Richard Graham confident of Sam Wykes, Kieran Longbottom and Nick Cummins inclusion in Wallabies
Perth based Australian Super Rugby franchise Western Force’s head coach, Richard Graham, has expressed his confidence that three of his players will be included in the Wallabies initial squad for the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC).
Graham has publically announced the Force’s trio of Sam Wykes, Kieran Longbottom and Nick Cummins will be good options for the 2011 RWC probable squad on Tuesday, June 21. The announcement came as the Australian national rugby union team’s head coach, Robbie Deans, is expected to announce the Wallabies 40-man provisional 2011 RWC squad in the next couple of weeks.
Reports are surfacing that the Force’s Nathan Sharpe, Matt Hodgson, David Pocock, Ben McCalman and Richard Brown are already in Deans plans for the 2011 RWC.
Graham’s backing of Wykes , Longbottom and Cummins might help them to earn a place in the Wallabies provisional 2011 RWC squad.
Sam Wykes plays as lock, Kieran Longbottom plays as prop and Nick Cummins plays at the wingers position and all three have delivered some exceptional on-field performances for the Western Force.
Commenting on the performance of the trio in the 2011 Super Rugby championship, Graham said, “A guy that has had a really good season and put himself into contention is Kieran Longbottom, I think he has been fantastic.”
Graham further added that Longbottom was equally supported by the second row forward, Sam Wykes, during the matches and together alongside Nathan Sharpe they were central to the Force’s formidable forwards pack.
Graham has termed his lock Wykes performances as “a model of consistency.” He further added, “At the end of last season, when we talked and we challenged him (Wykes) with what we believed he could deliver, he's done that.”
Wallabies and Forces star international utility forward player, Nathan Sharpe, has also expressed his support for Wykes’ inclusion in the World Cup probables. Sharpe has particularly praised the amount of hard work Wykes has put in to developing his game and also the consistent results that he has delivered in this year’s Super Rugby season.
Sharpe said, “You need a bit of consistency in terms of time on the paddock and Wykesy got that this year. He didn't have those injuries that he's had niggling him for the last couple of years and that's allowed him to develop because he's had time to mould his game more and more each week.”
Sharpe has also praised Wykes work ethics and temperament both on and off the field and termed him a good resource for the club in the future. He further added, “Whether Wykes earns a Wallabies call-up) is out of my hands, but he's had an outstanding season.”
Graham has also backed the winger Cummins after his impressive performance in the season for the club.
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