RuggaMatrix International 006 - What Happened to the Sleeping Giant?

RuggaMatrix returns to the United States this week to answer many questions about the head coaching role that will be vacated by Australia’s Scott Johnson. Our man on the spot in New York Bruce McLane gives us the definitive word on the coaching drama and he also debunks many assumptions about USA Rugby. Les Kiss pops up in Limerick as the Ireland national team gathers for their Six Nations camp. The preliminaries are out of the way for the Heineken Cup and this week attention turns the French Top 14 and Ewen McKenzie’s Stade Francais hosting Perpignan. It’s the biggest game in the world this week – 2nd (Stade) v 3rd (Perpignan). All Black star Dan Carter swoops into Paris with Perpignan for a clash that will see a crowd of 80 000 at Stade de France. The panel checks out the Super 14 trial action from across the southern hemisphere. Our special guest star this week is Queensland centre Morgan Turinui. Turinui speaks to the panel on the eve of the Reds departure for New Zealand to play the Auckland Blues in their second Super 14 trial. He’s as sharp as ever and extremely frank about the recent poor record of the Reds. But is the tide about to turn? There’s plenty to look forward to for Queensland supporters in 2009 and Turinui casts his expert eye across his own squad and the rest of the competition. He also reveals a burning desire to get back into the Wallaby squad, hence his re-signing with the Reds for two years.