All Blacks and Chiefs centre Quinn Tupaea has been given a worse-than-expected diagnosis after the injury suffered in Darcy Swain’s ugly cleanout in Bledisloe I.
Swain received a six week ban – including matches he was named for on the Australia A tour of Japan – for tackling the leg of Tupaea. He will miss three Tests on the northern hemisphere tour starting next month.
The Kiwi was initially thought to have avoided surgery and be out for three months, but the All Blacks confirmed Thursday that he would be sidelined for up to nine months with significant ACL damage.
Tupaea will miss Super Rugby Pacific and must be a doubt to get back to fitness before the Rugby World Cup next year.
Swain copped a six-week ban for the incident but he will only miss three Tests after Rugby Australia controversially named him in the Australia A squad.
The All Blacks were angry about the cleanout, while Wallabies coach Dave Rennie initially said Swain had been unlucky to receive a yellow card in the aftermath.
“We’ve got a big issue with it,” New Zealand coach Ian Foster said.
“We’ve got a player who’s putting [Tupaea] out for nine months and you’re not allowed to target legs on the side at a cleanout past the ball, so the rules are pretty clear.”
Rennie later acknowledged Swain deserved a suspension.
MacDonald to helm All Blacks XV
Leon MacDonald was on Thursday named head coach of an All Blacks XV – essentially a New Zealand B team – for their November games in Europe against Ireland A and the Barbarians.
The senior All Blacks start their tour of Japan, Wales, Scotland and England in October, and MacDonald will take a second-string New Zealand side to Europe the following month.
“It’s an honour to coach any team with the silver fern on the jersey,” MacDonald said.
The 44-year-old played 56 Tests for New Zealand and is currently head coach of the Auckland-based Blues Super Rugby team.
The All Blacks XV play Ireland A in Dublin on November 4, then an invitational Barbarians side, coached by Crusaders boss Scott Robertson, at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium nine days later.
MacDonald expects to select players on the fringe of the senior New Zealand side for what will be the first appearance of the newly branded All Blacks XV.
“I’m looking forward to coaching a strong squad for what will be two tough matches,” he added.
“This team is representing New Zealand on the world stage, particularly as the first group to wear the All Blacks XV jersey.”
The All Blacks XV had previously been called the Junior All Blacks or New Zealand A.
‘We don’t want to be left behind’
Olympic gold medallist Sharni Williams is urging Australians to get behind the Wallaroos or risk them falling off the pace in world rugby.
Williams will line up for her fourth Rugby World Cup next month in New Zealand, switching back to the 15-a-side program after a stellar year with the national Sevens team who secured the triple crown.
While the Sevens players, who won their own World Cup earlier this month, are well resourced, the Wallaroos are scrapping against international performers who train and compete full-time, earning as much as $50,000 a year.
Williams says the Sevens’ international success could in large part be put down to the funding and resources dedicated to turning the program professional.
But the 34-year-old believes it is impossible to expect more financial backing for the 15s without a wider cultural shift.
“We don’t want to be left behind,” Williams told AAP.
Sharni Williams. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
“Women need to be valued for what they do because we work just as hard as the men.
“Until that happens in society, you’re not going to start to see huge changes within the sport.
“We always look at the men’s (game) and we’re trying to work towards that – but we’re missing the mark in society.”
Williams said the sport needs more recognition outside of Rugby Australia and sporting bodies who are already supporting the development of the program.
People who are unaware of working and playing conditions for women – from earning part-time wages to wearing men’s jerseys – need to educate themselves, she said.
“People say, ‘Oh it’s little stuff’ but when you get your first jersey or your first boots, it makes you feel complete,” Williams said.
“For women, that’s what we want.”
Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning agreed, saying athletes shine when they receive the recognition they deserve.
The establishment of the Super W league to provide training and playing opportunities outside international competitions for women has been a great leap forward, he said.
Tregonning said programs investing in women will bring the Wallaroos closer to success, with success and recognition important not just for the players but for the overall health of the sport.
“When young girls see success within the Wallaroos, they can see it’s a genuine pathway,” Tregonning said.
“Get behind us. Send the girls your support.
“Let them know you’re a fan and that you’re watching.
“That will mean the world to them.”
The Wallaroos will headline the World Cup opening triple-header when they take on New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday October 8.
(With AAP, AFP)
James584
Roar Rookie
“And it raises the issue of the culpability of the perpetrators of the original foul play. There is an argument that they bare some responsibility for what followed. Why no retrospective bans for them?” You disagree with what part of that? And where does it say that Swain is not responsible for what he did? Do you think these other offenders should not be sanctioned for their foul play? Why? Neck roll? Face flap?
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Try reading upur last three sentences.
James584
Roar Rookie
You got this from my post: “So Swain is not responsible for his choices?” The opposite of what I said.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Try reading my second paragraph and you will see that I did,
James584
Roar Rookie
“That doesn’t excuse his silly, impulsive reaction”. “in the second incident where he took his frustration out on an innocent bystander. That makes it worse.” Did you read my comment?
Chivas
Roar Rookie
So Swain is not responsible for his choices.. it was someone else that triggered him to hurt someone else. But lets blame the person who triggered him. I assaulted my sister because my mum sent me to bed early, so I should expect some leniency from my dad, because really it was partially my mum's fault. Is that the sort of thing you mean. I appreciate that you note that his attack on an innocent bystander makes it worse, but the fact you then go on to suggest there needs to be cuplability on the person who triggered him flys completely in the face of your earlier comment. The more I read comments on the roar, the more I wonder whether I am living in an alternate reality. People seriously need to own their sh$t. Swain is not a victim and anybody holding up that defence is imho out of their freakin mind. It was a truly crappy thing to do and he needs a good hard kick up the backside and to pay enough of a price to ensure he rethinks his approach and demonstrates an element of care forhis fellow sportsman, regardlesss of their behaviour. Hopefully he puts this behind him, becomes a role model for hard and fair play and goes on to a long and wonderful career, or alternatively in the case he in fact learns nothing and does it again he gets rubbed out of international sport for good. I personally can't see him being that stu4p1d and hope that his teammates will both keep him honest with respect to this incident and support him being a better player. Dave Rennie sweeping it under the carpet in my view has done nothing to help Swain's cause or the ongoing commentary around it.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Given the s--tstorm we're in the middle of right now, might I propose 20 minutes?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Merci beaucoup, Paulo. (Next stop Greece, that’s the pattern).
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Ok, so only things that happened in the last 20yrs, or in 1969 lol :stoked:
TiredOldGit
Roar Rookie
My first comment everyone reacted to says "...for some AB fans". So I wasn't actually targeting all fans. Just the ones that are sharpening their pitchforks on here and on the comments on Instagram and Twitter. I'm certainly in good company with the many AB fans gas lighting, invalidating inconsistency with cry emojis and not resorting to rational chat once the confirmation bias is pointed out. It's good to have so many patting each other on the back in here.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
"I’m not the one who took the discussion to threats about swain but I’m obviously the bad man for pointing out how toxic that is to target someone with that." - comment of one unhinged person as I stated. So you go on a crusade critiquing all AB fans = equally unhinged. FYI, I am not targetting all unhinged comments, yours and Jmans just stood out in this thread so I simply passed a comment. And you are right others like your comments, others also like QAnon... If you use that as a measure of logic or intelligence and being in good company, then maybe you are indeed in good company. Stay safe and watch out for sharp objects :happy:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ do we say 20yrs?” Now that is cruel, Paulo, very cruel. Could I get a dispensation for 1969?
TiredOldGit
Roar Rookie
Asking for consistency from people's moral compass is not whatsboutism. If you think the deluge of harrasment swain and the wallabies have got on platforms like Instagram and Twitter is ok, that's fine. It will result in Swain being targeted for this for the rest of his career with boos and harrasment because the mob have decided the ban wasn't good enough. If you want to minimise my point to deflect and then drop the mic and run, go for it. I hope you're doing the same for the unhinged comments across the web about the threats targeted at Swain, since you've put your hand up to police the topic. I hope it's not selective.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Surely we can add a statute on limitations on some things too? Like Moodys elbow? Sure, it’s fairly recent. Brials attack on Bunce? Hmm, bit too old? Loe? Nah, different era. Chappell bowling to McKechnie? Nah, different sport (sorry fullas) Nz rotting the system to get SBW off his RC suspension post Lions game? Yes, and directly comparable to what RA did. So… do we say 20yrs? Anything older we need to move on and let it go… let it go…
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Well played Ken :stoked:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
From my first post? “Was it intentional? We all have our opinions. I have mine. But only Swain knows for sure.” So why you say “This mind reading ability to know what swain’s intentions are” is beyond me. Your comments are designed to inflame and antagonise. They are filled full of whataboutism to try and deflect from current conversation and are adding very little. Trying to add DV into this conversation is nothing more than a distraction. You have no idea what the people now posting about Swain have said about DV in the past, so conflating the two is very disingenuous. And I’m being generous there. If you feel passionately about DV there are better ways to show it. All the best. I won’t be interacting with you any further as I don’t believe you’re here for genuine discourse. That’s not mind reading, that’s just a simple deduction from your postings. All the best. I hope your Wallabies do well up North.
TiredOldGit
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate. Keep supporting players who assault women.
TiredOldGit
Roar Rookie
I was referring to the film references. I don't want an out. I don't know if you noticed but the original comment has been liked more than any reply so I guess I'm in good company of the unhinged. You can go target all the others on the new article today about Lima's tweet. Let's see if someone actually comes up with an answer as to why there isn't the same amount of outrage to DV committed by ABs as people asked Lima and people ask in that thread. All I know is that Swain will be booed, harassed on every social post for the rest of his career. And those players will be cheered when they run on for the ABs. I'm not the one who took the discussion to threats about swain but I'm obviously the bad man for pointing out how toxic that is to target someone with that. Swains ban is light but it seems it will be made up for by arm chair bullies for the rest of his career.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Of course it is... except it's not as you are extrapolating one persons perspective to denigrate a wider group and you know that by the responses... If in fact you are trying to be funny I'm sorry but it is not obvious to anyone as someone of your undoubted intellect would know. Throwing it in at the end of an unhinged tirade of posts and saying you were just parodying and playing it up when you are called out seems like an out... but hey each to their own.
aussikiwi
Guest
Keep fighting the good fight on behalf of the saintly misunderstood Aussies against the evil kiwis you Tired Old Git :stoked: