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Wallabies captain James Slipper, who watched the Wallaroos’ stirring opening to their World Cup campaign “huddled around a phone” at a wedding on the weekend, has called for more game-day alliances with the women’s team.
The men’s and women’s teams came together in Adelaide where the Wallaroos played the Black Ferns ahead of the Wallabies’ win over South Africa.
“It’d be great to have a doubleheader, every game, it’d be awesome,” Slipper told The Roar Rugby podcast.
“There’s a real value in that. The fans would love to see it, it brings in another section of fans that want to see the women’s game and [would] create that carnival feel.
“The men’s team really enjoyed watching the girls while we were warming up and getting ready, and we were getting right behind them.”
Slipper was at the wedding of former Brumbies teammate Lachlan McCaffrey last Saturday when the Aussie women kicked off against New Zealand. The Wallaroos ran in three quick tries before being overcome in the second half at a time they were missing two players to yellow cards.
“There were a few of us huddled around the phone watching the girls go to war,” Slipper said. “The boys were yahooing when they go out to 17-0. But that Black Ferns team is a pretty handy team and the class shone through in the second half.”
Slipper said he felt the Wallaroos would take confidence from their performance into this week’s must-win match against Scotland.
“Confidence is massive in a World Cup. You’ve got to string a few games together, and you got to get the outcomes that you want,” Slipper said. “The girls would have been disappointed with the outcome, not getting the win, but they can they can hold their heads high and will build a lot of confidence going into the next game.”
He said hoped for closer connections between the teams in the future.
“We’d love to be doing more with the women,” Slipper said. “But calendars are so hard. To be in the same spot as the girls’ team is very hard.”
Meanwhile Wallaroos winger Maya Stewart is set to make her World Cup debut debut, replacing Ivania Wong in the line-up against Scotland.
Tighthead prop Eva Karpani has been added to the starting side in lieu of Bridie O’Gorman, who moves to the reserves.
“Even though the game at Eden Park didn’t go our way last weekend, it was an invaluable experience for the team,” said captain Shannon Parry.
“Everyone is on the same page for this weekend, we’re all reaching for the same goal and our training has reflected that.
“There’s been a shift in our intensity and the team is raring to compete against Scotland.”
Lori Cramer will start at No.15 with double try scorer Bienne Terita and Stewart on the wings and Pauline Piliae-Rasabale reverting to the bench.
“The team is incredibly excited to welcome Maya Stewart for her debut this weekend,” said coach Jay Tregonning.
“Her journey has been remarkable – coming back from an ACL injury is never easy, but Stewart has done it with a smile on her face the whole way through.
“As a team, we’ve analysed our performance against New Zealand, refocused our goals and are looking for the win this weekend.”
The game kicks off at 1pm AEDT at Northland Events Centre in Whangarei.
The match will be shown live, ad-free, and on-demand on Stan Sport.
Wallaroos 1-15: Liz Patu, Adiana Talakai, Eva Karpani, Sera Naiqama, Atasi Lafai, Emily Chancellor, Shannon Parry (C), Grace Hamilton, Iliseva Batibasaga, Arabella McKenzie, Maya Stewart, Sharni Williams, Georgina Friedrichs, Bienne Terita, Lori Cramer.
Reserves: Ashley Marsters, Emily Robinson, Bridie O’Gorman, Grace Kemp, Piper Duck, Layne Morgan,
Trilleen Pomare, Pauline Piliae-Rasabale.
There has been a development in the curious case of Curtis Rona, with the former Wallaby heading for rugby in Japan after walking out on London Irish.
It was reported earlier this week in Australia that Rona was being considered as a recruit by Gold Coast Titans NRL club, but it appears he’s staying in the XV-man game.
“Curtis Rona is set to leave London Irish with immediate effect to pursue a playing opportunity in Japan,” said London Irish in a statement on Thursday.
“Rona, who made 77 appearances and scored 16 tries for the Exiles, has made the decision to leave after initially joining the Club in preparation for the 2019/20 campaign.”
The statement quoted Rona as saying: “Thank you to the supporters and everyone at London Irish for making me feel so welcome at the club from the first day that I arrived. I want to thank the players, staff and coaches for everything that they have done for me, and I wish London Irish nothing but the best for the future.”
Rona, 30, played three times for Australia in 2017. He had gone missing from his club in the past week, refusing to answer calls from club officials.
Elton Jantjies is set to relaunch his career in French rugby after the scandal involving him and the Boks’ dietician.
French reports suggest that the incident involving Jantjies and Zeenat Simjee that saw the pair sent home from the tour of Argentina may have made the player unpalatable to his Japanese employers the Red Hurricanes.
A French publication says he is close to a deal with Toulon.
“This week should allow the RCT to finalise the arrival of the South African world champion … it’s just a matter of days and details. Elton Jantjies will, barring last-minute setbacks, join Toulon as an additional player,” Midi Olympique reported.
Iva and Elton Jantjies (Source: Instagram)
“The South African, ousted from the Springboks for an affair in September, will be officially dismissed by his Japanese franchise for the same reason.
“In the process, he should finalise his commitment to the RCT with immediate effect. The Var club had been looking for an out-half for several months to assist Ihaia West.
“Jantjies arrival is made possible by the early departure of Julien Blanc to Castres, who freed up a place in the red and black workforce. Jantjies’ commitment is expected to run until the end of the season.”
Financial dark clouds continue to loom over British rugby with Wasps suspended from the Premiership after announcing they are “likely” to go into administration “within days”.
The club have twice filed notice to get insolvency experts in to help with their debts, which run to tens of millions of pounds, reports the BBC.
They face becoming the second side to go into administration within a few weeks after Worcester suffered the same fate.
“We appreciate this is a very difficult time for Wasps players, staff and supporters who will be concerned at news that the club is likely to enter administration,” the Rugby Football Union said in a statement.
“The RFU will continue to work with the club, PRL and any potential administrator or future investors to find the best possible outcome for the club.”
Wasps can reapply for the suspension to be lifted if they are able to demonstrate the means and commitment to pay their rugby creditors.
In a statement, Wasps Holdings Limited said they had been working to secure the club’s future.
“We strongly believe it is the right course of action,” the statement added.
Wasps won’t be able to fulfil this week’s Premiership game at Exeter, acknowledging “this will not only impact on our players, staff and supporters, but also Exeter Chiefs and the wider rugby community”.
Worcester were suspended and relegated to the Championship, a day after players and staff had their contracts terminated.
There could be some stormy financial waters ahead for the All Blacks and Western Force too with their billionaire sponsor Mohed Altrad facing bribery charges.
The Force have an arrangement with the club Altrad owns in France – Montpellier Herault, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Force declined to comment to the SMH but the writer, Georgina Robinson, said they “will be watching with interest when the Paris Criminal Court hands down its verdict in December.”
The case, which also involves Bernard Laporte, the vice chairman of World Rugby, is much more significant for New Zealand Rugby, which signed a six-year, $120 million deal with Altrad last year.
The SMH says prosecutors built their case around an alleged “corruption pact” in which Altrad agreed a €180,000 image rights deal with Laporte in 2017.
“The former France coach and FFR president then pressured the Top 14’s appeals panel to drop sanctions against Altrad’s club, Montpellier, for the display of some protest banners at the club’s Altrad Stadium,” wrote the Herald.
“Later that year, Altrad was confirmed as the first front-of-jersey sponsor of the French national team in a deal worth a reported $60 million. Laporte pulled out of the image rights deal after it was revealed in the media.
“Both men strenuously denied the allegations, their defence lawyers claiming the case was a witch hunt designed to bring down two great contributors to French rugby.”