of glass Palu, and a one-legged David Pocock who won’t even be ready for half the matches.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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