The NSW Waratahs’ resistance to forfeiting their Wallabies for an extended Test camp before the Lions series has been inflamed by a needless injury to lock Kane Douglas.
Douglas rolled his ankle while playing a game of touch football in a Wallabies logistics camp on Tuesday as part of a promotion for the British and Irish Lions tour.
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said the injury will keep him off the training paddock for at least a fortnight, robbing the second-rower of valuable pre-season training.
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) was already facing a backlash from both NSW and Queensland over the plans to quarantine the Wallabies players three weeks before the three-Test Lions series kicks off on June 22.
Cheika said Super Rugby teams, who released 49 players in total for this week’s two-day camp, had been guaranteed by the ARU there wouldn’t be any physical activity.
But they were surprised to see Douglas suffer his injury in a Wallabies v British Backpackers touch game in a suburban park.
“We were assured there would be no rugby content whatsoever and we’ve had a player injured shooting an advertisement without the correct strapping,” Cheika told AAP.
“He’s now going to start the season with just two weeks of training – that type of stuff makes it (releasing players) hard to swallow.
“I understand mistakes can happen sometime but we can minimise them and that shouldn’t be happening.
“That makes it very difficult to believe in the process when the details aren’t being maintained correctly.”
While Lions coach Warren Gatland hopes Australian provinces will field Wallabies in their pre-Test tour matches, it looks unlikely to occur.
Australian coach Robbie Deans wants to prepare his Test squad in the extended three-week camp from June 1 to safeguard against late injuries and ensure combinations gel.
But it would mean Queensland, who sacrificed their Super bye, would be prevented from fielding their full-strength team in a money-spinning sell-out against the Lions at Suncorp Stadium on June 8.
On the same weekend, the other four Australian sides are playing two Super Rugby derbies, in which the Waratahs have most at stake, potentially losing their entire starting forward pack.
A final decision on quarantining the Wallabies in June has yet to occur despite opposition from the provinces during an ARU high-performance unit (HPU) meeting late last year.
“If we’re taking a consultation approach and the view from all the states at the HPU meeting was this shouldn’t happen,” Cheika said.
“If we’re not being incorporated in the decision, then make the decision and be accountable for it.”
Hightackle
Guest
Club soccer $$$. How often do teams other than Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal (the rich clubs) win anything? Same goes for Barca, Real Mad, Inter, AC, Beyern, Rangers, Celtic etc. What you want is also an end to equality in clubs. Also our domestic comp will be stripped of the best players as they are in football. You want stars at the Tahs, you wont have any and most of the time they wont even return for games in sydney for Aust. Even in the "Asian cup" becuz the Euopean clubs will not want them to. Like Racing Metro did with its Fijian players at the WC.
Johnno
Guest
Hightackle you want to say I am doing a slanderous ill informed post at me. To quote, you. "At the momment we have both. You are wishing for only club rugby." That is total crap, i have nerve said that. I said many rugby and soccer fans prefer club rugby or soccer. They can still like internationals, but many prefer there clubs for all the reasons given, just ask the Barcleona and Man United fans. i actually like both equal and both have important parts,in the development pathways of developing players and providing excitement. You clearly prefer the internationals, fair enough, i like boh equal and can actually see there important role both forms play, and they serve different markets, but both are important. And friendlies promote the game well and give exposure, fans keep turning up to them, and they rate well, can't be that bad. asian rugby is booming i am sorry to say, like i aid it takes time but they are expanding. And you talk about naivety, . You don't give a stuff what Tolouse fans think, and you say you have a passion and appreciation and respect for club rugby. Doesn't sound like it. And your statement . "Do you know why soccer fans care more about their club? Its becuz their international team only plays friendlies." Is absoloute garbage. Do you cal a world cup, a continent cup eg Euro championship, Copa America, and a world cup, and world cup qualifiers friendlies. No there not. And friendlies only make up a tiny amount of soccer matches. And do you really call a rugby test on the euro tour vs italy not a friendly, a 1 off test, or the England VS AB'S money spinner test that fell outside the IRB test window, not a friendly when the NZRU got a big $million match fee, not a money spinner friendly. Or the France VS Australia match in Paris not a friendly. What were any of these matches actually playing for, you tell me. It wasn't' the grand slam, or a world cup final, or a continent cup. And the russians are in the malign cup but will work towards the heinikan cup when they get good enough, and they are rapidly improving. Russia is a big country, economically rich, and has now 2 pro divisions. And you say Toulose or Toulon are not the pinnacle. I suggest you check out there multi million dollar squads. They could beat every test nation in world rugby, and would really push the AB'S. I'd defiantly back there multi million dollar squads full of foreign stars to beat the Boks or Wallabies at the home ground.
