Wallabies captain, Stephen Moore and recalled centre Matt Giteau are poised to win their 100th caps in their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Scotland.
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But after the 36-hour window to cite players following a game passed, the Australian will be free to play in this Sunday’s quarter-final against Scotland, should he be passed fit.
The reward for the Wallabies was a quarter-final clash with Scotland which edged out Samoa 33-30, and also the knowledge they had avoided a semi-final showdown with World Cup heavyweights South Africa and the All Blacks.
“It tends to be the way it goes”, he pondered when asked if it rankled that Scotland were being written off. “We always seem to be up against it and everyone does write us off. But I think the Scottish culture thrives on that”.
“What I do know is that Vern Cotter is a very clever coach”.
Horne, one of the team’s toughest competitors and a renowned defensive threat, did contact drills during Wednesday’s training session and acquitted himself well. Australia’s 15-6 win over Wales, by contrast, was characterised by a few magnificent defence, above all when the winners were down to 13 men because of a double sin-binning. “We lost by a point and I went on with eight minutes to go”, Giteau said.
Sharp has nothing but praise for his former Queensland Reds and Wallabies team mate, telling Fairfax that Moore’s leadership abilities combined with Michael Cheika’s coaching are the keys to the revitalised Wallabies.
“I just trust he’s OK knowing that he brilliant loved ones are OK, that’s more valuable compared to rugby”. If Scotland can do that, he believes, a third victory in four matches against the Wallabies beckons.
“The disappointment (against Japan), and they haven t had a great 12 months as a side, but when it s mattered and people have criticised them it shows the character they have got”, the New Zealander added.
“I’m very proud of my Irish background, but I was certainly brought up as an Australian and I’m very proud to get the opportunity to play for Australia”.
“He’s back in training, we’re trying to see if he’ll be available for this week’s game”, Cheika said. “If you’ve got a really tight team, you’ll go that extra yard I suppose”, Giteau said. Here, Rob Lloyd picks out what we learned from the fascinating game at Twickenham.
“Not only play to their potential but be the best person you can be”.
“You’ll make that extra tackle when normally you might stay down”.
“You can t get away with a bad game. We are a top team and we are happy to work for each other”, Giteau said.
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He will, on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT), line up alongside Moore as part of an extra-special milestone match.
