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Wallabies draft giant openside to replace Michael Hooper
Eddie Jones is pushing the Wallabies physically to try to instil self belief in the side as they chase Bledisloe and World Cup glory, according to back-rower Jed Holloway.
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The Wallabies go into the MCG match on Saturday on the back of two losses but playing for a coach who has no fears of facing New Zealand, having led Australia to their last Bledisloe Cup victory in 2002.
Holloway said Jones’s unwavering optimism was motivating the team, who are massive underdogs against the unbeaten All Blacks.
“I think his optimism has been great, he is constantly filling the boys full of confidence around their own ability, but also the team’s ability to perform,” Holloway said.
“Coming off a couple of disappointing losses hasn’t changed with him, he’s been consistent every day and he sets really high standards for us and it motivates us to change our mentality for for the betterment of the team.”
Flogged for three days in their camp on the Gold Coast, Hollow ay said he’d never trained harder before a Test but felt it was reaping more than physical rewards.
“It’s almost brought a self belief of that we can go beyond what we’re used to do doing, we can push the boundaries that our bodies can do this,” the 30-year-old said.
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“It’s brought a huge amount of belief amongst the group but we’ve got to back it up on Saturday – it won’t mean anything because we will go back to the drawing board if we don’t get the results all we’re looking for.”
He said Jones was trying to rid the players of some “bad habits” – namely dwelling on mistakes rather than looking for the next opportunity.
Holloway will play alongside Tom Hooper (6’6, 122kg), the new face in the back row.
Veteran flanker Michael Hooper wasn’t considered due to a calf injury, while his burly namesake got the nod over Fraser McReight.
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Holloway said he was excited to see what the young Brumbies bull brought to the role, having only played one Super Rugby Pacific match at openside flanker.
Tom Hooper started at six against South Africa but was a mid-match casualty with a shoulder injury.
“He’s been jumping out of his skin to be back in the fold,” Holloway said of the 21-year-old.
“It’s interesting because he’s not a traditional Australian seven but I have no doubt the work he gets through and his mentality towards the game – he loves being in everything so I can’t wait to see him have a crack.”
WALLABIES:
1. Angus Bell
2. David Porecki
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Nick Frost
5. Will Skelton
6. Jed Holloway
7. Tom Hooper
8. Rob Valetini
9. Tate McDermott
10. Carter Gordon
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Jordan Petaia
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase
15. Andrew Kellaway
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Jordan Uelese
17. James Slipper
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Richie Arnold
20. Rob Leota
21. Nic White
22. Quade Cooper
23. Izaia Perese
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
3 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
3 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
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