Gibson Hopes Folau Sees Plenty of The
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30 SPORT FRIDAY MAY 27 2016 Gearing up for England IAIN PAYTEN a squad that will train next squad. The others are James Adam Coleman were reward- an initial squad of 60 players week on the Sunshine Coast, TEST SERIES Horwill (Harlequins, UK), ed for their efforts in a tough we identified, which has been THE Wallabies have named a before being trimmed down to France-based prop Sekope year, and so were Reds quartet reduced to 39 for this camp. 39-man squad ahead of the up- 30 ahead of the first Test Australia v England - Cook Cup Kepu (Bordeaux) and newly Nick Frisby, Karmichael Hunt, We’ll trim that number down coming series against England. against England on June 11. First Test - June 11 at Suncorp re-signed Waratahs flyer Taq- Eto Nabuli and Samu Kerevi. to 30 for each Test, so compet- The squad includes the re- Powell, a 22-year-old who Stadium, Brisbane (7.30pm) ele Naiyaravoro (Glasgow). The Brumbies contributed ition for spots is everything,” turning Leroy Houston, league was last year juggling his car- Second Test - June 18 at AAMI Park, With injuries and no other Allan Ala’alatoa and Rory Ar- Cheika said. convert Eto Nabuli and Kar- pentry apprenticeship with his Melbourne (7.30pm) foreign-based players consid- nold, along with Powell, and “Our first week in camp will michael Hunt. fledging Brumbies career, Third Test - Allianz Stadium Sydney ered, Cheika was urged to look Houston is also uncapped. target a high intensity training But the genuine bolter is hasn’t started this year for the (7.30pm) to the future and he did just Rebels utility Mike Harris attitude, building on combina- Brumbies halfback Joe Powell ACT club but was included as that. Over a quarter of the returns after a long absence. tions within that environment. in a squad stuffed to the gills the third halfback ahead of with Queensland from Bath. squad have not played for the Injured troops like Matt “We want to build on the with new — and old — faces. Melbourne’s Nic Stirzaker. He is one of four inter- Wallabies. Toomua and Joe Tomane were identity we’ve worked hard on Coach Michael Cheika As expected, Houston has nationally based players Mi- Impressive Force fullback not considered. establishing over the past 18 named 10 uncapped players in been included after re-signing chael Cheika has named in the Dayne Haylett-Petty and lock “We’ve been working with months.” Brumbies primed for GIBSONGIBSON Sunwolves THE Brumbies say they aren’t fooled by the Sunwolves’ al- HOPESHOPES most-winless first season in Super Rugby, expecting a fast and clinical contest in Canber- ra tomorrow night. FOLAUFOLAU The Japanese outfit have had just one win in 11 matches this year and boast the second- worst points differential in the SEESSEES competition, behind only South African outfit the Kings. But their 17-17 draw with the Stormers a fortnight ago and PLENTYPLENTY near-upset over the Queens- land Reds last Saturday has left the Brumbies wary. “They’ll definitely be tough- OFOF THETHE er than everyone thinks they’ll be,” said prop Ruan Smith, who has played in Japan. “I think they’ll try to shut us FOOTYFOOTY down quickly and especially come hard off their defensive line and breakdown, where they’ll get in our face — that’s Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has the the mentality they have.” difficult task of devising a game plan Smith said their size and to overcome the Chiefs, one of the strength is often underestimat- top teams in Super Rugby, at Allianz ed, as is their technical scrum Stadium in Sydney tonight work and experience. Picture: BRETT COSTELLO Hooker Josh Mann-Rea, vying to take Stephen Moore’s starting place at the Brumbies when he heads to the Reds next season, agrees. DARREN WALTON the Australian conference had two full games, an oppor- el’s abilities, both defensively But not so the Waratahs, “We can’t take this team leaders lose their second ball tunity there, and I don’t think and catching high balls, which who finish the regular season lightly because they’ve been WARATAHS coach Daryl player in Horwitz. Gibson is he quite nailed it. I’m willing to has become a real trend in the against the Sunwolves, Hurri- really good performers,” said Gibson is demanding superstar comfortable with that as he is give someone else a go.” game over the last three or canes and Blues after hosting Mann-Rea. “It’s a very high- centre Israel Folau gets more offering Folau a roving com- After starting the season four months,” Gibson