Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan says he’s dropped the club’s top point-scorer Jason Woodward for Saturday morning’s (AEST) Super Rugby clash with the Lions due to his lack of form – and not because he’s leaving the club at season’s end.
A standout for the Rebels throughout the season, Woodward – who will return to New Zealand to play for the Hurricanes in 2015 – has been dropped from fullback, to the wing, and now to the bench.
Holding the club-record with 210 Super Rugby points, Woodward will be replaced on the wing by Tom Kingston, while young fullback Jack Debreczeni and flyhalf Bryce Hegarty will share the goal-kicking duties at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium.
McGahan made it clear on Thursday that he was holding players to account following last week’s thumping at the hands of the Queensland Reds, and not preparing for the future.
“It’s based on form, really,” McGahan said.
“Jason’s form over the past few weeks probably hasn’t been where he can deliver.
“The staff have been evaluating. Jason has been spoken to. It wasn’t a big decision from our end.”
McGahan added that Debreczeni would have been given more game time this season if he hadn’t suffered two lower leg injuries throughout year.
“It’s a very difficult situation to come into Super Rugby. We need to be patient. We said to (Debreczeni) when he came in that he wouldn’t have the selection axe hanging over him,” McGahan said.
“And certainly Tom Kingston and Tom English have been doing the job on the wings.”
Also dropped for the match is lock Cadeyrn Neville, with Hugh Pyle returning, as well as hooker Pat Leafa, who will be replaced by recently re-signed Japanese hooker Shota Horie.
McGahan said the fact that Pyle was heading to French club Stade Francais after the season had finished was proof he was basing his decisions on form.
“Cadeyrn has been unable to deliver consistently, and therefore Hugh gets the opportunity,” McGahan said.
Meanwhile, flanker Scott Fuglistaller has been named to start in place of Sean McMahon, who is away with the Commonwealth Games Sevens squad.
Hamish
Guest
Whats the alternatives? I doubt many other Super Rugby teams are lining up to sign Rebels players. Japan perhaps? Oh thats right, that old chestnut.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I totally agree he can come in at fullback. He's a big boy - maybe 190cm and 100+kgs - with a massive boot. He's also a good ball runner and can put people through gaps. Certainly not afraid to take it to the line with a frame like that. Yep, start at fullback with less pressure, move in to 5/8 in stages next year, maybe late in the game when you want to give Hegarty a spell. He went to school with Scott Sio by the way - might have been a year or two below. I've got no problem at all with what McGahan is doing, with this season gone - he's just telling a few porkies if you ask me.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
He looked alright in patches though, Jack did, didn't he? Seemed to have a big boot on him - always good for a fullback. So I didn't mind seeing him get a run. And with Heggarty playing pretty well at 10, I guess fullback is a good place to introduce him from. So in a way the Woodward decision makes sense, looking to the future and all. Still think McGahan is putting the boot in a little as payback for leaving the club though.
jameswm
Roar Guru
With due respect to Jack Debreczini - a natural 5/8 with a big future - an off colour Woodward would have to be a better fullback right now. I guess McGahan had to say what he did and we take it with a grain of salt.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
More than a handful of player (and support staff) contracts had been signed before McGahan arrived. And do you really reckon young guns like McMahon, Fa'ainga and Meehan would re-sign if they and their agents thought Dumper and the club's management were duds. Seriously. Take a Bex and lie down, will ya.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Yep, I feel for Hilly, but he had three years. More to the point, it wasn't just about poor results - there were other factors (and fools, not just in the playing squad) afoot that he couldn't control.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
Agreed. He wasn't good against the Reds but was playing out of position for some reason. But the quote is that his "form over the past few weeks probably hasn’t been where he can deliver". With the break for the internationals, he has only played once over the last few weeks, hasn't he? Is this supposed to mean his from in training hasn't been the best? Or has he been playing club games poorly? Or does it refer to the couple of weeks leading up to the break plus this first week back? In any case I agree with Matthew Skellett above that he has been in some pretty fantastic form this year. To be dropped from the starting team after one poor game out of position when others were persisted with for far longer says there is something else at play in his omission. I'm not accusing McGahan of lying to the media - he has probably talked himself into believing that Woodward is out of form (and irredeemable) to make himself feel better.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Woodward was very ordinary v the reds and as I said in the call , a long long way from being a AB.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Like Mr Abbott probably the exact opposite of any thing Mr McGahan just said is probably the truth -so YES it is all about him leaving . Mr Woodward has been the most consistent fullback in the Australian conference second only to Izzy -when you talk about form in a club that has only given Mr Mitchell the heave-ho now after 3 craptacular years you have to smile to yourself that nothing is as it seems -hope you are watching your back Mr McGahan -you might have to look sharpish over the next 6 months ;-)
JB
Guest
Mcgahan has less cattle with icon nor and Beale gone . I thought the rebels improved this year but are still a team that lacks depth.
hog
Guest
You have to feel a bit for Damien Hill, he was replaced because of results and a lack of success, but in the end you have to have the cattle and McGahan is finding that out.
ben
Guest
Maybe mcgahan should be dropped. His form hasnt been that flash either.