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SPORTS THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014 Photo of the day McKenzie banks on Beale to give Wallabies ideal start SYDNEY: Australia’s 2014 Rugby Championship will prise but Tevita Kuridrani’s quality means he will Hooker Polota-Nau, rejuvenated number eight again be defined by their opening two matches, surely play a major midfield role in the campaign Wycliff Palu and young lock Will Skelton’s ability to do home and away tests against their fiercest rivals, even if it is off the bench initially. the hard yards with ball in hand for the Waratahs and world champions New Zealand. Nic White will start at scrumhalf but can expect to Australia were one area where the Wallabies could Win at least one of those matches and the confi- be pushed all the way by Waratahs halfback Nick point to distinct improvement this year. dence they bring into the competition from a seven- Phipps, one of the most-improved Australian players The trio also contributed to a marked step up in game winning streak and an outstanding year for over the last year, with the injured Will Genia a possi- physicality, a quality that will be vital at the break- Australian teams in Super Rugby could blossom into bility for a call-up towards the end of the campaign. down against South Africa and Argentina, not to something more tangible. Lose them both, as they With Quade Cooper also sidelined by injury and mention the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday and did in coach Ewen McKenzie’s maiden campaign last James Horwill left out of the matchday squad for Auckland a week later. year, and it will be back to the drawing board for the Saturday’s opener in Sydney, the influence of the Captain Michael Hooper’s incredible work rate Wallabies with the World Cup a little more than a Queensland Reds side that won the Super Rugby means he will more often than not be the busiest in year away. McKenzie knows he needs to bring some- title under McKenzie in 2011 is greatly diminished. the tackle area from the openside flank, while Scott thing different to the table to threaten the All Blacks and he rolled the dice with his first matchday squad by installing utility back Kurtley Beale at flyhalf for Saturday’s opener. It was a calculated gamble that bucked form in the strictest positional sense - incumbent Bernard Foley had led the line ably in the three-test sweep of France in June and was a key factor in New South Wales Waratahs’ Super Rugby triumph. But Beale, who has played at inside centre for the Waratahs this season, alternating in the role of first receiver with Foley, offers McKenzie that indefinable quality that coaches yearn for in their big players, the “X factor”. A potential weak link in defence, Beale will be expected to work with Matt Toomua outside him to bring the best out of a backline that includes one of the most lethal weapons in world rugby, fullback Israel Folau. Folau’s 13 tries in his first 18 tests make him one of the first names on the Australia team sheet and halfway through the championship, he is likely to be joined in the backfield by the exciting winger Henry Speight. The tackle-busting Fijian was named in the squad pending his qualification for Australia on residency grounds on Sept. 11 and could have recovered from Kurtley Beale a hamstring injury in time to take his place in the side to face Argentina two days later. Lock Horwill may yet return but the two players Fardy and Ben McCalman will bring more grit to the The keenness to get Speight involved reflected a that followed him as Wallabies skipper, France- back row. Australia know they must at least be com- shortage of experienced wingers after James bound number eight Ben Mowen and injured hook- petitive at the set piece and what lock Rob Simmons O’Connor left for Europe under a cloud last year and er Stephen Moore, are not available. perhaps lacks in “mongrel”, he brings in organisation Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins announced he was The further loss of Tatafu Polota-Nau, whose knee at the line-out. heading to Japan. injury will be re-assessed for the second New McKenzie is resigned to the fact the front row will Zealand test next week, is a blow and not just always be considered Australia’s soft underbelly and A competitor performs at the Red Bull Skate Arcade at the skatepark in SCRUMHALF OPTIONS because it leaves the mobile but inexperienced even if he believes they are unfairly maligned, he will Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain — www.redbull.com That made the selection of the versatile Adam Nathan Charles starting in the middle of the front still be happy with as few set scrums as possible over Ashley-Cooper at outside centre something of a sur- row. the next eight weeks. — Reuters Ohio State in need All Blacks eye of major overhaul world Cup COLUMBUS: So Urban Meyer and his wife said. “He could have practiced but we’re in it were coming back from the victory at rival for the long haul. He’s right on schedule.” WELLINGTON: The All Blacks head into the Rugby Michigan last season, and he turned and Miller may figure in the Heisman race and Championship with the whiff of a world record in the nos- asked a question. “In your wildest dreams, should set most of Ohio State’s QB records - if trils but their eyes firmly focused on a bigger prize in could you have imagined we’d win our first 24 he’s healthy through that long haul. England in 13 months time. games at Ohio State?” he said. Steve Hansen’s side have the opportunity to secure a Shelley Meyer thought a second and then IT’S WHAT’S UP FRONT: The O-line may world record 18th successive win on Saturday when they replied, “Honey, you’re not in my wildest have doubters, but the D-line doesn’t. Tackle face a buoyant Australia, although the “bigger picture” mis- dreams.” Regardless of whether that tale, told Michael Bennett (7 sacks) is the only senior on sion is ensuring they continue to advance their 2015 World by Meyer at a women’s clinic this summer, is a young unit full of blue-chippers. First-team Cup ambitions. true, there’s no question that he could hardly All-Big Ten end Noah Spence (8 sacks), Joey The former Wales head coach embarked upon a believe his tenure with the Buckeyes opened Bosa (7.5) and Adolphus Washington should rebuilding project ahead of the defence of the World Cup with two dozen wins - or that last season be good enough to lend a giant helping hand title and has introduced 24 new caps to the team - 12 of would close with two painful losses. to the inexperienced secondary. whom are in the Rugby Championship squad - in his three Now 2014 beckons with a couple of units MISSING MR. HYDE: Carlos Hyde was sus- seasons in charge. needing major overhauls - and a franchise pended for the first three games of his senior The injured Luke Romano is also almost certain to be in quarterback in Braxton Miller returning for a season in 2014 and still piled up 1,527 yards Hansen’s plans for 2015, while Matt Todd, Ryan Crotty and final hurrah. and 18 touchdowns. Tom Taylor are on the fringes of selection and would be Now Ohio State will rely on several backs considered unlucky not to have been named in the current squad. WHAT NEEDS WORK: The offensive line, to fill his sizable cleats: sophomores Ezekiel Jake Webster perhaps the strength of Meyer’s first two Ohio Elliott, Bri’onte Dunn and Warren Ball, fifth- Uncapped prop Joe Moody has also been brought in State teams, lost four of five starters. year senior Rod Smith and freshman Curtis for Tony Woodcock, who requires shoulder surgery and Unfamiliar names fill the two-deep. Samuel. been ruled out for the rest of the season. Hansen considers Castleford eager to “We’ve got six or seven guys that we like,” All have pluses and minuses. Still, the four that a blessing in disguise. line coach Ed Warinner said. “We just have to veterans combined for a little over a quarter The 33-year-old Woodcock, considered one of the see where we go from here.” Meyer and his of the yards last year that the bruising Hyde more damaging scrummagers in world rugby, is likely to win without Carney staff blew up the pass defense after it was provided. enjoy the extended break, Hansen reasoned, in order to shredded by Michigan State in the Big Ten freshen up ahead of his final push towards the World Cup LONDON: Castleford cruised to victory last LONG WAIT title game and Clemson in the Orange Bowl. ALL EYES ON MSU: A lot can happen next September. weekend in Justin Carney’s absence and And Webster will be hoping to once Now the Buckeyes will play press coverage before the calendar turns to November, but Hansen’s biggest headache derives from his search for team-mate Jake Webster believes they can again compensate for Carney’s absence with a rotation of cornerbacks in hopes of Buckeyes fans are already focused on the Nov. one, possibly two, hookers to step up if 35-year-old Keven repeat the feat without their try-scoring after scoring against Widnes. “It had been a limiting completions over the top and under- 8 meeting with the Spartans in East Lansing, Mealamu’s calf muscles finally decide they cannot carry machine on Friday.