#360Rugby: NZ prepare for RWC, Toulon bemoan Champions Cup draw

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  • RWC ambitions: The All Blacks are arguably the world's strongest international team.

    New Zealand coach Steve Hansen would have needed all of his experience to get the blend right for his latest 41-man Rugby Championship training squad.

    Not only did the stern-faced Kiwi have to choose the correct group of players to win arguably the world’s toughest two international tournaments, but he also needed to protect the future of All Black rugby. And boy, has he done both with aplomb.

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    After this year’s World Cup, there will more than likely be a mass exodus of players retiring, moving overseas or switching codes to sevens for a crack at Rio 2016. It means the All Blacks need to give future internationals experience of tournament rugby to ensure they do not suffer a similar fate as England post-RWC 2003.

    In picking trusted veterans Kevin Mealamu, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, Hansen has a spine of experienced players used to performing under the most intense pressure.

    The squad also reflects the Hurricanes and the Highlanders’ Super Rugby success, with the two franchises providing four of five uncapped players.

    The most exciting rookie to watch out for is fullback-come-winger Nehe Milner-Skudder. While it is unlikely that the young Hurricane will oust incumbent 15 Israel Dagg, he has the ability to step his way out of a phone box untouched and would provide important variation in attack from the bench.

    Toulon head up the Champions Cup group of death
    The dust has barely settled on the inaugural European Champions Cup, but next year’s tournament has already caused a stir.

    Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal was enraged this week when the three-time champions and holders were drawn against Bath, Wasps and Leinster in Group B. To call this a group of death is an understatement given that the four sides have won nine out of 19 European titles combined.

    Never shy to voice his opinion, Boudjellal has proposed that future seeding should take the current champions into consideration alongside the winners of the three domestic leagues.

    In principle, the comic-book tycoon has a valid point. However, once the financial situations of the tournament’s participants are taken into context, it becomes clear that his idea would ruin the league.

    The current, overly-complicated method of qualification centres on having a fair representation of each country. Given that there are budget restrictions on English clubs, the tournament would likely become lopsided with deep-pocketed French teams and the competition would lose some of its charm.

    Springboks absent from Super Rugby semis
    For the first time since 2003 there will be no South African franchises in the Super Rugby semi-finals, which is a hammer blow to the Springbok’s World Cup preparations.

    Coach Heyneke Meyer has predictably shrugged off the African teams’ poor showing in the tournament, insisting ‘teams do not peak from February to October 31’.

    Unfortunately for the former Bulls coach, history proves almost a direct correlation between Super Rugby finishes and subsequent performances in the World Cup.

    When South Africa won the showpiece event in 2007, the team’s success was underpinned by Meyer’s Super Rugby winning Bulls side earlier that year.

    Australia’s World Cup group opponents – including England and Wales – should take notice of the Brumbies and Waratahs’ deserved presence in the semi-finals.

    Cooper’s departure could benefit both player and country
    With all the predictability of similar rugby transfers, Quade Cooper’s move to France has not gone down well at home.

    Following Duane Vermeulen’s ill-timed unveiling at Toulon this week (given his club’s focus on their Super Rugby quarter-final), Cooper has disappointed the Queensland Reds by also signing for the flush French outfit.

    However, the Reds’ loss could be Wallabies’ gain. Under recently revised eligibility rules, a player earning his coin abroad can still represent Australia if they have 60 Test caps and have held an Australian Rugby contract for seven years.

    Quade Cooper is one of the most skilful players to wear a Wallabies jersey.

    Should Australia get to the final of this year’s World Cup and Cooper plays in every game, he will qualify for the 60 cap rule, but will more than likely be allowed to play given his seven-year association with the union.

    Cooper’s departure means a younger Aussie will be groomed as his replacement, while the national side will still be able to call upon a ‘Test veteran’ from France, should they choose to.

    Italian strike settled, but discord highlighted
    Italy’s rugby bosses have brokered a deal to end the players’ strike and put their World Cup preparations back on track.

    In an embarrassing situation for the struggling union, both sides accused the other of cancelling a planned training camp and Italy’s players refused to leave their base in the northern town of Villabassa.

    It is an especially disappointing episode for a country that received plaudits for hosting a superb U-20 Rugby World Cup that ended this month.

    The problem highlights a more significant issue for Italian rugby that holds the nation back from becoming a force in the international game.

    The financial strain on the FIR means that players selected for the national team are rewarded in the majority for their success as a team, rather than for their selection.

    Whilst this provides a large incentive to win, players feel alienated and less committed to training.

    The new financial arrangement of a large base salary on top of performance-related bonuses reflects the needs of a modern professional athlete, but Italy’s challenge will be to sustain the model after the World Cup.

    Extra time: The battle for New Zealand’s centre berths is simmering nicely before the Rugby Championship with Sonny Bill Williams, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu and Malakai Fekitoa battling for places. Unfortunately Chiefs playmaker Andrew Horrell felt the full force of Fekitoa’s desire to take the All Blacks No12 jersey against the Highlanders this week.

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