Rugby News: Wallabies star signs long-term Tahs deal, 'phenomenal' Lynagh starts for Reds, Foster anger at ABs coach 'distraction'

Angus Bell has given the Waratahs a big boost ahead of the opening round of Super Rugby, committing to a long-term deal with the club.

The 22-year-old prop has already won 20 test caps – and it could have been more but for a toe injury suffered against England last year.

Bell’s signing comes a day after the huge news that Taniela Tupou is recommitting to Australian rugby – but leaving the Reds for the Rebels.

“I’m really excited and grateful to continue my journey here in Australia and at the Waratahs, over the next four years,” Bell said in a statement.

“The Waratahs is like a second home to me and where I started my professional career. I’ve got long family ties here, with my dad also playing for the Waratahs, so it’s pretty special for myself and my family that I’ll continue to wear sky blue.

“It’s an exciting time for the Waratahs and rugby in Australia and I’m looking forward to continuing to do my best for both the Waratahs and the Wallabies.”

Waratahs coach Darren Coleman and Wallabies coach Eddie Jones were excited with his decision.

“Angus is a special player, and he’s an important part of our plans for the future,” said Coleman. 

“He’s a hard worker, and his commitment to the team and his development is impressive. We’re looking forward to seeing him continue to grow and make a huge impact on the field for us in 2023.”

Jones said: “Angus is a promising young player and his long-term commitment to Australian Rugby is a real positive for the game and its supporters.”

“He has the potential to be an important part of this year’s World Cup campaign and we’re looking forward to him working hard at Super Rugby level.

“He’s born-and-bred Sydney and a real example of the pathway systems working in Australia.”

Lynagh to start SRP campaign

Tom Lynagh has been rewarded for some strong trial form by winning the battle to wear the Reds No.10 jersey in the opening match against the Hurricanes this weekend.

The son of Wallabies legend Michael, steps into his dad’s famous jersey with Lawson Creighton on the bench.

Reds captain Tate McDermott told Wide World of Sports that Lynagh has a “world class kicking game. Not only out of hand but also kicking at goal which is really handy. And a player that can kick for touch so accurately as well is a game changer.”

McDermott added: “Tommy’s growth has been phenomenal. He’s a quieter guy, very young coming from boarding school in England, straight into the Reds. So you can imagine the transition, it was obviously pretty tough for him and very different to what he’s used to.

“But his performance against the Tahs (in a trial) sums up what he’s all about. He’s tough.

He’s not the biggest guy but he put his body on the line, communicated very well and he steered the ship around. He’s obviously got big shoes to fill in James O’Connor there.

“Looking forward to seeing that battle with Lawson Creighton as well. But yeah, Tommy is a special player and he’ll keep getting better. Good for the club. He’s got everything to be a world class player and we’ve just got to keep giving him confidence and belief.”

Foster frustrated by ABs process

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has been on the interview circuit this week and made his unhappiness clear about how New Zealand Rugby is handling the process to name a coach for after the World Cup.

After a revealing interview in the New Zealand Herald, Foster doubled down on Newstalk’s ZB on Wednesday, saying the decision to announce the next All Blacks coach before this year’s World Cup has become a distraction for the team.

Foster believes he has little chance of continuing, although he made it clear he would like to be given the chance if the All Blacks were to win the trophy in France. It is believed NZR are set on naming the coach for 2024 and beyond in the next month.

“I think it’s pretty highly unlikely that I will be in this job next year, but I keep getting asked about it if am I going to apply,” Foster said.

“The big question is what’s the best thing for the All Blacks in 2023. And for me, the team comes first and I want to express their view.

“I’m reading the tea leaves and I think it looks like there’s a mood for a change. And, so for me, I’d like to put energy into that at the end of the year. Not now. My sole focus is on the World Cup and quite frankly, I think it’s highly unlikely that I’m going to be the next All Blacks coach anyway. But that’s, that to me is not my concern.”

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and Japan coach Jamie Joseph are considered frontrunners to challenge Foster for the job and the incumbent believes NZR is favouring Robertson after Razor’s comments recently.

“This is becoming more of a debate about who’s going to apply then what’s the right thing for the team,” said Foster. “And for me, I know there’s going to be some people going to make decisions, I respect that and I respect whatever decision is made. But I believe I owe it to our team to say what I felt was the right thing for the All Blacks in a World Cup year,” he added.

Two weeks ago Robertson told media that the “next two weeks is big”.

“I’m pretty sure they’ve got a clear idea and you know and that’s up to them to voice that. But it does seem to be reasonably obvious. I thought there was an interview with the coach last week that made it look like there was already plans in place to go early. And that was frustrating to hear that from another voice,” Foster said.

“Absolutely I can. And I’ll give everyone 100 percent commitment about that. It’s not like there’s gonna be bucket loads of excuses afterwards, but I also don’t believe in my own words of putting distractions unnecessarily on our shoulders, going into what I think is going to be a massive World Cup and a massive challenge,” he told Hosking.

“And for me and my team is we just want to go in and have clean air right through this year and not have people in my group making decisions on which regime they want to be part of and how that’s going to work and the maneuvering that goes around that.”

Force ‘pushing to win’ SRP title

New Western Force skipper Michael Wells has declared his desire to lead the team to this season’s Super Rugby Pacific title, saying aiming for anything less would be aiming for mediocrity.

The youth-laden Force are being widely tipped to finish near the bottom of the ladder, with some betting markets even rating them a 100-1 chance of winning the title.

The Force’s hopes of bucking the odds were dealt a big blow this week when it was revealed star lock Izack Rodda would be sidelined for at least the first part of the season after re-injuring his right foot.

But the dire external predictions haven’t doused the belief of Wells, who has high hopes for the Force in their first season under new coach Simon Cron. 

“We’re not just pushing for finals, we’re pushing to win the competition,” Wells said.

“If you’re just here to participate, you shouldn’t bother.

“We’re not here just to make up the numbers … we’re here to win comps.

“Yes, it’s a lofty goal. But without lofty expectations and lofty goals, what are we?

“We (would be) challenging mediocrity (if we weren’t aiming high). The expectation is to start winning games, and it starts in round one.”

That round-one encounter will see Wells confront his former Melbourne Rebels mates in a highly anticipated clash at HBF Park on Saturday night.

Wells captained the Rebels last season and he has now been entrusted with guiding an inexperienced Force outfit bristling with young talent.

The 29-year-old still has many good mates at the Rebels, but those friendships will be put to one side on Saturday night.

“Whatever friendliness happened, as soon as you cross the line, it’s gone,” he said.

“Some of my best mates – I have no harm in trying to tackle them and put my shoulder straight through them. It’s what’s expected of me here.

“I’ve been talking to Richard Hardwick consistently, I was a groomsman at his wedding.

“I talk with them (my ex-teammates) consistently.

“A lot of the chat isn’t about rugby. Not a lot of it is about, ‘I’m coming to smash you this week, I’ll be looking for you there’.

“But they know first phase around the corner where I’ll be. They’re well aware that my left and right shoulder are available for them if they need it.”

Gatland expects game to proceed

Warren Gatland is confident Wales’ clash with England on Saturday will go ahead and hopes the dispute between his players and the Welsh Rugby Union will be resolved.

Wales’ players have threatened to go on strike over a contract dispute, placing the Six Nations showdown in Cardiff in doubt.

When asked on Tuesday if he was confident it would go ahead, Gatland said: “Absolutely, yeah. I’m hearing positive things from both sides.

“I’m confident that with the discussions taking place, that it will get resolved today. There have been half-a-dozen meetings over the last few days or so.”

However, Gatland was forced to postpone Wales’ team announcement – due at lunchtime on Tuesday – until Thursday because of the stand-off.

When asked if he had been given assurances the round three match at the Principality Stadium would take place, Gatland replied: “Not at the moment.”

Talks between negotiators of a new six-year financial agreement – the Professional Rugby Board – and Welsh professional players had been due to take place on Wednesday.

The players want Wales’ minimum 60-cap selection rule for those plying their trade outside the country to be scrapped, a voice at PRB meetings and a review of proposed fixed-variable contracts.

Those contracts would guarantee a player only 80 per cent of their salary, with the remaining 20 per cent comprising bonuses, and is the players’ major grievance.

No long-form agreement between the Welsh Rugby Union and Wales’ four professional regions – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – has yet been agreed in writing, mean players whose contracts expire at the end of this season cannot be offered new deals.

Gatland insists the dispute could provide additional motivation as Wales look to claim their first win of the Six Nations after suffering comprehensive defeats against Ireland and Scotland.

It is the first time for 16 years that Wales have lost their first two championship games.

“Hopefully everyone will turn up on Thursday, raring to go on Saturday. It’s been a bit of a challenge but sometimes that galvanises people and brings them together,” the New Zealander said.

“In fairness to the players, at training this morning they put their training heads on and trained well. We had a good week last week in terms of working the players incredibly hard and they responded well to that.

“There are big things going on, we’re aware of that, but we’re pleased with how they’ve trained.

“Discussions are taking place today and hopefully the players will be happy with the outcome.

“Things will hopefully get resolved today and we can just focus on the game on Saturday.”