Chris Robshaw may lose Lions place, says Warren Gatland

Posted on November 29, 2012 by adminsports

Tough ruck for Robshaw: Lions skipper He's struggling to make the squad, says Gatland

UPDATED:

01:02 GMT, 29 November 2012

As if Chris Robshaw hasn't suffered enough already this week, the England captain was dealt another hammer blow on Wednesday: to his Lions hopes.

The 26-year-old Harlequins flanker has had to endure criticism and scrutiny after England's defeat by South Africa last Saturday.

His decision to go for goal from a late penalty was questioned on the field and has been widely debated ever since.

Tough ruck: Chris Robshaw could lose his Lions place in the Lions squad

For Robshaw, it has been an uncomfortable peek into the downside of captaincy but now his playing credentials have been called into question – by a man he would be hoping to impress.

Warren Gatland named Robshaw as a Lions captaincy contender when he became head coach in September but the Kiwi suggested that, far from being a potential skipper for the Australia tour, Robshaw may lack the specialist skills to be selected at all.

After England's defeat by the Wallabies on November 17, when visiting No 7 Michael Hooper put in a man-of-the-match display, there was fresh talk about England's lack of an out-and-out openside.

Gatland continued that theme: 'Sometimes they struggle for a genuine No 7. I know Chris (Robshaw) has been doing that role and people speak really strongly of his leadership qualities.

Hard week: Robshaw has endured a great deal of criticism this week

'The hard thing about the English game now is the way it's being very dominantly refereed towards the attacking side, which often makes it difficult for a genuine No 7 to get himself in the game.

'So you can go in there with sixand- a halves or sixes. We saw that with Leicester playing (Thomas) Waldrom at seven as well and being able to get away with it. Just watch how quickly referees are calling “ruck, hands off, leave it alone”.

'I think if they get that balance and allow the sevens to be more aggressive and compete legitimately, that's going to help develop more No 7s.

'You need genuine sevens going to Australia. You need sevens who are competing hard on the ball and being effective. It's not just about Pocock – it's Hooper and Gill as well (Wallaby opensides). They are all three quality No 7s.'

Wrong call: Robshaw had a tough decision to make during England's defeat against South Africa

Another factor working against Robshaw is that Wales skipper Sam Warburton, the early frontrunner for the Lions captaincy, is a No 7 with a poacher's instinct.

While the Cardiff player has been striving for form in a difficult summer tour Down Under and on into this season, Gatland yesterday offered him words of encouragement after an improved showing against New Zealand.

'I was pleased last week with Sam,' he said. 'He had been under a bit of criticism and I thought he was outstanding against the All Blacks. I thought he carried strongly in the second half.

'I spoke to Sam after the game and told him, “I thought you did a really good job on McCaw”.

'He said, “I didn't feel McCaw was a real threat at the breakdown. He was just a real nuisance in terms of slowing down the game, how quickly he gets back to his feet”.

'He said (David) Pocock is a different animal – he floats around the back, sees an opportunity and competes really hard on the ball. That was a pleasing conversation – Sam identified the difference in sevens he was playing against.'

Gatland has to appoint his assistant coaches, to be unveiled on December 12 in Edinburgh. Then comes a reconnaissance trip to Australia, to assess training venues and other logistics.

'The captaincy issue is the tough one at the moment,' he said at the launch of the adidas Lions shirt.

Bouncing back England are hoping to recover from defeat against the Springboks

'Ideally, you are saying it is someone guaranteed selection for the Test side, but you are looking at the strength in certain positions; there is no guarantee in that.

'Someone like Jamie Heaslip has captained Ireland in the last couple of games – that puts him in the frame as well. There are a lot of potential options. It's a really interesting debating point but I don't think it's something we should get too hung up about.'

One issue Gatland is avoiding is the home nations' poor results against the southern hemisphere.

'We might not be as strong as we can be,' he said, 'but we'll be ready when we need to be.'

Meanwhile, England's reserve fly-half Owen Farrell is a shock nomination for the International Rugby Board player of the year award, with France No 10 Frederic Michalak and New Zealand's McCaw and Dan Carter.

Chris Robshaw is safe says Stuart Lancaster

Posted on November 20, 2012 by adminsports

Robshaw is safe! Lancaster says he does not have a classic No 7

UPDATED:

22:30 GMT, 19 November 2012

When the England team to face South Africa is named on Thursday there will be changes, but not at openside flanker.

While defeat to Australia has resurrected concerns about a dearth of specialist opensides in the country, Chris Robshaw will continue to lead the team from that position.

The Harlequins captain received staunch support from Stuart Lancaster on Monday, despite being unable to match the eye-catching exploits of Australia’s Michael Hooper at Twickenham.

Persisting: Stuart Lancaster says Chris Robshaw will not be dropped

But with another pedigree ‘groundhog’ flanker, Bath’s Springbok Francois Louw, heading for headquarters on the back of a man-of-the-match performance against Scotland, England’s head coach admitted there are very few players of that particular breed available to him.

‘There are not many in my opinion who play at seven in England in the same way as Mike Hooper or Richie McCaw do,’ said Lancaster. ‘It’s quite hard to magic someone up to play in that way in our competition. Andy Saull has been mentioned as one, but he has hardly played at all for Saracens this season due to injury.

‘There’s a natural instinct players have to become sevens. I know because it’s the position I used to play, though I was not quite big enough or tough enough for the highest level.’

In response to criticism of his captain’s display against the Wallabies, Lancaster added: ‘Chris has been named captain for the series and I’m more than happy with his contribution on and off the field. I don’t see that Chris’s performance would warrant being dropped.’

Openside: Robshaw has been leading the team from the No 7 position

Asked if he would consider shifting the skipper (below) to blindside flanker, Lancaster said: ‘We are more likely to stick with them as they are.’

The name of Steffon Armitage is repeatedly mentioned in discussions on this thorny issue, given his status as a supreme, acclaimed, instinctive English openside.

Last night, the Toulon flanker received an award in Paris after being voted the best foreign player in France’s Top 14 league.

Yet, the RFU have an edict against selecting overseas-based players for England and Lancaster evidently harbours reservations about Armitage’s readiness for Test rugby.

‘It’s always going to be difficult for him and players in France to push their case,’ said the coach. ‘They’re going to have to play exceptionally well — far and above players in England.’

In particular reference to Armitage, he added: ‘He plays behind a dominant pack and Toulon are beating everyone on the front foot. To play for 80 minutes, in Test rugby, when you’re not on the front foot and have to keep running around at high levels of intensity, you have to be fit.’

Charge: Joe Launchbury runs with the ball during England training on Monday

Armitage won’t abandon his international aspirations, certainly not while he is in the form of his life. The 27-year-old made the last of his five Test appearances in February 2010, but he said: ‘I will keep hoping that I can get another chance with England. I hope there can be some negotiation between club and country further down the line.

‘I will do anything to play again for England. It is a big honour to put on the red rose. I knew what the risk was in coming to France, but I thought it would help my career.

‘Toulon have players like Joe van Niekerk and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe — so I knew it was going to be hard to secure a starting place but, maybe because of them, I am playing better.’

On the subject of his fitness, Armitage added: ‘If you want to keep your place at Toulon, you have to be at the top fitness-wise.

Heavy lifting: Toby Flood carries tackle pads during training

‘I play nearly 80 minutes week-in, week-out in the Top 14. I feel like I’m at the point where this is the fittest I have been in my whole career.’

While Robshaw will stay at No 7 against the Springboks, Northampton flanker Tom Wood is poised to return at blindside in place of Tom Johnson.

Joe Marler has suffered a knee strain —opening the door for Alex Corbisiero’s return at loosehead prop. There is also a possibility of Joe Launchbury usurping Tom Palmer at lock while Jonathan Joseph is likely to be recalled in midfield.

l Bath and England Under 21 fly-half Tom Heathcote has commited his international future to Scotland. The 20-year-old, who was born in Inverness, was courted by Andy Robinson last summer and could be pitched straight in against Tonga on Saturday.