said. “So the Super Rugby competition tempo game usually, so the ball in tonight’s Super Rugby mission at Allianz Stadium. with Folau at fullback, Gibson expect to see him at the back leaders. “We’re in control of whole 80 minutes it’ll be fast crunch match with the table- “I’m still trying to get that now views the code hopper as catching high balls and at the our own destiny,” said skipper and they’re pretty clinical at topping Chiefs. (centre) combination right “that up-front ball player” five front attacking with the ball.” Michael Hooper. the breakdown.” Gibson has relegated David without (injured Kurtley) games into his transition to Most pundits are tipping In a blow to their finals Horwitz to the bench and Beale and searching for the outside centre. the Waratahs to relinquish top hopes, the Waratahs will be SUPER RUGBY moved Wallabies winger Rob right combination,” he said. But he wants the John Eales spot in the Australian confer- without emerging back-rower Horne to inside centre to part- “The positive is our big Medallist bobbing up every- ence — and a guaranteed fi- Jed Holloway not only on Fri- Australian Conference ner Folau in the midfield in his players — our Wallabies — are where and says he will not only nals berth — to the Brumbies, day night but for the rest of the Waratahs.............................. 30 (+48) ongoing quest to maximise the playing particularly well and, interchange with Horne in the who have a much easier run 2016 campaign after deciding Brumbies.............................. 29 (+30) dual international’s talents. as simple as it seems, we’ve got centres, but also attack from home with games against the he needs shoulder surgery. Rebels.................................... 23 (-44) The reshuffle is sure to stiff- to get the ball to Folau. the back. Sunwolves, Queensland Reds, The 23-year-old will be side- Reds....................................... 16 (-101) en up the Tahs defensively, but “Obviously with David, he “We want to maximise Isra- Blues and Western Force. lined for four months. Force...................................... 11 (-142) New Zealand Conference Chiefs................................... 42 (+125) Crusaders.............................. 41 (+141) Player concerns as ARU set to take control of Western Force Highlanders.......................... 37 (+90) Hurricanes............................. 36 (+91) JUSTIN CHADWICK Super Rugby outfit in a bid to executive Mark Sinderberry having managed only two wins wondering what’s going on Blues....................................... 29 (-22) turn around the Force’s finan- will report to the ARU. this season. “I know there’s a with that sort of stuff.” South African Conference A VETERAN scrum-half Alby cial woes. ARU chief executive Former All Black Mathew- few boys off contract, and it af- Mathewson arrived in Perth Bulls............................... 32 7-1-3 (+41) Mathewson admits it’s an un- Bill Pulver flew to Perth this son is one of several players fects everyone differently,” as the Force’s international Stormers...................... 32 6-1-4 (+86) settling period for the Western week in a bid to nut out some out of contract at season’s end, Mathewson said. marquee, meaning he could Cheetahs.................................... 16 (0) Force team ahead of the loom- final details, with a final deal and the 30-year-old said it was “The ARU talked to us a only stay for a maximum of Sunwolves...............................9 (-170) ing ARU takeover, especially expected to be signed off by unsettling not knowing exactly couple of days ago. Bill Pulver two years. The ARU granted South African Conference B for players who are coming out next week. what’s going on. was over here trying to shed special permission to extend Lions...................................... 37 (+99) of contract. Under the new structure, The future of coach Mi- some light on the situation. Mathewson’s contract by a fur- Sharks..................................... 35 (+91) The ARU is poised to as- the Force football program is chael Foley, who is contracted “Hopefully in the next week ther two years in 2014, and the Jaguares................................. 13 (+48) sume responsibility for the likely to remain untouched, until the end of 2017, is also in or so there’s a lot more clarity, Kiwi is hopeful the same situ- Kings....................................... 4 (-315) running of the struggling but senior officials like chief serious doubt, with the team because there’s other players ation will occur again. NTNE01Z01MA - V1.