World Cup winning coach Steve Hansen says the Wallabies and England have an “easy ride” at this year’s tournament but neither feature in his four contenders to lift the trophy.
The New Zealander will coach the World XV against Eddie Jones’ Barbarians side at Twickenham on Sunday night (AEST).
The Australians and England are on the weaker half of the draw, with the pools drawn up on world rankijngs more than two years ago.
England are in pool D with Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Chile and if they top the group would face Wales, Fiji or Australia in the quarter-finals, avoiding the likes of Ireland, France, South Africa and the All Blacks until the semifinal stage.
Steve Hansen during a World XV training session this week. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images for Barbarians)
“If you are Australia or England at the moment, you are rubbing your hands, aren’t you? You are going to get an easy ride in if you do things right,” said Hansen.
Hansen, who coached the All Blacks to a World Cup win, said Australia or England are in the mix, but he expects the winner to come from the other side of the draw.
“I think [Australia] are a big show. I think England are a show for the same reason. They’re on that side of the pool and they’re being left alone while the big guys all knock themselves out. If you ask me who was capable of winning it, I think probably France, Ireland, the All Blacks, and South Africa – one of those four.”
Wallabies star Marika Koroibete has withdrawn from the game with an unspecified issue, replaced on the wing for the World XV by Fiji Sevens player Kaminieli Rasak.
There will be two current and three former Wallabies featured in the game with Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Rob Simmons featuring for Eddie’s BaaBaas and Israel Folau and Nick Phipps picked by Hansen for the World XV. Former Queensland Red Harry Hockings, based with Suntory in Japan, also gets a jersey for Hansen’s team.
Squads
Barbarians forwards: Nic Dolly, Taulupe Faletau, Alun Wyn Jones, Stephan Lewies, Steven Luatua, Enrique Pieretto, Carlü Sadie, Rob Simmons, Harry Thacker, Sione Vailanu, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Waller, Tom West, Kai Yamamoto.
Barbarians backs: Gareth Anscombe, Quade Cooper, Aaron Cruden, Francois Hougaard, Sam Johnson, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Li, Jack Maunder, Adam Radwan, Taichi Takahashi, Seta Tamanivalu.
World XV forwards: Fraser Brown, Niccolò Cannone, Elliot Dee, Allan Dell, Harry Hockings, Wyn Jones, Oli Kebble, Michele Lamaro, Viliame Mata, Jordi Murphy, Sebastian Negri, Api Ratuniyarawa, Marcus Street.
World XV backs: Bryn Hall, Adam Hastings, Israel Folau, Ngani Laumape, Sbu Nkosi, Rhys Patchell, Nick Phipps, Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra, Kaminieli Rasaku.
Family reasons for Lukhan’s return
Northampton Saints say issues with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s family are behind his decision to return home to Australia with immediate effect.
The 26-year-old lock joined the Saints ahead of the 2022-23 season after a difficult time playing under Brad Thorn at the Reds.
Salakaia-Loto made 24 appearances for Saints.
“We’re disappointed to see Lukhan return home to Australia, but he made it clear that, while he has enjoyed every moment of his time as a Saint, his family have not settled so far away from home,” said the club’s Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson.
“No matter what, as a rugby player your family always has to come first, so we understand Lukhan’s decision and wish him the best moving forward.”
Salakaia-Loto added: “I’m leaving Saints with a heavy heart as I loved my first season representing Northampton and being part of a special group of players here.
“I believe the Club has everything in place to challenge for major silverware in the years ahead, but you have to put your family before everything else, and being on the other side of the world from the rest of our loved ones has been difficult.
“So, we’ve made the decision to return home to Australia, but I’ll always cherish the short time I had in Black, Green and Gold, and how all the Saints supporters welcomed us into this community in Northampton.
“I’m leaving some great teammates and friends, but I hope the boys can kick on again next season – and I’ll be supporting everyone at Saints from afar.”
Foley honoured
Wallabies No10 Bernard Foley and Harry Hockings are the two Aussies named on the Japan league’s team of the year.
Foley led his Kubota Spears team to the title last weekend and his club teammate, Springboks star Malcolm Marx was one of four South Africans named on the selection. Former Reds player Harry Hockings was selected from Suntory Sungoliath.
Bernard Foley in action for Kubota Spears. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
Back-rowers Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kwagga Smith and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, also made the XV.
Japan Top League team of the season 2023
- Keita Inagaki (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)
- Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay)
- Opeti Helu (Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay)
- Warner Dearns (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo)
- Harry Hockings (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath)
- Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz)
- Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
- Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
- Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles)
- Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay)
- Haruto Kida (Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay)
- Dylan Riley (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)
- Tomoki Osada (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)
- Seiya Ozaki (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath)
- Ryuji Noguchi (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)
Why Mauger quit MP
Aaron Mauger says Moana Pasifika’s dreadful run of defeats had nothing to do with his decision to stand down as the team’s head coach.
Mauger won’t be returning for the third year of his contract – and even though his team hasn’t won a game this year he was still backed to continue.
“It’s time to go home to the family,” Mauger said. “It’s been such a special privilege to be a part of it, especially in the role of head coach.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in a short time in testing conditions. That hasn’t all come to fruition on the scoreboard, but there are so many celebrations we’ve been able to share and witness along the way.
“There has been so much awesome stuff going on here and I’m sure the club will be successful in the future.
“But as I said to the team this morning, time is precious and I have a wife and four young children down in the South Island who have allowed me to become a part of this journey and to help establish a foundation for Moana Pasifika, which I feel we’ve done.
“But now my time is required back home, around the people who are most important and I’m looking forward to going home to do that.”
The team is set to become the fourth club in Super Rugby history to go an entire season without winning a game. They face Drua and the Waratahs in their final two games of Mauger’s reign.
Fox
Roar Guru
Well the were ranked no1 for longer than any other team in history and by some distance so guess we had let someone else have short turn and it will short in comparison. Orinary NZ side huh? No such thing as an ordinary All Black side and we shall see what happens this season I guess won’t we. Anyway you think your way and I, mine, so lets leave it there before we just start going around in cirles.
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
If you are ranked No 1 at the time of the RWC and don’t win - you have underperformed. It just is that simple. What is interesting is that it has been some time since this ordinary NZ side has been ranked 1.
Fox
Roar Guru
No other way round sunshine no team can win it all the time or make the semi's all the time but only 4 teams have won it out of how many? so not suer exactly how a team who has won three of them and won\ back-to-back has underperformmed - that old tag is a myth these days and some.
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
You don’t accept NZ have underperformed in RWC? You don’t accept they have been consistently the No 1 team and only got 3 wins?. The international rugby landscape has been very different over the last few years particularly with France and Ireland consistent good performers. More like England in the lead up to 2003. What happened to NZ at the last RWC in France? It’s not me that is ignorant of RWC history. Glass jaw?
Fox
Roar Guru
Yeah that’s why they have made the final 4 times and won it three and are the only side in history to win the trophy back-to-back so you clearly are ignorant of the history of the WC and only two teams have won the WC 3 times = the Boks and the AB’s. England only once and Australia twice – so the Northern Hemphere sides and the one’s who are proven to be ordinary at winning the WC. 2003 England victory is the only beacon in a sad tale of Northern Hemisphere failure after failure. In 2015 the entire quarterfinal sides – played in the North in England as well – were all from the Southern Hemisphere. By the time the cup comes around either the AB’s or Boks will be favourites. The history of the Northern sides does not inspire faith in any of them to take the trophy.
Double Agent The First
Roar Rookie
Hansen is an expert when it comes to dream runs.
Double Agent The First
Roar Rookie
"first two NZ and FRA way ahead odds on favourites ." It's mathematically impossible to have two odds on favourites.
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
except most of the bookies which is based on bets and previous form. Not sure what that is supposed to mean. Try Bet 365, Betfair and Sportingbet .. but if you want you can look at heaps of others and tell us all. I did see TAB has them even. Guess you are putting your house on NZ despite their historic ability to be the No 1 team and still not win RWC.
Cannonball
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Fox
Roar Guru
France have had couple of hick up of late Piru - is the gloss coming off? And where will they be ranked at the start of the WC and where will SA - Australia and NZ be ranked after the RC. Argentina as well for that matter. NZ or SA may go back to no1 come world cup time and France drop down and i actually think that is very likely to happen.
Fox
Roar Guru
Define "many"....except most of the bookies which is based on bets and previous form. France - 3 finals and never won one and they wont win this one either. France's problem is their collective temperament when they make the big one.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Its pretty basic Big A. The top 5 are all on one side of the draw. Which obviously means the other side of the draw is from ranking 6 down. Who they play must be easier surely.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I just watched a 2015 wc highlights program and in the pool games and the finals he was very heavily involved. I don't remember the full Scotland game tho. Was, as you say, very good v England
sheek
Roar Guru
Big Al, It seems my previous response has disappeared in the ether. What I said, but now phrased differently, is not to be despondent. I doubt you're the problem!
Fox
Roar Guru
No mate the essier draw is on that side and their quarter final will b easier than the top 4 sides in the world as two of the 4 best teams in the world get knocked out in the quarters and England are not the side they were last WC not by a long stretch in terms of form leading into it. So yes their run to the final is made easier as they wont meet any of 4 best teams in the world until the semi. Their group is easier as well give me a break the ABs and Boks are in the group for pities sake. So yes your run is definitely easier until the semis
Big A
Roar Rookie
yeh remember David on Chanel 7 with good old Rex - they dont make people like that any more - even ron Casey was a bit of a character
Big A
Roar Rookie
yeh Sheek - i checked out your Roar stats - i thought i was doing ok with 800 odd comments - nothing compared to you man - you've written 160 articles - all credit to ya - i tried a couple of months ago to break the duck and they rejected the article - said it wasn't dynamic enough and not long enough - i'll give it another shot - i wanted to write about what the 5 aus super teams would look like if we went back to three - i reckon we would restore pride in Aus rugby overnight - imagine if we could amalgamate some of those Rebels fwds with the Reds and half a dozen of those Force guys sprinkled across the the big 3 and adding a couple of those Rebs props into the Waratahs - problem solved overninght - status quo is restored i reckon. Anyway - thanks for sending me your articles i'll have a read particularly the all rounder one - sounds interesting. In the meantime we need to maintain the rage mate - good stuff.
sheek
Roar Guru
Big A, Sorry, I’m getting aggressive in my old age. I’ve written so many articles I’ve forgotten many of them. 1. Periodic Wallaby & Lions rugby teams. Plus Kangaroos, Baggy Greens & Socceroos periodic & all-time teams. For example, the Adidas (jersey) Wallabies of 1978-88, a personal favourite era. 2. Several articles on allocating cricket all-rounders to their true position in relation to each other by divising a ‘productivity quotient’ plus individual related articles, like on Dennis Lillee in club cricket in his one season enforced rehab (1973/74) & Barry Richards in his one season with South Australia (1970/71). 3. Selected top 50 racehorses with two other scribes for The Roar. 4. Various other articles on the Olympics, tennis, Aussie rules, etc. There are anywhere from a dozen to 20 articles, possibly more, that I’m very proud of. I’ve also stood up for other venerable contributors now long gone like David Lord & Kersi Meyer-Homji who had the good sense to depart long ago. I’m very proud of my defence of these two guys. They were too good for a trashy site like The Roar which didn’t appreciate their talents. What Lord hasn’t done as a first grade cricketer, rugby & cricket journalist & writer, creator of sports magazines & one of Oz’s first player-agents, etc, etc, is beyond most people’s grasp. Meyer-Homji has written more than 15 books on cricket & received the Order of Australia award. Both these men were too good for The Roar.
Big A
Roar Rookie
Happy to read some of your stuff - have been for many years Sheek - i thought i'd fire one across your bow - all in jest mate - let me know which is your best article and i'll have a read
sheek
Roar Guru
Big A, Gee, you know me soooo well off the back of a couple of posts??? I haven't got time fo Johnny-come-latelys. I've been on this site since 2007. Do yourself a favour & go read my published articles right back to 2007. Then make an informed comment. Otherwise, bugger off!