Kurtley Beale in the dock – Woeful Wallabies

Posted on November 17, 2012 by adminsports

It's looking woeful for Wallabies with Beale in the dock in latest episode of Aussie soap opera

UPDATED:

22:37 GMT, 16 November 2012

In the dock: Beale trains at HQ on Friday

A calamitous week for Australian rugby continued on Friday when playmaker Kurtley Beale was summoned to face an assault charge next February.

The embarrassment over Beale’s pending case follows David Campese denouncing head coach Robbie Deans and a poll of 12,000 Australians voting 75 per cent in favour of sacking the New Zealander.

Beale shrugged off the latest development about court proceedings after training at Twickenham.

‘I will need to speak to my lawyer, but all I’m doing is concentrating on this game,’ he said after insisting he had not heard about the court date.

The assault charge relates to an incident involving a hotel bouncer after the fly-half and colleague Quade Cooper were refused entry in the early hours of June 8 — a day before the Wallabies played Wales in Brisbane.

For the moment, the Australian Rugby Union has put on hold its own disciplinary inquiry into the late-night incident, pending the end of criminal proceedings.

Beale was far keener to talk about how he was going to give a revamped Wallaby back line ‘direction’ in a match the Australians are desperate to win after last weekend’s embarrassing 33-6 defeat by France.

The Wallabies claim they were caught out by the damp conditions in Paris after playing their previous games, in a stamina-sapping schedule, in the dry and warm of Brisbane, Rosario and Pretoria.

Beale is confident the return of wing Digby Ioane plus the decision to start the experienced Berrick Barnes at full back will give the Wallabies a winning edge.

Under pressure: Coach Robbie Deans (left)

Under pressure: Coach Robbie Deans (left) needs a result

‘We just need to get him (Digby) the ball so he can do his thing. He’s one of those who loves getting his hands on the ball.’

The Wallabies have also been comforted by the assured leadership of captain Nathan Sharpe, the veteran lock who thought he had played his last international match in last year’s World Cup.

However, the 34-year-old, who will be playing in his 113th international on Saturday, answered an SOS from Deans after injuries to James Horwill and Dan Vickerman.

‘Never say never,’ has become Sharpe’s mantra this year after agreeing to prolong a career. He might yet face the Lions next year.

SOS: Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe (second right) returns for Australia

‘It’s not under consideration at the moment,’ was how he rebuffed talk that he might play on in 2013.

‘We have a very big fish to fry first this weekend,’ he added.

Sharpe talked about a ‘siege mentality’ gripping the Wallabies camp this week after the defeat in Paris.

Such a thrashing, culminating in a penalty try when the scrum caved in, has re-ignited the fierce debate over the suitability of Deans, a New Zealander, being coach of a national team whose erratic form has prompted them to be nicknamed either ‘Woeful’ or the ‘Wobblies’.

Sharpe has also had to spend his time talking about the absent Cooper, who has a knee injury, claiming in Australia that the atmosphere in the camp was ‘toxic’.

All smiles: Beale will start at fly-half at Twickenham on Saturday

‘This group gets on well and everyone is pulling for each other,’ Sharpe insisted this week and contends Cooper’s outburst is no longer an issue.

Sharpe believes the dips in form of the Wallabies have not been ‘across the park’ but in specific areas like the scrum last week when France dominated.

It will be Sharpe’s 12th match against England and he needs victory to make the score six wins and six defeats.

‘When you are playing Test match rugby for your country you are always under pressure. It’s nothing new for us,’ he said about an international schedule which will see the Wallabies play 15 games in 2012.

Ready to go: The Wallabies pose for their team photo at Twickenham on Saturday

This latest match against England will be a test of character for his unpredictable team who drew 18-18 against New Zealand before the loss to France.

Sharpe wants to see Australia ‘outwill’ England, though he added they also needed a better method than last week against France.

‘It’s going to take more than character to win. Turning up and having a go won’t be good enough.

‘This English team is a good one and there is going to have to be a fair amount of exceptional play and some pretty tough rugby in between.’

Australia coach Robbie Deans laughs off David Campese tirade

Posted on November 16, 2012 by adminsports

Under-fire Australia coach Deans laughs off Campese tirade

UPDATED:

22:03 GMT, 15 November 2012

Australia coach Robbie Deans fended
off his critics by claiming their abusive comments were part
of the territory for an international coach.

Deans, who is under fierce pressure
after the Wallabies' 33-6 defeat to France in Paris last Saturday,
jokingly suggested he would even welcome arch-critic David Campese into
the camp before Saturday's game against England.

Under pressure: Australia coach Robbie Deans

Australia line-up v England

Barnes; Ioane, Ashley-Cooper,
Tapuai, Cummins; Beale, Phipps; Robinson, Polota, Alexander; Timani,
Sharpe (capt); Dennis, Hooper, Palu. Substitutes: Moore, Kepu, Slipper,
Samo, Sheehan, Harris, Mitchell.

He said the Australian, a World Cup winner in 1991, was entitled to his views, which included a comment this week that the New Zealander had 'destroyed Australian rugby' and that he was the 'worst thing that's ever happened to Australian rugby'.

The loss to France has heightened tension around the Wallabies after an erratic year in which they finished second in the new Rugby Championship behind the dominant All Blacks.

Despite Campese's comments, Deans tried to remain good-natured. He said: 'It's great that David's passionate about the game still. But I really don't want to comment further.'

He added: 'People are entitled to their opinion. It's part of the territory. Most importantly it (the defeat to France) was a performance we weren't proud of and we want to address it (against England). That's where all our time and energy is going.

'Every week there's pressure, that's what living in this arena is. It's not about me, it's about helping the team do what they do.'

Recalled: Australia's Digby Ioane

Deans partly blamed player fatigue for the poor display in Paris towards the end of an international calendar which will see the Wallabies play 15 Tests in 2012.

'This year has been an extraordinary year. There's been a lot of adversity and some challenges. Along the way the side has shown its character but last weekend we didn't.'

Deans confirmed a Wallaby line-up showing four changes to the team who lost to France. Fit-again winger Digby Ioane is recalled and Berrick Barnes starts at full back. Up front, the Wallabies have brought in Ben Alexander at tighthead prop and lock Sitaleki Timani.

England winger Chris Ashton: Nine Tests, no try and it"s killing me

Posted on November 16, 2012 by adminsports

Nine Tests, no try and it's killing me, admits England winger Ashton

UPDATED:

22:03 GMT, 15 November 2012

Chris Ashton will try to prove that lightning can strike twice and
take out his angst on Australia on Saturday – to ensure the run of Tests
without a try which is 'killing him' doesn't reach double-figures.

Saracens' 25-year-old cross-code wing is back in England's starting XV
for the second QBE International at Twickenham after serving a one-game
ban for three yellow-card offences this season.

Up for it: Chris Ashton takes a high ball during training

Having tackled his defensive flaws, so to speak, Ashton is hell-bent on giving another vivid illustration of his enduring attacking qualities in the fixture which sent his career into orbit two years ago.

Last Saturday, as the national team demolished Fiji in their autumn opener, notching up seven tries along the way, their most potent finisher lost the will to watch at about the hour mark.

'It was so frustrating that I had to leave after 60 minutes – I couldn't watch it any more,' said Ashton. 'I was pleased for Charlie (Sharples) scoring some tries, but it was frustrating to see so many tries being scored and not being able to be involved. I had to sit and watch from the stand.

'Two weeks have gone pretty slow, especially when you are not allowed to play. It has been a tough two weeks and I am glad they are over. I'm glad to be back involved.'

This of all matches brings back particularly warm memories for Ashton, which may just help him in his quest to hit the ground running on his first Test appearance since June.

In 2010, the Wallabies came to Twickenham and England gloriously beat them at their own open game. With several tyros in the home ranks, Martin Johnson's team swept to a scorching 35-18 victory founded on a classic act of audacious counter-attacking class.

When England won turnover possession on their own line, Ben Youngs opted against a clearance kick and instead dummied outside then darted into space before passing out to Courtney Lawes.

Three and easy: Alex Goode, Danny Care and Ashton

Splashdown: Ashton scores the try against Australia in 2010 that got him noticed

Splashdown: Ashton scores the try
against Australia in 2010 that got
him noticed

The rookie lock drew a defender before sending Ashton hurtling clear and
he left Drew Mitchell choking on his vapour trail as he swerved infield
and clear to the posts. The try was rounded off by the first nationwide
airing of the 'Ash Splash' swan dive.

