One Percenters: Philip's injury boost and why Wallabies are 'scary proposition' according to AB great Read

Fri, Mar 3, 2023, 2:21 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

With so many players and clubs doing media each day, it can be hard to keep on top of a lot of the stories coming out.

Rugby is filled with them across all levels of the game and whilst most are covered through some form of media, there are others that might have slipped off the radar as the build towards Super Round dominates discussions.

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One Percenters looks at everything you might have missed from the week of Rugby.

Philip hopeful of Rebels return

Wallabies lock Matt Philip is eyeing a return to Super Rugby for the later rounds as he continues to recover from a ruptured ACL.

Philip did the injury on the eve of the Wallabies' departure for the Spring Tour after a lineout went wrong.

Returning from ACL injuries can take up to a year, however, Philip is optimistic he can play some part in the Rebels' 2023 season.

'I’m coming back hopefully last four games of the season,” Philip said to Rugby.com.au

“I’d be pretty happy if I got to play at least four games for the Rebels this season.”

Stats to stun

In the modern game, there has never been a time when stats have been more rich and more available to clubs, coaches and fans.

As data continued to develop, take a look at some of the more interesting and unique stats heading into the second round of Super Rugby Pacific, courtesy of Opta.

  • The Force have won their last three consecutive games, their longest streak since 2014
  • On the flip side, the club have lost 13 of their last 16 games against Australian teams in Super Rugby competitions
  • The Hurricanes have won eight of their last nine matches against the Rebels. Expect a blowout either way: their last ten match-ups have been decided by 10+ points
  • The Drua are looking to record back-to-back wins for their first time ever. However, they have lost four of their last five against Australian teams, falling to reach 20 points in three of their last four.
  • Both teams love ball in play, with the Drua (14) and Waratahs (15) recording the joint-fewest and third-fewest kicks in play from the opening round
  • Meanwhile, the Blues will be looking for back-to-back wins over the Brumbies in Australia for the first time since 2000
  • The Brumbies' discipline carried them to victory against the Waratahs, the least penalised (7) in round one and six fewer than the Blues (13)
Wallabies ‘scary proposition’ under Jones - Read

All Blacks great Kieran Read has heaped praise on Eddie Jones and the Wallabies, believing they can shock some teams in 2023.

Read felt the influence Jones can have on a side when England knocked NZ out of the 2019 semi-finals and whilst not believing the Wallabies will replicate these fortunes, the former Crusaders skipper was confident he can have a sudden impact.

"It's a scary proposition. He is a world renowned coach at international level. What he did with England when he first took over them, they didn't lose for 16 (17) games, so he has that immediate impact," Read said on The Breakdown

"That could certainly revive a bit of what Australia can do. I don't see them going on and winning big games in a World Cup, but he will have an impact on them."

Everywhere he's gone to, the next 12-16 months he's improved the teams that he's gone to, and we know he goes alright at a World Cup," former Sevens star and pundit Karl Te Nana added.

"I'm scared because these Aussies have already shown us that when they get it right... in Melbourne (last year), they should have tipped us up, let's be honest. I'll be interested because Eddie is old school, and it'll be interesting to see how these newer players in Australia adapt or react to Eddie's ways."

Gleeson’s unique Fiji experience

Waratahs backrower Langi Gleeson has given a hilarious insight into playing in Fiji as they prepare to face the Drua.

Super Round means the NSW side will once again dodge a trip to Fiji, with their corresponding fixture in 2022 played on the Gold Coast

Gleeson, who has Fijian heritage, got a taste of it with Australia A during the Pacific Nations Cup and opened up on the 'shock' he received.

“It’s funny because I know a bit of Fijian so I could hear them swearing on the sidelines,” he laughed

“It was really good. It was a shock but good experience, especially playing in that heat. 35 degrees isn’t good when you’re wearing headgear, it’s like a sauna in there.

“I loved playing every second of it.”

Social post of the week

Sevens fans would've noticed a familar surname running out for Japan at the LA Sevens, with Josua Kerevi, brother of Samu, making his International debut.

Kerevi and Japan did Australia a huge favour by upsetting Kenya in torrential conditions, ensuring their place in the finals.

Samu was quick to congratulate his older brother as he continues his rehab.

"Gods Plan 🙏🏾 Long road to get here, thank you for the sacrifices Tutua, we couldn’t be more prouder," he said via social media

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