Hightackle
Guest
Dude I have a passion for club rugby. I have more of a passion for internationals and I hope that next time the Wallabies play in your world, its a friendly where Genia, Horwill, JOC, Cooper, Hooper, Palu and Beale are unavailable and the players dont care. In other words, a nothing game where nobody cares. I dont know if you recall Australia beating Eng at soccer. When the reporter asked Beckham what he thought, he replied "Its only a friendly". Good club rugby does not have to equal bad international rugby. At the momment we have both. You are wishing for only club rugby.
Hightackle
Guest
You are looking forward to Russian teams in the Heineken cup? Dude you are not a dreamer, you are funny in the head. You obviously dont watch much international rugby, I do despite your slanerous ill informed shot at me. If you did watch those clubs and teams like Fiji you might know what you are talking about. You clearly dont. You are naive to think that whats happened to soccer is a plan. Its what they have to put up with becuz the clubs have the money and power. You think soccer fans want it that way. They have no option. Asian rugby is blooming? There is 1 Asian team that makes the WC, and it was full of players from other countries and was still thrashed. Naive is an understatment. You are living in a naive fantasy world. I dont give a toss what Toulouse fans think. Its a fact that they are not at the pinnacle. Its club rugby. The WC is not the pinnacle for me but it is to 90% of soccer fans despite your riiculous claims. The soccer WC is the biggest international event in any 1 sport. Do you know why soccer fans care more about their club? Its becuz their international team only plays friendlies.
Johnno
Guest
hightackle so what is your opinion on club soccer and rugby. DO you prefer to watch an international , over a club match. I'd just as enjoy watching a Heinckan cup grand final, as i would a Wallaby VS Boks match. Or a Man United VS Man City local derby as i would a 6 nations rugby match And I said Asian rugby would develop over time like 2025. Japan, have far more money than say Fiji/Samoa/Tonga and they are improving Japan. They beat Georgia. I hate your opinions, you don't have enough plassion for club rugby, and facts is many people love club soccer and rugby, the same if not more than international rugby or soccer, for the reasons given. And I'm sure many people don't complain about friendlies, the bean counters. England still made good money out of the friendly vs Fiji. 80,000 at twickhers for a friendly, a good money spinner for them.
Hightackle
Guest
Johnno how old are you? Arg have been good or around the top 10 for decades. Fiji is the worst its been for prolly decades. Tonga has not really improved its standing in world rugby and most of the Samoan team was born and plays in NZ. You are a Dreamer. You base your argument on fantasy, not reality. Dude Im not wrong. If you dont make the finals its 4 games that your international team plays every 4 years. I cant stand your opinion on this. Rugby friendlies where they dont even use their full team and dont compete to the best of their ability?!! God! You have some strange ideas Johnno. Ideas that are bizzare and naive to say the least. To think that an Asian cup would work anytime soon is ridiculous. Fiji is steadily getting worse. Arg suffered their heaviest defeat at home against NZ ever in 2012. Tonga beat Australia in 1973. I cant get over your opinion. I hate it with a passion.
Johnno
Guest
Billbob , you don' want soccer like allegiance, "what have you been smoking Billy Bob". Clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man United, Man City, AC Milan, are amongst the biggest sports clubs in the world. Far bigger followings than the wallabies, and Man United have a far bigger following than the All Blacks. The only rugby team on the planet that can truly run with the big boys for brand awrness or revenue. Club sport , exposes more players to pro environments. How do you think Argentina , Georgia, Fiji,Samoa,Tonga, have all got good. What through magic dust, and hope they get better. No, from club rugby like French rugby. The passion many places like Toulon , and Toulose, and Munster, have from there fan base is great and real passion. Don't tell these fans they lack passion or are not at the pinnacle . At least soccer's format is clear and organised. And fans of Barcelona care equally about Spain, as do Man united's fan equally about England. And many fans actually like club soccer more, in both rugby and in soccer. Many of the Toulouse and Munster fans actually care more about there teams, than there country. And in soccer especially, many fans would rather go and watch a champions league final watch there team play, as they live and breath there clubs in there daily lives, culturally and geographicaly, that the national team can't reach on a daily basis. Many would rather watch there clubs in big club games like the champions league, or the Heiniekan cup than a world cup. The World cup might be your pinnacle Hightackle and Billy Bob, but not all rugby and soccer fans share the same opinion. Different markets, for different sets of fans . Go tell a Barcelona fan, or a Man united fan the national team is more important than there club, you sure will get a fight only our hands. You billy bob it seems underestimate the grass roots passion people have for the clubs, they live it and breathe it from childhood to adult hood. Some clubs, Man united, Barcelona, Man City, Sporting lisbon, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Arsenal ,Liverpool, to name just but a few. And go to some South American local derbies like Boca Juniors and river plate, and you will see the passion they fele for there clubs. All these fans bases love there clubs as it is for them, often the national team can and does feel disconnected from the grassroots in your own backyard tribal community turf, that club teams and club sport generates.
Billy Bob
Guest
I am with you here Hightackle. Johnno, what have you been smoking? International rugby is the pinnacle of rugby, not the only platform, but the peak, the most intense, the most passionate, the thing most looked forward to. If you dilute that stage, you will lessen the game. Like peeling an onion, the onion may get 'better' but it can only get smaller. We do not want soccer-like club 'allegiance'. That is 100% mercenary. And the loyalty even to the clubs is only as deep as the next dollar offer. Rugby in Australia needs to make changes, big changes, but taking on the club 'allegiance' model of soccer should be avoided at all costs.
Malo
Guest
Unfortunately cheika has shown he fits the tah mould as a joke and the tahs being so petty will continue to go shite. I had such high hopes. Wrap them all in cotton wool and hope for 2014
Johnno
Guest
Soccer Friendlies are huge money spinners. Corparate companies like Nike make a fortune out of them and the tv networks,. Play it in developing market,s or big markets too, always get good tv ratings and crowds . Brazil and England have had a few money spinner friendlies at wembley, and they get sell out crowds and good tv ratings,. And no we disagree, i'd prefer internationals to remain more meaningful, less is more. Too many med range games if you ask me. Playing wales after wales had a tough northern hemphisphere season, didn't get my juices flowing, . And no your wrong 4 international games every 2 years. A world cup you have heaps of matches. I like to watch other teams not just my home country. Asian rugby is booming, check the stats , it's booming and you have 4 billion people, huge growth market. Your another roof those ignorant people, who insults Asian rugby , when you clearly have no idea, i suggest you look at the IRB website, or watch some total rugby shows, or check some stats, Asian rugby is booming and expanding . And both a continent cup, and a world cup provide that. Already rugby is now playing world cup qualifiers, the IRB now has a 4 year cycle plan, all the developing nations are playing in them, and as they catch up rugby will expand, and rugby world qualifiers will be the norm. Like soccer and i like that. So you will get more than 4 full strength tests every 4 years, of your home country. plus all the other tests in europe, plus, the world sevens circuit. How much more do you want. And no, I would like either a domestic comp being extended, or a longer super rugby home season. An extra 4 games would be ideal for me. And i am looking forwad to when the Heinikan cup expands more as russian teams, get better. I like a lot of club rugby matches, or club soccer matches which in soccer happens and french rugby, in high doses, and less but more meaningful international sports matches, you clearly don't. And i like how AFL, NRL, show 8 club matches a week. You just are more into international rugby, than club rugby, I like both equally , and think less internationals or more meaningful internationals like world cup qualifiers eventually is the best way to go.
Hightackle
Guest
Well I STRONGLY dissagree! I want to see international rugby more than any other game and if it turns out like soccer, that is the WORST scenario I can possibly think of. Friendly rugby games!!!!? My god are you crazy!? And you think that serious international once every 2 years in tourneys is the ideal? You do realise that that could be as little as 4 full strength internationals every 2 years dont you? Tourney rugby os also the worst rugby. Dude you are insane. An asian cup!!!? Dreamer.
Hightackle
Guest
Whats new is the Wallabies not winning series with Deans as coach formeropenside. If you even bothered to look it up you would find that Aust has dominated against SA, Wales, Italy, Fra and Arg in series (more than 1 game) since Robbie has been coach. Only being bettered by the best team to in the world on most occasions and once by SA in 2009. If you are gonna hate Deans, put some effort into it and come up with a real reason.
Johnno
Guest
I don't even see that as a problem, rather a natural progression in rugby's eveloution. Well organised club sport, always makes more money than internationals. You can stage more matches over a season, and overkill of a long regular season is , not as bad as an over kill of international matches in a season. The wallabies are playing to many matches now, as it is. They didn't need the scotland test, or the 3-test Wales series. Soccer has the best balance. 2 major tournaments, over the 4 year cycle. And qualifiers, and the occasional friendly. I wouldn't give 2 hoots if the 6 nations or the Rugby championship, disappear as rugby develops. And I think Europe rugby will be sting enough by 2025, where a Eurpean championship will be able to happen, every 4 years. Countries, Belguim, Georgia, Russia, Portugal, Spain , Ukraine, Germany, are developing nicely. If Asia-pacific can develop more, we will be able to have an Asia-pacific cup every 4 years. Aust/NZ/Fiji/Samoa/Tonga/Japan/USA/Canada/India/Pakistan/Malaysia/China/Hong Kong/Phillipines/Thailand/South Korea/Kazackstan, all these teams are showing rugby union potential.
Hightackle
Guest
International rugby will become secondary like NBA, NFL, AFL, NRL, FIFA, NHL and many other pro sports unless it is dealt with. Already wealthy clubs are influencing players, who are then opting out of playing for their countries. I cant see the Arg side ever winning a 4 nats becuz I give it 5 years before the French clubs stop letting their Arg players go for about 8 weeks of their season or those players are just not willing to give up the money. Contepomi opted out of the 4 nats last year, SBW opted out of playing for NZ as did Kaino. Its just a matter of time unless it is dealt with.
Spencer
Guest
Very poor article! No mention of the score in the Touch game.
allrounder
Guest
and yet you think they shouldn't have to play a game of touch rugby?
Go the Wannabe's
Guest
This bleating is all a bit rich by the Tahs. Firstly, they get about 13 players picked for the spring tour.....when reward for form should have dictated that the Reds and Brumbies made up the bulk of the squad....smells like real sports politics for mine. NSW gets what it wants....again. Secondly, they then complain that their Wannabe's contingent is being rested for the upcoming Lions test. "Cake", meet "I wanna eat it too". BTW I agree that a test match should definitely have priority over any Super 15 game.....National pride is at stake......end of story.
jeznez
Roar Guru
mania, see Jutsie's post one above this one - the commentary from Cheika has come after the announcement that Dean's wants Wallabies rested. It is either a tit for tat statement in the media or just a plain media beat up to try and create a story in the off season.
jeznez
Roar Guru
spot on
johnson
Guest
I reckon they should play local derbies in the off season. By doing this they would be awesome players!!