Looking back to that heady occasion, Ashton said: 'It is the way
Australia play – it is an open game, so you are encouraged to play that
way. That is what happened on that day. It was only my second game at
Twickenham and we'd just been beaten by the All Blacks, so we needed to
get some confidence back. That was the first sign of us playing together
and being a decent team.

'It was just one of those days, wasn't it They only happen every once
in a while and thankfully we took it with both hands that day. People do
still talk about it, but I've got a feeling it might not happen on
Saturday. I hope it does!

'We had some new faces then so there was a “no fear” mentality. It is
relatively similar this time. We have quite a lot of new people. We will
have to see how they come at us. Our defence is a lot stronger than it
was last time. We are in a better place now.'

On a personal level, Ashton will be in a much better place if he can get
back in the old routine of scoring tries for fun. Following a prolific
start to his Test career, the purple patch has become a fading memory.

The last time he touched down was during last year's World Cup, in the
final pool match against Scotland in Auckland on October 1. Since then,
nine Tests and nil points have left him in a state of considerable
anxiety, as he admitted.

'Yeah, of course, I've thought about it,' said Ashton. 'It's killing me,
but there's nothing I can do about it. I haven't changed anything, I'm
just trying to do exactly what I do normally. It's just one of those
things.

Tackling sessions: James Haskell

'It doesn't help either that the games have been spread out over a long
period of time, so you stop and you start again. You go back to your
club and score for them, but it is killing me not scoring for England.
Hopefully I can change that soon. I'm a lot happier if I have scored
during a game.'

Ashton has made a concerted effort to address the flaws
in his defensive work – part technical and part temperamental. He has
been grafting behind the scenes in response to the surreal scenario
whereby he was 'warned' to work on his tackling by the RFU's judicial
officer, Judge Jeff Blackett.

Asked what he has done since that dressing down, he said: 'I've been
getting smashed by James Haskell and Thomas Waldrom a lot and attempting
to tackle them back, but not hitting them half as hard!

'We do quite a lot of defensive work on Tuesdays and I've been doing
bits after training with Andy Farrell. It's just about channelling it in
the right way. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment in a game you get
caught up in certain situations and get carried away. But the older you
get and the more experienced you get, you hope that you'll fade away
from that.'

He also put the problem down to his formative years as a budding rugby
league player, adding: 'Tackling with no arms was what we did growing up
and so sometimes you revert back to that.'

Having recalled Ashton as the only change to his starting XV, England
head coach Stuart Lancaster said: 'You never want to give your
international shirt away and as a consequence he has had a tough lesson.
He has done plenty of work on his tackling technique and we have made
sure he controls his competitive instincts in the right way.'

On the subject of Ashton's nine-Test sequence without a try, Lancaster
said: 'Wings are often the end product of opportunities created by the
team. We have to create as many try-scoring opportunities as we can and
knowing him as I do, I am sure he will take them.'

England rugby players pose for Canterbury and Movember

Posted on November 15, 2012 by adminsports

Twickenham time machine! Can you recognise the England rugby stars behind the vintage gear and fake moustaches

UPDATED:

16:58 GMT, 15 November 2012

Movember has been taking the world of rugby by storm once again this month – but nobody expected it to come to this.

England stars David Wilson, Brad Barritt, Joe Marler and Thomas Waldrom, James Haskell, Ben Youngs and Geoff Parling have been showing the new 1871 collection by Canterbury – and worn accompanying moustaches to boot. (Well, all except Marler that is!)

The name for the limited edition collection derives from the year that the RFU was inaugurated. It draws upon the history of the England kit and features a version of the famous red rose emblem inspired by the very first England shirts back in 1871.

