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'We have circled the wagons and not allow anything to affect the environment'
Robin McBryde says there has been a feeling of Wales “circling the wagons” following the Rob Howley affair. McBryde’s fellow Wales assistant coach Howley was sent home from the World Cup earlier this week for an alleged breach of World Rugby’s betting regulations.
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“The intensity of our training Wednesday was the best it has ever been,” forwards specialist McBryde said. “There was a little bit of a feeling of circling the wagons and not allow anything to affect the environment.”
Howley, 48, has returned to Wales to assist with an investigation in relation to a potential breach of World Rugby regulation six, specifically betting on rugby union.
Along with McBryde, he has been a member of head coach Warren Gatland’s staff for several years. McBryde and Howley are also former Wales team-mates. McBryde added: “It’s tough. We have been together for a long time.
“It’s unfortunate that he [Howley] has to go through this. He’s been a great servant. He’s a good man and a good friend. It’s sad to see someone have to go through it.”
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McBryde said he had spoken with Howley before his departure from Wales’ Kitakyushu training base. “He was keen to break the news to the other coaches, rather than us finding out second-hand. He did that.
“We definitely can’t wait to get going (against Georgia on Monday). We need to start talking about rugby again. The sooner this first game starts… once it [the World Cup] does kick-off, then there is a full weekend of rugby. That will get the ball rolling, and then the days and weeks will pass by.”
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McBryde, meanwhile, has tipped Dragons flanker Aaron Wainwright to enjoy an outstanding international career. Wainwright, 21, looks set to make a World Cup debut in the Georgia game, and McBryde has been gushing in his praise.
The 2019 @rugbyworldcup is about to start on Friday and @alexshawsport power ranks all the 20 teams https://t.co/QK0oiz4juU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 19, 2019
“I don’t like to compare people to other players, but he is very reminiscent of a young Sam Warburton with the way he carries the ball,” McBryde said. “Both in attack and defence, he’s very physical. He enjoys that part of the game. He could even be better than Sam, though.
“He’s definitely a player with that growth still there. He’s still learning the game. He’s in fantastic condition. He has put some good weight on and he’s able to maintain that weight with all the running we’ve done. His skills work is still on the up, and set-piece work as well. He’s going to be around for a number of years.”
– Press Association
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments