SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013 RugbyL - Friends reunited as Aussie Hayne faces Fiji ST HELENS: Australia’s Jarryd Hayne has self to play for Fiji again only to be called Australian team (this year), I would have Queensland Cup, was having an impact admitted there are times he wishes he up by Australia, much to his surprise. Fiji played for Fiji. “The Fijians knew that the upon Fiji. was still playing for Fiji ahead of their boast former Kangaroos prop Petero Australian call up was coming. It was a bit “His presence has brought some credi- World Cup group A clash with the Civoniceva as their captain and Hayne of shock to me to make the Australian bility to the team and tipped a few other Kangaroos this weekend. Hayne had a couldn’t help but admit he would love to team; I thought I’d be playing for Fiji. “To boys to come across and play for Fiji who reminder of what he’s missing when, after be playing alongside, instead of against, see Petero there, playing at the weekend were eligible which is great for me,” said being overlooked for Australia’s match- him in St Helens on Saturday. and leading Fiji out was tough, I would Stone, who is also assistant coach at day squad for their 28-20 win over “It will be an emotional game but I’m have loved to have been out there with Newcastle Knights in the NRL. England in the tournament opener in excited for it. I saw the Fiji boys after the the boys and to play with him in his last “Leading by example, his discipline is Cardiff, he travelled up to Rochdale two Ireland game and spent a bit of time with year, but it was good to see him do that.” great and he ticks all the boxes. We could- days later to watch Fiji’s 32-14 victory over them, had a good laugh, a good catch up Civoniceva played 45 Tests for n’t be happier and we are very grateful Ireland on Monday. and seeing them was great after being in Australia and started the 2008 World Cup that he decided to finish his career the This time five years ago Parramatta Wales,” said Hayne, who will start on the defeat by New Zealand but couldn’t resist way he has. “He is an extension of the Eels full-back Hayne was making a name wing on Saturday in a much-changed a call up to captain Fiji, where he was coach, absolutely, with the way he goes for himself with Fiji at the 2008 World Cup Australian team. “Everyone pretty much born and spent the first six months of his about his work and composure on the as they booked a surprise place in the knows what it (the 2008 World Cup) did life. And coach Rick Stone said it was not field and what he does. I have enjoyed semi-finals before losing to the to my life and how it changed it and I was just on the pitch where Civoniceva, who working with him so far. “I have never Kangaroos. Even this year Sydney-born honored to play for Fiji that year. It was a spent 15 years playing for Brisbane and coached him before but it is a pleasure Hayne, whose NRL season was hampered great experience. Penrith in the NRL and turned out for and an honor to coach him in the last few by a hamstring injury, was readying him- “If I hadn’t been called into the Redcliffe Dolphins in this year’s games of his career.”— AFP Family fortunes spur on Australia’s Cooper LONDON: When Australia fly-half Quade Cooper runs out as the Wallaby vice-captain against England at Twickenham today, the knowledge he is an example to his younger broth- ers will, he says, help him in his new rugby leadership role. Cooper was in Test exile for nearly a year after accusing former Australia coach Robbie Deans of creating a “toxic” environ- ment. But the New Zealander’s departure following the 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions in July paved the way for his replacement by former Wallaby prop Ewen McKenzie, previously Cooper’s coach at Queensland. And now Cooper is determined to repay the faith of his rug- by ‘parent’. “If I draw the comparison, I have two little brothers, two little sisters and one older sister,” the 25-year-old Cooper said. “And my two little brothers massively look up to me, not only as a person but as a rugby player because they love rugby and their ideal dream is to represent Australia and Queensland professionally. “When you think about how much respect they have for you and how much they look up to everything you are doing in your life, you want to and need to set a good example for them. “When you turn that into a team environment, your team- mates are like your brothers. The coaches ... and staff are like your older brothers or parents so you have to set the right example for your team-mates on and off the field.” England’s TOKYO: New Zealand’s All Blacks players Charlie Faumuina (left) and Daniel Carter (2nd right) take a mini-game with Youngs brothers, scrum-half Ben and hooker Tom, have children as part of their visit to Aoyama elementary school in Tokyo yesterday. The All Blacks will play Japan in Tokyo savored the experience of playing Test rugby together. It’s today. — AFP something Cooper might struggle to match because not only are his younger brothers, Reuben and Moses, aged 14 and 10 respectively, they are also fly-halves. “They’re both really good RugbyU: All Blacks eye 2015 and both play 10 so I will have to watch my position!,” joked Cooper. Even before he became Australia coach, McKenzie had shown his faith in New Zealand-born Cooper by picking him and beyond in Japan game for the Reds and, more recently, having him captain Queensland in their tour match against the Lions. “It’s been a long four-and-half-year period where I’ve got to know him as a TOKYO: New Zealand’s fearsome All Blacks will have one eye on the game time in the position. person and as a coach,” said Cooper. “He has always offered future when they face Japan today as they tread the long road “It’s a subtle change and Richie’s a smart man,” said the 21-year- support and always spoken to me on the level of mutual towards their world title defense in 2015. Unbeaten in 10 Tests this old Cane, brazenly undaunted by the huge shadow cast by New respect. “He’s relayed that to me so you often know you can year, the All Blacks will be barely recognizable from the team which Zealand’s inspirational skipper. “Richie’s got a cool, calm head and confide in him, and if you have made a mistake, you know overcame Australia 41-33 last month when they meet Japan’s ‘Brave demands the best from those around him by performing on the park. there’s a way you can work to rectify that.” Blossoms’ for the first time outside the World Cup. Even with 14 As a leader your actions always speak louder than your words and However, McKenzie had no hesitation in recently dropping changes to his starting line-up, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen still he’s obviously done that very successfully over the years. “I just keep another talented playmaker in James O’Connor from the enjoys the luxury of fielding arguably two of rugby’s greatest ever trucking,” shrugged Cane on his future chances of permanently dis- players in ‘Captain Marvel’ Richie McCaw and fly-half Dan Carter, both lodging McCaw from his position. “Anyone can have a good Test and Australia set-up after the mercurial back was escorted off the returning from injury. then slip away. “I’m just trying to keep improving and be consistent. A premises at Perth Airport-the latest in a series of embarrassing Ruthlessly business-like in their two previous encounters, New few starts builds confidence and then hopefully I can put the pressure off-field incidents that have blighted his international career. Zealand’s lop-sided World Cup victories over Japan have resembled on.” Japan’s interim coach Scott Wisemantel promised his side, start- “I’ve been in that position where you haven’t been part of the cricket scores, pulverizing them 83-7 two years ago and by a record ing their own preparations before hosting the 2019 World Cup, team and you have had lots of time to think about what’s 145-17 in 1995. “We are not looking at the margin of victory,” Hansen would not simply roll over, despite the daunting task facing them. important,” Cooper said. insisted before the game in Tokyo. “What we’re looking at is our own “We have to score tries,” he said. “That’s the reality, because New This week saw O’Connor join English Premiership side performance. If we can put on a performance we can be proud of, the Zealand will score points. But we’re not going out there with a London Irish and Cooper added: “If you look at it in the right margin is irrelevant.” Having upset a weakened Wales team in June in defeatist attitude just to compete. We will attack them.” Japan cap- way, that everything happens for a reason, then it might be a a breakthrough 23-8 home win, Japan’s preparations were rocked tain Toshiaki Hirose echoed those sentiments.