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Chabal passed fit by Sale

Chabal left the field with a neck injury during the Sharks' EDF Energy Cup victory over Bath on Friday.
The 29-year-old number eight had routine checks over the weekend but felt better and was given the all-clear by medical staff to return to action in
Thursday's match.

Chabal had been making his first appearance of the season for the club, after returning from World Cup duty.

He is expected to be joined in the Sharks side this week by two more World Cup players, in Jason White and Mark Cueto.

Full-back Rory Lamont, who missed the Bath clash with an ankle injury, is also hoping to feature.

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Gatland has admitted he is "very interested" in filling the void left by Gareth jenkins who was sacked after Wales' disappointing Rugby World Cup campaign.
The former Ireland and Wasps boss, who is currently in charge of New Zealand side Waikato, has met with Welsh Rugby Union officials to discuss the position.

Gatland, who watched Wasps' EDF Energy Cup clash with Gloucester yesterday, said: ``We have a few things to work out.

``Nothing is finalised but we are fairly close. They are fairly keen to have me and I am very interested in the job.

``The challenge is appealing. The scene is a lot like New Zealand, it's a goldfish bowl.

``I loved Britain. I had a fantastic time here and really enjoyed it.

``If it comes off, I could not be joining at a better time. They are 10th in the world and the only way is up.

``And what a start, against England at Twickenham in the Six Nations.

``I hope to have made my mind up before I return to New Zealand next week. I have a few things to discuss with my family."

Newspaper reports at the weekend revealed that Gatland met with Wales Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Roger Lewis and chairman David Pickering in Cardiff last week.

An eyewitness to the meeting told the Wales on Sunday newspaper, "They were deep in conversation but didn't seem to mind that they could be seen. They were sat right next to the window and chatting like they were old friends.

"Roger Lewis and Gatland were the two who appeared to be really hitting it off. It seemed quite informal -- they were all in casual clothes and when they left Lewis and Gatland were still talking away as they walked out."

The New Zealander is reported to be on a three-man shortlist for the job and an announcement is expected to be made before the end of the month.

Jake White, South Africa's World Cup-winning coach, and Crusaders mentor Robbie Deans, who recently announced his desire to coach the All Blacks, are understood to be the others on the list.

Both men have distanced themselves from the Wales job publicly this week but are still in the frame for the job.

Lewis declined to comment on whether Gatland was now the WRU's top target.

"We have talked to people this week," Lewis said.

"We now have a shortlist of three candidates for the role."

Gatland recently relinquished his role as assistant coach of Super 14 franchise the Chiefs.

The former Ireland coach, who lifted the Heineken Cup with London Wasps, is being viewed as the perfect fit for Wales' new era.

If Gatland is appointed he will be the third Kiwi coach in less then 10 years to coach Wales and follows in the footsteps of Graham Henry and Steve Hansen.

He is understood already to have spoken to New Zealander Andrew Hore, the favourite to fill the WRU's elite performance director role.

Hore's position has reportedly been complicated by a late bid by his current employers the New Zealand Rugby Union to keep him at home.

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An NRL Premiership winner with Newcastle in 2001, Tahu joins the Waratahs from Parramatta, where he played the last 46 of his 143 career matches.
Tahu, also a veteran of 11 State of Origin matches for NSW and five Tests for Australia, says he’s glad to get out on the training paddock after months of anticipation.

“It was a tough start but it’s always good to blow out the cobwebs,” Tahu said.

“First day back is always a bit tight and today was no different, I’ve never done a running drill like that one before.

“I’ve been warmly welcomed by the boys, which really took a load off.

“I’ve played against Sam Harris when he was at the Eagles and I’ve met Kurtley (Beale) once but apart from that I knew no-one so it’s good to get this one out of the way.”

Beale, who trained alongside Tahu on day one, said it was a thrill to have him on board.

“Very exciting, yeah, just to train with a guy of his standing in sport,” Beale said.

“He’s going to be a great person to have around the team.”

Tahu spoke at length with a large media contingent following the running portion of the test, and said he intends to spend the coming months learning the game rather than worrying about where he will play.

“I’ve been earmarked for the centres but I’m not overly concerned where I line up,” he said.

“I’m just looking forward to getting some training under my belt over the next couple of months and the rest will look after itself.”

Tahu was joined in training by fellow newcomers Ben Batger, Matt Carraro and Ben Mowen, along with Professional Academy recruits Adam Byrnes, Laurie Weeks, Chris Thomson, Andrew Smith, and Australian Schoolboy star Robert Horne.

“It was a good start for the 2008 squad,” HSBC Waratahs head coach Ewen McKenzie said.

“Everyone who was fit to train did well, which is a positive sign for next year.

“I was particularly pleased with the effort of the new players in the squad, they’re all very keen to do well and showed that today.”

The Waratahs Rugby World Cup representatives return to training in December.

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Mitchell was speaking as his side re-grouped for the start of their pre-season preparations that will see all but the squad's Wallabies undergoing fitness testing and medical screening.
“We now have enough experience, self belief and the benefit of having dealt with adversity and success to know what we need to do,” commented the Force supremo who guided his side to a 7th place finish on this year's log.

“To make further progress, we must raise our expectations and perform more consistently, and if we don’t do that, we should be rightly criticized.”

For the Force today was ‘day one’ of a 14 and a half week training and preparation program which includes trials against the Crusaders in Melbourne and the Reds at Members Equity Stadium, and culminates in the opening fixture against the Sharks in Durban on February 15.

The new face at today’s testing session was Australian U19 lock Sam Wykes, while ET Perth Spirit winger Nick Cummins and lock Scott Fardy enter the Emirates Western Force squad for the first time, as do Firepower RugbyWA Academy players James Stannard and Kieran Longbottom.

Australia A Schools and Hale School outside back Dane Haylett-Petty will join the squad in between exams, while former Brumbies flanker Tamaiti Horua and Australian Schools inside back James O’Connor will arrive in Perth in January.

The five Wallabies – Nathan Sharpe, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Scott Staniforth and Cameron Shepherd – will rejoin the squad sporadically over the next seven weeks leading up to the Christmas break.

“I want this team to perform,” added Mitchell.

“The progress we have made in a relatively short period has won us respect but it’s time we got more than just a pat on the back,” he said.

During the trial phase, the Emirates Western Force will play the Crusaders in Melbourne on Saturday 2 February and the Reds at Members Equity Stadium on Thursday 7 February.

The 2008 Investec Super 14 squad for the Emirates Western Force is as follows: