Nick Phipps feels his World Cup chances are far from over as he prepares to return to the Shute Shield this weekend.<\/p>\n
Phipps and fellow NSW halfback Jake Gordon missed out on the Wallabies\u2019 34-man squad with Will Genia, Nic White and Joe Powell heading to Africa this week.<\/p>\n
The pair will be playing for Sydney Uni in the Shute Shield on Saturday against Easts, while fellow World Cup aspirant Ned Hanigan will be starting for Randwick.<\/p>\n
White\u2019s return to the Wallabies fold has made the race for World Cup halfback spots as tight as ever but Phipps said he hadn\u2019t lost hope of returning to the squad for Japan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s so much competition for spots at the moment that’s across positions I guess. It’s my turn, unfortunately, to sit out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I’m realistic, I know there’s no way that’s definitely going to be the final makeup of the squad so I’m just going to stay hungry and I\u2019m excited to play some footy and I’m sure i”ll have opportunities down the track to get back in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old said in some ways this speed bump was befitting of his journey since becoming a professional player.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve hardly had the smoothest career in my 10 years so it’d only be fitting for me to have just a little challenge and make me have to force my way back into the squad, so it’s exciting times really. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe silver lining is that I get to play some good footy, spend a bit of extra time with the family before the end of the year where we’re going to be away together the whole time. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s a lot of footy to be played before then.\u201d<\/p>\n
The competition doesn\u2019t stop at Wallabies camp for Phipps, who is also clubmates with Gordon and both will be suiting up for Sydney Uni against Easts on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Gordon will be starting this weekend but the pair are planning on splitting game time equally, in the unique situation of both being in club rugby at the same time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re having a really good time together, we’re great mates off the field, we’ve been rolling the idea of tossing the coin to see who will start,\u201d Phipps laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just want to play 40 each a game and have some fun there and for me especially because I’m leaving (Australian rugby), I want to try and help Jake out as much as possible, try and give him every little bit of experience that I can so that he can lock that down now and then build his own experiences later. <\/p>\n
\u201cI certainly see him as a consistent Wallaby in the future and if I can help him – Cheik gave him a bit of feedback about what he needs to improve – and if I can help improve that for the years ahead then I’ll be really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phipps and Gordon have been training with the other NSW-based extended Wallabies squad members as they work to try and push themselves back into the main squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s good because as a player – we both know what we need to work on so we’ve got lots of time together- even this morning we had Wallaby training until about 11:30 and then we did a fair bit of extras on our kicking and passing and stuff that we need to work on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s really handy that we’ve got each other to lean on because obviously got some disappointing news last week but for the both of us as far as we’re concerned it’s not done yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
That the pair can return to Shute Shield is a positive for Phipps, giving the scrumhalves the chance to generate some consistent form.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the standard of Shute Shield is just so high now that we’re really lucky to have that competition to come back to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can do all the camps and training that you want but it’s no substitute for actually playing games so being able to keep ticking along and keep that game timing and stuff like that really helps I think to keep yourself selectable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney Uni\u2019s crop will be keen for revenge over Easts, who got the better of thier local derby in round one this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey’ve been looking forward to this game for a long time and the preparation of going into it is up there with Super Rugby standard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ll see a few riled up boys – it’s always a fiery clash between Easts and Uni so I’m just really looking forward to being a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eastern Suburbs vs Sydney Uni, Woollahra Oval, 3pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Easts<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Callum King, Lindsey Stevens, Archie Hall, Ryan McCauley, BJ Edwards \/ Jack Turley, William Harris, Rowan Perry, Tim Buchanan \u00a9, Angus Fowler, Archie King, Henry Paterson, Ned Yeomans, Sam Fogarty, William Paterson, Daniel Donato<\/span><\/p>\n Sydney Uni<\/strong><\/p>\n Matt Sandell, Tom Horton, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Matt Philip, Nicholas Champion de Crespigny, Josh Kemeny, Rohan O’Reagan, Jake Gordon, Stu Dunbar, James Kane, Guy Porter, James Armstrong, Harry Potter, Tim Clements<\/p>\n Eastwood vs Gordon, TG MIllner Oval, 3pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Eastwood<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Dean Doumbos, Ed Craig, Rob Lagudi, James Neale, Rhys Allen, Michael Icely, Tevita Piukala, Pat Sio, Mick Snowden, Tayler Adams, Kiti Ratu, Nox Muliufi, Barton Picone, Afa Pakalani, Jackson Bird<\/span><\/p>\n Gordon<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Harry Rorke, Mahe Vailanu, Nick Fraser, Cameron Holt, Jack Margin, Brendan Mitchell, Jack Maguire, Jordy Goddard \u00a9, Jacob Abel, Sean Kearns, Ahmu Tuimalealiifano, Joey Walton, Alex Gregory, Mike Molloy, Alex Barker<\/span><\/p>\n Southern Districts vs Manly, Forshaw Park, 3pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Souths<\/strong><\/p>\n Matt Gibbon, Joe Cotton, Ernesto Urgarte, Jake Douglas, James Hasson, Nathan Lawson, Sam Latunipulu, Harry McLennan, Cooper Chambers, Christian Kagiassis, Tyrrell Naleba , Apo Latinupulu, Denny Godinet, Apaola TeaLama, Daniel Bell<\/p>\n Manly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Sio Tatola, Aaron Blacklock, Conor Davidson, Alex Dalzell, Van Stewart, Alex Humfrey, Luke Crocker, Harry Bergelin, Harry Emery, Nick Holton, Ben Crerar, Beaudein Waaka, Dennis Pili-Gaitau, Jay Baker, Ben Howard<\/span><\/p>\n West Harbour vs Warringah, Concord Oval, 3pm<\/strong><\/p>\n West Harbour<\/strong><\/p>\n Sione Mafi, Raukawa Neems, Vaughn Lomax, Joshua Redfern, Vakautaatu Manu, TBC, Kaliova Nacina, Francis Ieremia Saufoi, Dion Spice, Tiaan Henk Swanepoel, James Turner, Graeme Kolomalu, Tyler Fisher, Tavite Gadeisuva, Noah Cooper<\/p>\n Warringah<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Rory O’Connor, Robert Kelly, Apolosi Ranawai, Matt Foulds, Max Girdler, Maclean Jones, Boyd Killingworth, Sam Ward, Josh Holmes, Hamish Angus, Harry Jones, Ben Marr, Harley Attwater, Charlei Tupu, Liam Windon<\/span><\/p>\n Western Sydney Two Blues vs Randwick, Lidcombe Oval, 3pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Western Sydney Two Blues<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Airi Hunt, Jordan Ieremia, Kalafi Pongi, Teekay Katoa, Tevita Vea, Adrian Musico, Riley Jacobson, Tala Moli, Daniel Tully, Dom Graham, Taliliki Nadredre, Zac Campton, Trent Winterstein, Hayden Cole, Micheal Zakhia<\/span><\/p>\n Randwick<\/strong><\/p>\n Toby Trinder, David Vea, Dan Matthew, Tom Nowlan, Nathan den Hoedt, Ned Hanigan, Jack Johnson, Christian Poidevin, Mitchell Short\/Harrison Goddard, Will Harrison\/Ben Donaldson, Josh Gordon, Nick Wilkinson, Fraser Strachan, Tom Molloy, Freddy Dorrough<\/p>\n TBC<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Saturday July 12. All times AEST<\/strong><\/p>\n Melbourne University vs Box Hill, Smith Oval, 3:15pm<\/strong><\/p>\nQUEENSLAND PREMIER RUGBY<\/h3>\n
DEWAR SHIELD<\/h3>\n