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Australia may complain about 'illegal' Irish blocks
Australia are considering lodging a complaint with match officials against, what they consider, Ireland’s illegal blocking tactics on full-back Israel Folau, according to Wallabies attack coach Stephen Larkham.
Ireland edged the second Test 26-21 in Melbourne last Saturday to set up a decider in the three-match series, but their treatment of Folau and slowing down of Australia’s ball at the breakdown, has infuriated the hosts.
“It’s in our hands, it’s something that we have to sit down with the referees and discuss,” Larkham said. “They might have a different opinion and every team in world rugby uses it and every team in Super Rugby uses it as well.
“But for us, I think it’s two-fold. It’s one, getting the kicks accurate, so that our chasers aren’t running between two or three guys, and then to bring it to the referees’ attention just to make sure that everything is legal there.
“I think Ireland did a fantastic job at slowing the ball down and again you’ve got to look at their tactics and say: ‘Is it something we need to bring up with the referee?’.”
The 44-year-old admitted Australia’s kicking was particularly poor in Melbourne, but was confident the side would improve for the series decider in Sydney on Saturday.
“There’s putting the ball out, there’s execution and accuracy of our kicks, and then looking at our chase line and how we can fix that,” he said.
Meanwhile, New South Wales Waratahs scrum-half Jake Gordon has joined the squad in place of Will Genia, who will miss the next six weeks with a broken arm.
“He’s an integral part of the team, there’s no doubt about that, he’s part of our strategy group and he’s had a very good combination there with the forward pack and the back line,” Larkham said of Genia before Gordon was included in the side.
“He’s definitely a big loss but in saying that, we’ve got really good experience in Nick Phipps and Joe Powell’s been around the team now for the past 12 months, but we’ll have to bring someone else into the team now.”
Elsewhere, Danny Wilson has pulled out of a move to join Wasps next season after being confirmed as Scotland’s new forwards coach.
The former Cardiff Blues head coach had been due to join the English club as an assistant this summer, but will instead join the Scottish ranks as support for Gregor Townsend.
Wilson will replace the outgoing Dan McFarland, who is set to join Pro14 side Ulster, after a deal was agreed with Wasps to let him join Scotland ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The Welshman comes off the back of a successful campaign with Cardiff – his third at the helm – in which he led the Blues to European Challenge Cup glory and secured Champions Cup qualification in the process.
He will join Townsend’s coaching staff in August after their tour of the Americas where they have won one and lost one.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure Danny’s services and would like to thank Wasps and Dai Young [Wasps director of rugby] for enabling that to happen,” Townsend told Scottish Rugby.
“Danny has a lot of technical knowledge around the scrum, the line-out and the contact area, which is primarily the role he’ll perform in our coaching set-up.
“He also brings much more to our group through his experience as a head coach at senior club level and under-20 level, helping teams and individuals reach their potential.
“We’re coming into a period where we’ll have more time with the players, particularly in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup in 2019, and I believe he’ll have a really positive impact on an already really good group of forwards and continue to make that a strength for Scotland.”
The appointment could mean McFarland’s departure is hastened, with his move to Ulster initially pencilled in for January but, with Wilson due to join up with the squad in August, it could be that Townsend’s long-term number two moves on ahead of schedule.
It will leave Wasps looking for a replacement for Wilson, who was set to work under Young next season, but the lure of a World Cup was too much to turn down.
“To coach international rugby and go to a Rugby World Cup is obviously the pinnacle of the sport and the goal of most professional coaches. It was, therefore, a huge honour to be identified by Scotland and offered this role,” said Wilson.
“This has, obviously, been a little unexpected and happened very quickly, so I’d like to thank Dai Young and Wasps for their consideration and understanding of this situation and wish them the very best of luck for the future.”
Young added in a statement: “This is a big disappointment for us.
“In addition, the timing could not be much worse. Finding someone of Danny’s quality and experience, who is available at this time of year to supplement our existing coaching team, is a difficult proposition.
“Disappointing as this is, I understand that the opportunity to coach a tier one international side through to and beyond the World Cup would always be difficult to turn down, as opportunities like this do not come around very often.”