Palu's likely return even has the backs on edge

[travelling_gerry]

Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent | June 30, 2009


THE anticipated return of Waratahs No.8 Wycliff Palu to the Wallabies Tri Nations squad this week has several forwards, in particular Peter Kimlin, and even under-used backs Timana Tahu and Lote Tuqiri fearing they could miss the 30-man cut for the tournament.

Who makes way for Palu will depend on whether the Wallabies selectors persist with the current formula of 16 forwards and 14 backs, or revert to a mix of 17 forwards and 13 backs to ensure they can use all their preferred players up front.

If they stick to the same formula, one forward will have to miss out, particularly with Wallabies coach Robbie Deans saying on Sunday that despite the expected unavailability of Rocky Elsom for a lengthy period because of his knee injury, the back-rower would be named in the squad on Thursday.

Over the past month Deans has often said the Wallabies have been short of No.8s, with the responsibility being placed on Richard Brown and even George Smith to bolster that position until the return of Palu. The latter has just come back via the club football ranks after being sidelined with a broken hand.

If Palu can prove his fitness, he is likely to regain his Test No.8 spot, with Brown expected to revert to the blindside breakaway position. Dean Mumm and Kimlin have shared the No.6 spot against Italy and France. Kimlin did not make the 22-man squad to play France last Saturday and this indicates he is at the bottom of the pecking order.

He was not prominent in his first starting Test against Italy in Melbourne and missed out on the Wallabies squad the following week for the Sydney international against France.

Matt Hodgson, selected as blindside breakaway against the Barbarians but replaced during the match after damaging his AC joint, is another who could miss out. But as he is close to full recovery, Deans is most likely to show faith in him and keep him in the squad.

There is a similar situation with prop Pek Cowan, who performed well against Italy in his first Test and should hold his spot ahead of Matt Dunning.

Waratahs captain Phil Waugh has been on edge about his international future, as it seemed Smith and David Pocock were in front of him for the openside breakaway spot, but Deans is focused on ensuring the Wallabies are at their most effective at the breakdown, so Waugh still has a major role to play in his squad.

Deans has shown in the past two Tests he has no qualms in playing even three openside breakaways. At the end of both the Melbourne and Sydney Tests, Smith, Pocock and Waugh were all on the field, giving the Wallabies a great advantage at the tackle area with a three-pronged scavenging team.


It would be no surprise if that happened again during the Tri Nations series, with Pocock and Waugh sitting on the bench, each acting as impact players.

This could well mean Deans and his fellow selectors, David Nucifora and Jim Williams, looking elsewhere, particularly at those who have not been used so far this season.

The only players to miss out on all four Wallabies team squads have been Tuqiri and Tahu.

Tuqiri's value as a reserve is limited as the Wallabies management look upon him as essentially a winger, whereas Tahu can cover several positions. Nonetheless, so far this season, Ryan Cross, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Quade Cooper have been preferred on the bench as the utility back ahead of Tahu.

This makes Tahu's squad position less than secure, especially as Deans has repeatedly said Tuqiri "will get his opportunity".

Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell and Peter Hynes are all ahead of Tuqiri, primarily because of the sheer pace factor, but Deans is pleased Australia's highest-profile winger is doing all he can at club level to try to change the coach's opinion.

And until Palu and Elsom prove their fitness, the preferred Test line-up is the one which defeated France on Saturday night.


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[GIGS20]

Palu would look good on the bench......he's crap in the big games anyway. Brown Dog will be more than happy to do the hard yard, beat the Blacks into submission so Palu can come on at 60 and run through them for three tries.

Browny won't mind that Palu's whole performance was based upon the work that he did and will only be slightly pissed if Deans misses this point, heeds the media, and picks Palu to start for the next test. He knows it'll be short lived because Palu doesn't have the ticker to do the work like Browny does......

[Burgs]

If sticking with the same balance then I think Hodgson is probably the one to go unfortunately as he is primarily a #7 and there are already three of those established in the Squad, unless Deans makes the huge call to drop Waugh for the sake of development. Hodgo is a better player I believe but Kimlin offers the options in the under represented Locks stocks to partner Sharpey.

Perhaps a bit of a morbid view, but surely one of the Forwards will be injured enough to make way for Rocky by the time he is ready towards the third round of the 3N?

If the balance changes then Tahu has to go, at least Tuqiri does offer something different to the others in his position. I believe Tahu is still another S14 season from being a genuine Wallaby standard player and will progress far better playing Club than being exposed again on the International scene.

[KalaFan]

What do you mean primarily a #7? He had one start there for the Force this year and played his best rugby at #6 and was picked as a #6 by Deans

[GIGS20]

Agreed KF, he was quoted in a line break this year saying he'd concentrated on bulking up and converting to 6......Sure he's not a tall 6, nor is he the gargantuan monster style, Probably plays 6 in the style of a 7, but he's definately made the transition (as signified by his Wallaby selection in the position)

He's another boy who offers something different in his position. If they want a big, stron lineout jumping 6, they'll go with Rocky when he's fit, if they want a smaller nimble workrate and scavenge styel of 6 they'll go with Hodgeo when he's fit, until then they'll use Mumm in the games where they think the lineout option is required (SA most likely) and a scavenger when they feel the breakdown is the focus (more likely to be NZ) I'd suggest that Waugh is likely to be no more than bench cover for Bam if they go the latter, maybe they'll put Cliffy in 6 and keep Browny at 8, cliffy looks far more the flanker when I watch him play anyway

[Burgs]

He played #6 as it was that or the Bench, both at the Force and the Wallabies.
Likewise, at both teams we are short of genuine #6's so he was a valid option.
Regardless of if he is trying to convert or not, he is a #7 at this point of his career and has been considered as such throughout his time at the Force.
No different to saying that George is a #7. He may be able to cover #8 quite well, but he is a #7 covering #8.

[GIGS20]

He played #6 as it was that or the Bench, both at the Force and the Wallabies.
Likewise, at both teams we are short of genuine #6's so he was a valid option.
Regardless of if he is trying to convert or not, he is a #7 at this point of his career and has been considered as such throughout his time at the Force.
No different to saying that George is a #7. He may be able to cover #8 quite well, but he is a #7 covering #8.

I never said he was a born 6, I said he was a 7 making the conversion....I just took Wallaby selection as a 6 to be an indication that that conversion was nearly complete.......obviously you differ!

[Timbo]

I'm sure Robbie has said he wants to win at the breakdown.

If that is the case, the fast scavenging breakaway ( a far better description than flanker) is the go. Go Hodgo!

[KalaFan]

He played #6 as it was that or the Bench, both at the Force and the Wallabies.
Likewise, at both teams we are short of genuine #6's so he was a valid option.
Regardless of if he is trying to convert or not, he is a #7 at this point of his career and has been considered as such throughout his time at the Force.
No different to saying that George is a #7. He may be able to cover #8 quite well, but he is a #7 covering #8.

How can you say he is a #7 at this point of his career if his career is now just begining to take off and it's taking off with #6 on his back.

[AndyS]

I'd also have to disagree Burgs. The discussion circulating when the squad was put together was that the new interpretation at the breakdown put a premium on speed. This trumped the need for a third tall, especially when Brown is a genuine option at line-out time. So you end up with horses for courses - Brown and Hodgson for speed with Brown as the third jumper, Palu and Elsom for power with Rocky as the third jumper.