Suspended Wallaby backrower Scott Higginbotham says his omission from Australia’s four-match European tour has been hard to swallow.
Higginbotham was banned for two games for kneeing and head-butting All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw in the Bledisloe Cup in Brisbane earlier this month.
The suspension effectively became four matches when he was left out of the Australian rugby squad that departs on Wednesday.
Coach Robbie Deans couldn’t take a chance on including the hard-running Higginbotham, who would only be available for the final two Tests against Italy and Wales, with flanker David Pocock only just returning from long-term injury.
The 26-year-old is putting his time on the sidelines to good use by getting straight into the thick of the action with his new Super Rugby team Melbourne.
The former Queensland Red was expected to be a spectator at the Rebels’ first pre-season training session but pulled on his boots.
“I find it hard to keep myself out of training most of the time,” he said.
“I had last week off and after everything that’s happened it’s good to get out and run around and get your mind off other stuff.
“I copped the two-week penalty and, in that I also missed the tour, it’s hard to swallow but if you do the crime you do the time and I guess I’m paying for it now.
“It feels like a double punishment but they have to cover all their areas and in that they needed a No.8 to come on tour to back up Cliffy (Palu).”
He said he was looking at the up-side of the ban, in that he could integrate himself in the Melbourne set-up and pre-season rather than arrive on the hop in January.
Standing 195cm and weighing 110kg, Higginbotham is no light-weight but he was surprised by the size of the some of the Melbourne players such as skipper Gareth Delve and locks Cadeyrn Neville and Hugh Pyle.
“Blokes down here.. there are some big boys.
“Being with the Reds previously we were a small pack.
“We were a good team and we won the premiership with that pack but there are a lot of solid boys (here) and a lot of stuff to look forward to playing.”
Fellow Wallabies Kurtley Beale and Nick Phipps also pulled on their training gear while injured Test backline star James O’Connor completed the session on his troublesome hamstring.
Fromthesideline
Guest
Only cost him $40k. Last 5 minutes is all that was worth watching. Mcgaw showed true class something we suffer from badly
Mike
Guest
Two game suspension was about right. And as Higginbotham learns, this is a very real sanction. If he can avoid the niggle and channel his energies into knuckle-hard legal play, he could be a great No 6.
bob
Guest
I loved seeing mccaw off his game. he had a bit of a shocker. On ya higgers!!!! Mccaw is why rucking should come back into the game
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
It would seem a harsh penalty to be banned for two games and then be left out of the side. Higgy says that he understands that the makeup of the side would be compromised if he went on the tour. Thats something that I don't understand. In respect to the troops that Deans has in the team IMO it may have been better to have taken Higgy with the team. I mean in the team you have Palu who could be injured having his breakfast in the morning and Samo who is 108 going on 38. What does the future of the Wallabies have to do with both these guys (I mean this without any personal insult) whereas with Higgy you have a player who is only going to get better and better and is or will be the 8 or 6 when the next WC rolls around and will be that also against the British and Irish Lions next year. So what was the thinking as to the advantage of not taking him on the tour and having a couple of older gentlemen that are passed their used by date on the team. IMO Higgy is a 6 and not at this time in his career is he an 8, Like a lot of players before him he has to learn the complexities of becoming a great 8. He has through injury to players had to swap between 6 and 8 repeatedly in the Wallaby set up. This is not easy on a player playing at the top level and he has had some problems but IMO he has made a fair fist of it. There is the example of Reid who is now (after a few years of learning) at his peak he learnt and was given plenty of leeway and encouragement during his period of learning. Higgy would have benifited greatly from this tour and it would have been very important in his learning, how to adjust to NH playing styles prior to the Lions tour next year. IMO leaving him at home was very short sighted and not in the best interests of the wallabies going forward as a team.
Bazza Allblack Supporter
Roar Rookie
Higgers has to be careful, if you harass our Holy Leader of The Darkness , he incur the QC curse.. including internet based torrets (sp?) the dropsie self delusional behaviour development of self and personal brand
RLDO
Guest
Jeez get over it, and it didn't.
Blue Blood
Guest
Agreed. How they deal with Cooper today will tell us if they have an nuts at all. I'm hopeful but also doubtful they do anything more than a meaningless fine.
Justin2
Guest
If only Robbie and the ARU had been better on discipline with the young crew a lot earlier...
formeropenside
Guest
Ineffective - put McCheat off his game quite nicely after that. Higgy should have got a medal, not a ban.
Tui
Guest
He is a lemon anyway.
Ryan
Guest
In some ways i feel bad for the guy but I am glad Robbie and the ARU took this stance against him. Maybe it will set a precedent not only in Australia but for other national unions that Foul play will not be tolerated.
Bazza Allblack Supporter
Roar Rookie
Well next time, make it a hard tackle, not a patently obvious and ineffectual cheap shot or shots.. He is a very silly boy...