England v Australia
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Pocock out of the 23.
Wallabies superstar David Pocock will miss this weekend's Test against England, forced out of the team with a neck injury.The no. 8 had a last-minute run on Friday morning in London but failed that test and ultimately Australia opted to rule him out. Pocock has had neck issues all season and it was a similar injury that forced him out of the Wallabies clash with South Africa in Brisbane in September. This latest aggravation came from a hit in the Wallabies' 26-7 win over Italy last weekend in Padova.While the Wallabies are yet to confirm a replacement, it had been expected Pete Samu would replace Pocock in the back row, the third time in his debut season that he has been drafted into the starting side to replace either Pocock or captain Michael Hooper. Interestingly, Pocock's withdrawal could open the door for Kurtley Beale to return to the team after being initially left out of the team in a 6-2 bench. -
Wallabies stars Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper were not eligible for selection in Saturday’s Test against England after breaking team protocol following the Wales match in Cardiff a fortnight ago.
A Wallabies spokesperson confirmed Beale and Ashley-Cooper, two of senior figures in the team, were not considered for selection because they invited three women back to their hotel in Newport, just out of Cardiff, on the night of Australia’s 9-6 loss to Wales.
Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kurtley Beale were not eligible for selection in this weekend's Test against England after breaking team protocol.
Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kurtley Beale were not eligible for selection in this weekend's Test against England after breaking team protocol. Credit:Stuart Walmsley/RUGBY.com.au
It has emerged one of the women was Ashley-Cooper’s sister-in-law. The others are believed to be her friends.
The women were out of the hotel by 10.30pm but Wallabies team rules state guests are not allowed in players' rooms.
Initially Cheika wanted to keep the issue under wraps, and that was no more evident than his confusing explanation as to why Beale was not included in Wallabies’ matchday 23 to take on England.
Cheika became aware of the issue on Monday, some nine days after the women were brought back to the hotel.
The pair were sanctioned after the leadership group involving Michael Hooper, David Pocock, Allan Alaalatoa, Samu Kerevi and Nick Phipps decided to alert the Wallabies coach about what had happened.
Beale was not even called up as a replacement player after David Pocock was ruled out. Pete Samu will now slot into the No.8 position, with Marika Koroibete to join spare backs Nick Phipps and Sefa Naivalu on a 5-3 bench.
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@daffy-jaffy Whilst team protocols may have been broken, this sounds as though it is something that needed to be dealt with lightly and in house.
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@catogrande said in England v Australia:
@daffy-jaffy Whilst team protocols may have been broken, this sounds as though it is something that needed to be dealt with lightly and in house.
Michael Hooper, David Pocock, Allan Alaalatoa, Samu Kerevi and Nick Phipps decided to alert the Wallabies coach about what had happened
Snitches get stitches
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@daffy-jaffy said in England v Australia:
one of the women was Ashley-Cooper’s sister-in-law. The others are believed to be her friends.
The women were out of the hotel by 10.30pm
So dropping them for a test and humiliating the guys seems proportionate ...
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a breach of team protocol for something like that certainly should be dealt with in house.
NOt only dropped, but you are shamed for breaking a team rule, definitely disproportionate punishment.
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That has to be one of the most pathetic reasons for dropping two players I've ever read. I mean...sister in law, out by 10.30pm...
This could have been a quiet fine/censure, easily. Instead, it's now a THING, and that Wallabies 'leadership group' comes across as bunch of complete wowsers. Were any laws broken? No. Anyone hurt? No. Anything busted? No. Australian rugby brought into disrepute? No. Then jog on, for fuck's sake.
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@mokey you could argue NOW Aussie rugby bought into disrepute showing the 'leadership team' as pathetically small minded pedantic tell tales!
Hell, as the leadership team surely they could have just dealt with it without even involving Krusty, make them do 1000 burpees or something!
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Haha look at that leadership group!! Just further evidence of how fucked the wallabies are.
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England should be out of sight.
And Barnes should be put out to pasture.
He's like this character
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And Folau bamboozles the English defence
England 13 - 10 Australia
36 mins goneGame On
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England starting to unravel and Australia remembering how to play rugby.
Going to be an interesting second half.
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Fuck me Farrell should be off and Penalty Try.
Fucking joke.
Peyper didn't give it because the ball carrier led with the shoulder.
Peyper you fucking muppet.
England 13 - 13 Australia
Half-time -
Fair call, I thought. Aussie lock barged into him...
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@disgusted-of-tw said in England v Australia:
Fair call, I thought. Aussie lock barged into him...
Comedy Gold
Farrell knew exactly what he was doing -
Bracing himself for impact. Be reasonable, Mike ;0)
Pocock out of Twickenham Test, Samu to start
