Deans to change team for World Cup opener against Italy

[travelling_gerry]

Bret Harris From: The Australian September 03, 2011 12:00AM


WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans seems almost certain to make changes to the team that won the Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks for the opening game of the World Cup against Italy next Sunday.

There is a golden rule that you do not change a winning team, but Deans must navigate a pool round, which includes a key game against Ireland today fortnight.

While Italy is a danger game, the Wallabies must beat Ireland to earn a favourable passage through the finals stage, avoiding potential match-ups with the Springboks and All Blacks.

Deans has already stated he intends to use all 30 members of the Wallabies squad during the tournament.

After hard-fought wins against the Springboks in Durban and the All Blacks in Brisbane in the last two Tri-Nations Tests, Deans may refresh some players against Italy and give other candidates a chance to impress for the Irish game.

What is almost certain to influence Deans's thinking is the fact the Wallabies have only a six-day turnaround after the Italy Test before they play Ireland.


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It was difficult to read too much into the opposed session at Coogee Oval in Sydney yesterday because we are still a week away from the Italy game.

But if that session was any indication, Deans is possibly looking to revamp the backline by starting halfback Luke Burgess, five-eighth Berrick Barnes, outside centre Rob Horne and wingers Drew Mitchell and James O'Connor.

And props James Slipper and Salesi Ma'afu looked like they could start against Italy, but it was hard to be definitive because Ben Alexander and Sekope Kepu did not participate in the session.

It would be a brave coach to enter a Test against a Six Nations opponent, even Italy, without halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper, but Burgess and Barnes have formed a combination at the NSW Waratahs.

Barnes is on the comeback trail after taking a break from the game because of concussion-related issues and is yet to play a Test this year, although he did play for the Australian Barbarians against Canada a week ago last night.

The same applies to Horne and Mitchell, although Horne managed to secure a place on the reserves bench for the All Blacks in Brisbane.

One of Deans's biggest decisions is whether to recall O'Connor, who missed the All Blacks Test while serving a suspension for failing to attend the Wallabies' World Cup squad announcement.

Adam Ashley-Cooper performed superbly on the right wing against the All Blacks, although he did not take part in yesterday's session because of a corked leg.

Halfback Genia sat fairly and squarely on the fence when asked if O'Connor should be recalled.

"That's a tough one, isn't it?" Genia said.

"Everyone played outstandingly well, particularly the two wingers.

"Adam Ashley-Cooper probably had his best game on the wing and his defence was outstanding.

"That's a headache for Robbie and I'm glad I don't have anything to do with it."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226128455098

[Sheikh]

Ah, poor diddums only have six days between matches.

Try being USA or Namibia, four day turn-arounds twice and with much less depth in their squads.

I'm all for making sure everyone's been on the pitch on a tour, but this is the RWC. If you had to rotate, wouldn't the 3rd & 4th matches (USA and Russia) be better for this, giving the starters who needed a break a couple of weeks off?

[TOCC]

Ah, poor diddums only have six days between matches.

Try being USA or Namibia, four day turn-arounds twice and with much less depth in their squads.

Comes with the seeding... the higher seeded you are, the further you are expected to progress through the tournament...

Yes the lower seeded nations might have less gaps between there games, but they are also expected to play a less number of games overall.

[Sheikh]

Comes with the seeding... the higher seeded you are, the further you are expected to progress through the tournament...

Yes the lower seeded nations might have less gaps between there games, but they are also expected to play a less number of games overall.

They play the same number of games within the group stages, so that argument can't be used. The IRB schedules the matches with the higher seeded teams at the weekends to maximise TV audience.

Take Russia - USA. It's scheduled for Thursday night in NZ, which is early Thursday morning in the US. How's that helping grow the sport? Schedule that game for Sunday afternoon (Saturday night in the US) and rugby will get a higher profile.

As it is, the IRB just appears to be interested in helping the higher seeded teams get through. Short-termism.

[Burgs]

I recall something from 2003 about how it made it cheaper because the lower seeded teams are flying home almost a week before the final matches. I think it was Tonga from memory that the story was about back then.