Melbourne Rebels players to be included in Wallabies 2011 Rugby World Cup team
The newly established Australian Super Rugby derby, Melbourne Rebels, will be relieved after Australia Rugby Union announced that that player from the debutant team will be included in the Wallabies Rugby World Cup squad despite the squad’s bad performance
in their inaugural season.
The Melbourne Rebels failed to deliver in their opening season and ended up the championship last on the points table. They started off the season in an impressive way and won three matches out of their five initial outgoings but lost the momentum afterwards
and collapsed in the later stages of tournament.
The Rebels as a unit have failed to impress rugby critics; however, few individuals were able to attract the attention of Australian Rugby Union’s selectors. The head coach of Australian national team, Robbie Deans, told reporters on June 25 that there are
a few players in Melbourne’s roster who will be included in the preliminary 40 member squad.
Revealing the names of the players, Deans said that Jarrod Saffy, Cooper Vuna, Nick Phipps and Hugh Pyle will be considered for the Wallabies World Cup squad for their brilliant display in the Super Rugby competition.
The Wallaby coach especially praised Nick Phipps, who won the Australia’s Rookie Super Rugby player of the Year award on June 23. Phipps joined the Rebels last year and played a full season for his team. Deans praised him and said that, “The great thing
was that he was showing that he was capable of pressing him. He's had the courage and been prepared to try things during games and he's got better and better … In terms of ranking, everyone has an opinion, which is great, and I guess you'll see ours soon,''
He further said that, “There's a number of blokes who have caught our eye … we've had to put in a preliminary 50 with the IRB, which we will confirm at the end of the month, and I can assure you there are players from that end of the world that are involved.”
Australia will name its final 30 member squad on August 18, for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
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