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Rugby Australia is seeking approval for Australia ‘A’ to play Portugal as a curtain raiser to the Wallabies-France friendly in Paris in late August as part of a broader strategy that will have a 15-man shadow squad based in England during the Rugby World Cup.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/plans-for-wallabies-shadow-squad-to-play-portugal-in-paris-double-header-20230629-p5dkgx.html
wow - that's expensive. Who's paying for that??
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Good to see Issak now in the mix. Only two from the Force in the squad, though...
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/foley-...a-clash-202374Australia A Squad to play Tonga
Lachlan Anderson (Melbourne Rebels)
Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds)
Josh Canham (Melbourne Rebels)
Pone Fa’amausili (Melbourne Rebels)
Folau Fainga’a (Western Force)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force)
Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears)
Josh Flook (Queensland Reds)
Jake Gordon (NSW Waratahs)
Ned Hanigan (NSW Waratahs)
Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs)
Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies)
Cadeyrn Neville (ACT Brumbies)
James O’Connor (Queensland Reds)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Melbourne Rebels)
Ollie Sapsford (ACT Brumbies)
Blake Schoupp (ACT Brumbies)
Lachlan Swinton (NSW Waratahs)
Sam Talakai (Melbourne Rebels)
Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies)
Seru Uru (Queensland Reds)
Rhys Van Nek (ACT Brumbies)
Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs)
Brad Wilkin (Melbourne Rebels)
Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds)
Great to see IFL in the mix.
While a number of Force players can count themselves unlucky, I am not too unhappy that the rest of our squad will be able to play together as a team against the Cheetahs as it will be more beneficial to get game time together.
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
^ Fair enough, Taz, but I'd like to see both of our blokes start against Tonga:
1. Schoupp
2. Fainga'a
3. Pone
4. Canham
5. Neville
6. LSL
7. Wilkin
8. Wilson
9. Finesy
10. Foley
11. Toole
12. JOC
13. Flook
14. Anderson
15. Campbell
If not a World Cup lead in, you would assume that Fainga’a and Foley wouldn't be there?
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Angus Wagner added to Australia A squad, replaces Schoup who has been flown to South Africa.
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Wonder if Corey Toole will feature at the world cup? Could be a sensation.
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
Australia A team to play Tonga at Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa on Friday 14 July, 3:00pm TOT/12pm AEST
1. Tom Lambert
2. Folau Fainga'a
3. Taniela Tupou
4. Lukhan Salakai-Loto
5. Cadeyrn Neville
6. Lachlan Swinton
7. Brad Wilkin
8. Seru Uru
9. Jake Gordon
10. Bernard Foley (c)
11. Corey Toole
12. James O'Connor
13. Joey Walton
14. Lachlan Anderson
15. Jock Campbell
Finishers
16. Lachlan Lonergan
17. Angus Wagner
18. Sam Talakai
19. Ned Hanigan
20. Harry Wilson
21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
22. Ollie Sapsford
23. Josh Flook
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”