Hats off: England rugby stars wearing the new '1871' collection from Canterbury

Hats off: England rugby stars wearing the new '1871' collection from Canterbury (Top row left to right: David Wilson, Brad Barritt, Joe Marler and Thomas Waldrom. Bottom row: James Haskell, Ben Youngs, Geoff Parling)

On Thursday Stuart Lancaster named his side for the Saturday's Test match against Australia and Chris Ashton's inclusion on the right wing, with Charlie Sharples switching to the left in place of Ugo Monye, is the only change to the side that beat Fiji 54-12 last week

The Saracens wing missed England's opening QBE autumn Test through suspension – but he returns to face the Wallabies, against whom he has scored three tries in three Tests.

Style icon: Second row Geoff Parling poses in the Canterbury gear

Ashton scored his first Test try in England's 21-20 victory in Sydney on the 2010 summer tour and he touched down twice in a record 35-18 win at Twickenham the following autumn.

The second of those efforts, finished by Ashton after England launched a counter-attack from behind their own line, has gone down in the annals as one of the great Twickenham tries.

Ashton is England's most potent attacking threat and he will consider a game against the injury-hit Wallabies as the perfect opportunity to break his international try duck for 2012.

High ball: England winger Chris Ashton shields an aerial delivery in training

Lancaster said: 'We were pleased with lots of aspects of our performance last week, but we know we need to improve this week and, by having some consistency in selection, we allow those players to demonstrate we can step up to the next level against what will be a very tough Australian side.'

Lancaster will be interested to see how Alex Goode fares at full-back against the Wallabies after an impressive showing against Fiji.

'He's a great footballer and he provides us with extra organisation in our backline. He's a great communicator with the backs and he has the ability to move defenders around and make breaks himself,' Lancaster said. 'It's a step up for him but he's playing well at the moment.'

Goode to talk: Full back Alex (left) gets ready for the Wallabies with a chat with Danny Care and Chris Ashton (right)

Lancaster plans to keep faith with the back row from the Fiji match so Tom Wood will begin on the replacements' bench.

'The back row played well at the weekend. Tom Wood was good when he came off the bench but we want to give them another shot this week,' he explained.

On the potential for an Australia backlash after their Paris defeat, Lancaster added: 'We will need to step up and our training this week has reflected that. The Aussies will have done a lot of work on their own performance this week after losing against the French.

'But the game before that they pushed the All Blacks to 18-18 and they are a very experienced side who have played some very good rugby over the last six months.'

Rob Simmons banned for eight weeks

Posted on November 15, 2012 by adminsports

Australia's Simmons to miss England clash after being slapped with eight-week ban for 'tip' tackle on France's Nyanga

UPDATED:

00:28 GMT, 15 November 2012

Australia lock Rob Simmons has been banned for eight weeks for a dangerous tackle during Saturday's 33-6 loss to France.

The Wallabies forward was hit with the hefty ban by the International Rugby Board judiciary in London on Wednesday.

New Zealand flanker Adam Thomson was also suspended for a week for stamping on the head of Alasdair Strokosch during the All Blacks' 51-22 win over Scotland.

Out: Rob Simmons was banned for an incident in Australia's clash with France

Both players can appeal their suspensions.

A substitute against France, Simmons was reported for a 'tip' tackle on Yannick Nyanga.

The board decided Simmons' offence was on the high end of the scale and have banned him until February 24.

The ban takes into account a period of close-season inactivity after Australia's European Tour and will run for eight 'active' weeks.

That means Simmons will miss this weekend's clash with England, the match with Italy on November 24 and the following week's clash against Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

A statement on the matter read: 'From the high end entry point of 12 weeks, the judicial officer added two weeks of aggravation to reflect the need for a deterrent for this type of dangerous tackle, but allowed the maximum six weeks of mitigation, including the player's exemplary previous disciplinary record and his conduct at the hearing.

You too: Adam Thomson (centre) was also suspended after stamping on Scotland's Alasdair Strokosch's head

'A sanction of eight weeks was duly imposed, with Rob Simmons suspended until midnight on 24 February 2013.

'The specific period of suspension recognises the close-season inactivity after the current tour when the player is not scheduled to play. The player has the right of appeal.'

In more bad news for Australia, centre Pat McCabe has been ruled out of the England fixture with a neck injury.

His loss follows that of Kane Douglas, who is out with a knee injury, and David Pocock who is sidelined with a calf strain.

Australia"s ruby side in turmoil ahead of England clash

Posted on November 14, 2012 by adminsports

Australia have been hit by crucial injuries, bad results and dissent… meet the WOBBLIES

UPDATED:

22:30 GMT, 13 November 2012

As yet another Australian talisman bit the dust, England tiptoed around the fact that their opponents at Twickenham on Saturday are in turmoil.

The withdrawal of world-class openside flanker David Pocock with a calf injury was another savage blow for the Wallabies ahead of the second QBE International, which could revive their tour or plunge them into new depths of disarray.

No amount of soothing words emerging from England’s Surrey HQ could disguise the fact that Robbie Deans’ side are in a state consistent with their amended nickname, the ‘Wobblies’.

Lost: David Pocock's calf-injury is a huge blow for Australia

Where to start This has been a year of crisis upon crisis. First and foremost, Australia are licking their wounds on the back of a 33-6 mauling at the hands of France in Paris.

Following on from an early- season home defeat by Scotland and a turbulent campaign in the inaugural Rugby Championship, that was not the result their brittle morale needed.

The loss of Pocock is the latest in a catastrophic sequence of injury setbacks. He is a marquee man for Deans, who must already cope without many game-breakers in his back line, such as Will Genia, Quade Cooper and James O’Connor, as well as a recent captain up front, James Horwill.

These medical problems have contributed significantly to the poor results which left Deans clinging to his job by a thread towards the end of the Rugby Championship.

A triumph of character in Argentina kept the wolves from the door, as did a subsequent draw against an All Blacks side looking for a world-record run of wins. But there were dramas off the field, too, chiefly Cooper’s public criticism of a regime he condemned as ‘toxic’.

Disarray: Robbie Deans' (left) squad is in a jumble

The stand-off also poured scorn on selection and strategy under Deans and hinted at a desire to move to rugby league. He was heavily fined by the Australian Rugby Union.

So, against this backdrop of mixed results, controversy and dissent, the Wallabies were unable to paper over the cracks in Paris and now must confront England, who have beaten them in the last two Cook Cup encounters and have exerted a forward dominance for much of the last decade.

England are at pains to cast their opponents as dangerously wounded beasts, still awash with abundant class, but they are aware that a full house will expect an England win.

Asked if Australia are vulnerable, Toby Flood said: ‘I can understand why people would have that perception, but to me they are still a formidable side. Of course the injuries have an impact, but it doesn’t mean that the next guy coming through cannot manage.’

Still tough: Toby Flood said Australia won't be easy to beat

England coach Mike Catt acknowledged that a fast start by the home side could create doubts in Australian minds.

Referring to the issue of forward dominance, he said: ‘We’ve had that in the past and maybe (that will be in their minds), that’s why the first 20 or 30 minutes is crucial. We need to take the game to Australia and make sure they know they’re in another Test match.’

While accepting that the Wallabies have lost a lot of Test quality, he was wary of too much English optimism, adding: ‘They’ve still got world-class game-breakers. But Genia has been a massive loss in terms of game control.

‘David Pocock is world class, if not the best No 7 in the world — he and Richie McCaw are up there together. But don’t underestimate Michael Hooper, he might not have the same physical presence but he’s on the ball all the time, he’s got an incredible work-rate and he’s an incredible ball-carrier.’

Leading the way: Stuart Lancaster (left), Andy Farrell (centre) and Mike Catt

Having emerged as Pocock’s able deputy, Hooper’s progress has served as an isolated source of encouragement for Australia this year. The irony is that the rookie flanker is half-English. His father played for Blackheath before emigrating from Maidstone to Manly in his early twenties.

Meanwhile, Flood was asked to respond to Wallaby wing Digby Ioane’s assertion that his opposite numbers in the England squad are ‘pretty’.

He handled it with aplomb, saying: ‘Is he talking about Charlie Sharples, with his “bean” head, or Chris Ashton with his see-through skin I can see what he means about Ugo (Monye), to be fair, he’s quite attractive!’

France 33 Australia 6: Les Bleus end seven years of hurt by thumping Wallabies

Posted on November 11, 2012 by adminsports

France 33 Australia 6: Les Bleus end seven years of hurt by thumping Wallabies

UPDATED:

22:56 GMT, 10 November 2012

France emphatically ended their seven-year wait for victory over Australia with a bruising success in Paris.

Les Bleus were humbled 59-16 when these two sides last met in the French capital two years ago, but the memories of that encounter were almost completely banished as the home side mauled Australia's scrum.

The Wallabies' fragility at the set-piece have been well documented in the past and the French ruthlessly set about proving it remained a significant soft spot.

France took just 13 minutes to expose the Wallabies' pack when Louis Picamoles went over, and after Wesley Fofana put the game beyond doubt on the hour, the French dominance was underlined when they were awarded a penalty try from a scrum.

Victorious: France players celebrate a famous win in Paris

Australia's problems will no doubt come as welcome news to the rest of their rivals on their European tour with England especially likely to test them in that area at Twickenham next weekend.

It was a also second successive match without a try for Robbie Deans' side as their backline, already severely depleted by injury, saw precious little ball as their hosts thumped away up front.

Frederic Michalak and Mike Harris traded early penalties before the French went to work on Australia's scrum.

Under pressure 10 yards from their own line, the Wallabies' pack splintered under an initial push. The home side unsurprisingly opted to immediately pack down again and Picamoles escaped off the back to charge over.

Flying: Wesley Fofana goes over to increase the Wallabies' woe

Michalak converted to make it 10-3, but rather than press home their advantage, the French were forced into their own half for the next 20 minutes.

The Wallabies patiently built wave after wave of attack but their handling repeatedly let them down once they got inside the home 22.

Adam Ashley-Cooper and David Dennis were both guilty of knocking on in good positions before the visitors got some reward with a second Harris penalty.

Picamoles relieved the pressure on his side with a marauding run to finally get the French back into attacking territory, where their forwards again took over.

Steady on: France players get in a tussle with the Australian counterparts

With the Wallabies creaking, the home side took the chance to grab more points in the shadows of half-time with Michalak knocking over a penalty and a drop goal to make it 16-6 at the break.

After the break it was all France as Australia succumbed to their first-half battering.

Picamoles and Yannick Nyanga both made surging breaks that the men in gold just about contained before their scrum folded again on 47 minutes to allow Florian Fritz a long-distance penalty attempt he shanked wide.

France were in full flight, though, and they got the second try they warranted on 57 minutes when Michalak ran through some weak Kurtley Beale defence to race free before sending Fofana over.

Enjoy the moment: France players savour victory

Michalak added the extras and at 23-6 the home side were out of sight.
There was more to come, though, and Picamoles was stopped just short of his second, but it mattered not as Australia's scrum melted under yet more pressure to concede a penalty try that Michalak converted.

Australia thought they had gone over late on but Ashley-Cooper was denied by the television official before Morgan Parra completed the rout with a late penalty.

Chris Robshaw: England can"t start slowly against Australia, South Africa or New Zealand

Posted on November 10, 2012 by adminsports

Robshaw warns England that the big three will not be so charitable about slow start

UPDATED:

18:34 GMT, 10 November 2012

Chris Robshaw warned the England players that they cannot afford a slow start against the likes of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as the team did against Fiji at Twickenham.

Despite a comprehensive 54-12 win, Stuart Lancaster's side began poorly.

And captain Robshaw said: 'We were pretty slow coming out of the blocks today. We eventually warmed into the game but we cannot do that over the next three weeks.'

Held up: England were sluggish at the start against Fiji

Lancaster agreed with Robshaw and said England had 'rusty areas' which need to be fixed before next week's clash against the Wallabies.

He told Sky Sports 2: 'Next week and the week after and the week after that we are going to have to be more clinical.'

Man-of-the-match Alex Goode said: “At the start we were a bit scrappy and there were a few errors.

'I thought when we hung on to the ball we created some good stuff.'

The test is yet to come: Stuart Lancaster's Eng;and face Australia next

Lancaster paid tribute to the performances of Goode and Tom Youngs. Youngs came into the game under some pressure but performed well as hooker.

'He was under a bit of pressure coming into he game but he nailed every one (lineout),' said Lancaster.

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