Former Wallaby Nathan Charles is set to be honoured by Rugby Australia and the Wallabies today.
asserted
Charles → set → Australia
Already the four-Test hooker, who recently revealed he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, has done the toss.
asserted
he → reveal → toss
It’s understood the 37-year-old will stand alongside Harry Wilson and the Wallabies for the national anthem shortly.
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old → understand → anthem
It’s a beautiful afternoon in Sydney.
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It → ’ → Sydney
The men in black have won 12 straight Tests - a record winning streak between the trans-Tasman neighbours - and are coming off the back of a 50-19 thumping at Eden Park last week.
asserted
men → win → Park
Both teams have been struck by injuries, with the All Blacks losing Jordie Barrett on Saturday morning.
asserted
Blacks → strike → morning
Timoci Tavatavanawai - the wrecking-ball Highlanders midfielder, who is brilliant over the ball - has come in at inside centre, with uncapped outside back Chay Fihaki coming onto the bench.
asserted
Fihaki → wreck → bench
The Wallabies, meanwhile, have named 27-year-old Declan Meredith to start in the No.10 jersey in the absence of Ben Donaldson, who was ruled out on Thursday.
asserted
who → name → Thursday
It means the Wallabies’ two playmakers have just four Tests between them compared to the All Blacks - Damian McKenzie (82) and Beauden Barrett (146) - who have 228.
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who → mean → 228
Will that be the telling factor?
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that → tell → ?
Les Kiss defended the decision not to draft in an older experienced playmaker, with Bernard Foley (Waratahs) and James O’Connor (Force) signing short-term deals in Super Rugby next year.
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Foley → defend → Rugby
Here’s what Kiss said:“Right here, right now, I’ve got Declan, and I’ve got Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.
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I → ’ → Phillips
That’s who we have, and we’re going to back them fully.”
asserted
we → ’ → them
Australia’s women were never at the races despite only losing 21-14.
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women → lose → races
The world champions trailed 14-0 at half-time before tryscoring machine Maddi Levi scored two late tries, including one after the full-time siren.
asserted
Levi → trail → siren
Jorja Miller – the queen of women’s sevens – was at her sparkling best, slipping tackles where her twinkle toes.
asserted
Miller → slip → tackles
Earlier, Australia’s men’s sevens team conceded a try on the stroke of full-time to draw 19-all with Fiji.
asserted
team → concede → Fiji
Earlier, the Wallaroos made it two wins on the trot against Scotland.
Having beaten the Six Nations outfit 30-10 in Edinburgh late last month, the Wallaroos never looked troubled and demolished their rivals 56-12 this afternoon.
After running in five first-half tries and leading 35-5 at half-time, Siokapesi Palu’s side ran in another three tries to secure the comfortable win in front of a modest crowd, who took their time making their way into Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
asserted
who → make → Stadium
The Wallaroos conceded the opening try of the day after just four minutes, but then turned it on.
asserted
Wallaroos → concede → it
Hooker Brittany Merlo struck back for the home side, before the Wallaroos’ back three featuring Maya Stewart, Desiree Miller and Amelia Whitaker, all got on the scoresheet.
asserted
three → strike → scoresheet
Teenager Waiaria Ellis then scored the Wallaroos’ fifth try of the first half.
asserted
Ellis → score → half
After Miller crossed again early in the second half, Tim Walsh’s side were made to work harder but were never seriously challenged.
asserted
side → cross → half
Whitaker’s intercept in the 64th minute and 65 metre swerving run then gave the Wallaroos some late momentum, before Eva Karpani scored a try in the final seconds.
asserted
Karpani → swerve → seconds
Already it’s been an action-packed day in Sydney, with the Wallaroos putting away Scotland 56-12.
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Wallaroos → pack → Scotland
Amelia Whitaker was named player of the match.
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Whitaker → name → match
My name is Christy Doran and I’m sitting in the media box alongside my Herald colleagues Tom Decent and Iain Payten.
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I → sit → colleagues
All our game coverage, including Payto’s report and Tommy Decent’s reflections, will be right here this afternoon, so don’t stray too far.
asserted
coverage → include → report
The Aporia
