Protection plan for Larkham
Protection plan for Larkham
Greg Growden, Chief Rugby Correspondent
Friday, May 25, 2007
THE plan to cotton-wool Stephen Larkham up to and including the World Cup will mean the Wallabies playing at least three different five-eighths before the tournament.
Waratahs utility back Sam Norton-Knight and Queensland Reds five-eighth Berrick Barnes will be given considerable time as the Test No.10 this year as part of the plan to keep Larkham fresh for the main internationals.
Wallabies selectors, mindful they must have their key playmaker vibrant and injury-free if they are to be any chance at the World Cup, will be carefully choosing the matches in which Larkham, who turns 33 next week, participates.
While Larkham will play in the first Test against Wales at Telstra Stadium tomorrow night, he is expected to be rested for the following two internationals against Wales and Fiji and return for the opening Tri Nations game against South Africa in Cape Town on June 16.
Wallabies selectors are uncertain whether they will spell Larkham during latter Tri Nations matches, but are expected to use him only in the major games at the World Cup.
Knowing Larkham is an opposition target, especially when it comes to the Springboks, selectors want to protect him wherever possible to ensure they get the most out of him in his farewell season with the Wallabies.
To ensure they have the required World Cup back-up for Larkham, who is in line to become only the third player to appear in more than 100 Tests for Australia, selectors want to give the other five-eighth candidates ample opportunity to play with the Wallabies back line.
Norton-Knight will get the first chance against Wales in Brisbane next week, and Barnes will be the Australia A five-eighth against Tonga at Aussie Stadium tonight.
However, selectors have ruled out playing Matt Giteau at five-eighth, with Wallabies coach John Connolly yesterday explaining that "He is not what we want at No.10".
Giteau will instead be used as a halfback or inside centre.
Connolly said Larkham was a player "we really have to manage closely, because he is definitely the key to it all".
"He is very important to us," Connolly said. "We have seven Tests before the World Cup, and we have to use that time wisely.
"At the moment, we have him pencilled in for this first Test and the Springbok Test. There is also some thought that he should play half a game against Wales next week. We'll have to wait and see, especially as he pulled up sore from yesterday's training.
"He also plays well fresh. We saw that when he came back for the Brumbies this season."
Larkham is scheduled to be part of a six-player contingent that will leave for the Cape Town Test earlier than the rest of the squad. The day before the Wallabies play Fiji in Perth on June 9, the six starting XV players will head to South Africa for the following weekend's international.
The Fiji international is expected to be the Test in which Australia play the most fringe candidates. Connolly has stressed all week that with the abundance of Test matches over a short time, it was impossible for the same 15 players to appear week in week out.
Connolly is also eager to rest several forwards, including back-rower Rocky Elsom after his gruelling Super 14 campaign with the Waratahs.
Selectors want to use Hugh McMeniman as a back-rower in the early Tests, but McMeniman's constant injury concerns thwarted that plan.
Wycliff Palu and David Lyons are expected to alternate as the Wallabies No.8, while Jone Tawake will appear in the back row during the early Tests.
Dan Vickerman's return to the starting XV should occur by the time of the Fiji Test, with him playing off the bench in the two Wales Tests. The big question is whether Vickerman will replace Nathan Sharpe or Mark Chisholm in the second row.
