Hodgson eyes Wallabies' trip to S Africa

[travelling_gerry]

Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson has moved back into Wallabies back-row contention as Australia plots to undermine triumphant South Africa's monster pack in their August 8 Tri-Nations clash.

Uncapped Hodgson has overcome the shoulder injury that restricted him to a start in the June 6 season-opener against the Barbarians and is in line for a place in the 24-man tour squad to travel to Cape Town on Friday.

The industrious blindside flanker, the bolter of the initial 2009 Test squad, was one of 16 players who turned out in club rugby on the weekend.

Coach Robbie Deans could breathe easy after all reportedly emerged unscathed from their matches in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

There was only minor concern for winger Lachie Turner, who was replaced with hamstring tightness as a precaution at halftime of Eastwood's victory over Warringah in Sydney.

But the Waratahs speed merchant has been cleared for selection on Wednesday, 24 hours after the Wallabies' extended squad reassembles in camp in Sydney.

Hodgson's Force teammate Richard Brown (ankle) has also received the green light to resume training on Tuesday after being replaced in Australia's 22-16 loss to New Zealand eight days ago.

Back-rower Brown has the inside rail to retain the No.6 jersey but Deans may look to add extra mobility to his loose forwards if he opts to play a more expansive, ball-in-hand game to run around the powerful Springboks.

The All Blacks continued to play a conservative style in their 28-19 loss to South Africa in Bloemfontein early Sunday morning (AEST) which failed to pay off against the home side which dominated the first half.

Quiet achiever Hodgson was superb, alongside Brown and David Pocock, for the Force at the breakdown in the Super 14 and his attributes could cost Phil Waugh, unused in the Auckland defeat, a place on the bench.

All indications are one extra forward and back will be added to the opening Tri-Nations squad to allow extra options and cover for injuries.

Inside centre Berrick Barnes has been cleared but the extent of his recovery from a hip injury may determine whether centre Ryan Cross is included in the tour group ahead of an extra winger, with Peter Hynes challenging incumbents Turner and Drew Mitchell.

Deans would also be pleased by receiving a helping hand by the Springboks with sharp-shooter Morne Steyn kicking a long-range penalty goal in the dying minutes to deny the All Blacks a bonus point.

New Zealand will go to Durban this weekend with confidence they can bounce back with a crucial away victory as they came from behind to win at Kings Park in 2007 and also lifted the Tri-Nations with success there in 2002.

http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-n...0726-dxba.html

[mudskipper]

Baxter was fine he was sitting on the hill in the sun Saturday arvo at North Sydney oval with Bill Young... He should pull up OK...

[travelling_gerry]

WESTERN Force backrower Matt Hodgson holds a distinction he is desperately keen to get rid of, that of being the only uncapped member of the Wallabies squad.

Hodgson was such a shock selection in the Australian squad last month that he was not even listed in the team's media handbook, even though no fewer than 40 contenders were featured.

But when he immediately jumped to the next level by being named in the starting XV for the Wallabies' opening match of the season, against the Barbarians in Sydney on June 6, it seemed a mere formality that within a week or two he would win his first cap in one of the inbound Tests against either Italy or France.

Those hopes were dashed when he dislocated his shoulder in the non-cap fixture against the Barbarians, an injury that relegated him to the sidelines for the next six weeks.

Successful outings for Eastern Suburbs against Randwick and Parramatta over the past two weekends, however, have Hodgson crossing his fingers that he will come back strongly into the mix for the 24-man squad to leave on Friday for Australia's August 8 Tri-Nations showdown against the Springboks in Cape Town.

"It was a great day when I got picked in the original Wallabies squad and then again when I played against the Barbarians, but the injury derailed everything," Hodgson said yesterday. "I'm definitely hopeful of making the touring squad and winning my first cap in South Africa but there are so many talented backrowers to pick from."

Indeed, that might explain why the Wallabies still haven't settled on their loose-forward combination.

In the absence of Rocky Elsom, three players have worn the No6 jersey at blindside flanker, Dean Mumm, Peter Kimlin and Richard Brown, four if Hodgson's start there against the Barbarians is factored in. Similarly, three players, Brown, George Smith and Wycliff Palu, have been used at number eight.

It was the Springbok tight five that South African coach Peter de Villiers singled out for praise after his side's 28-19 victory over the All Blacks in Bloemfontein yesterday (AEST time) but it was openside flanker Heinrich Brussow who was named man of the match. And the award could just as easily have gone to either of his backrow partners, Pierre Spies or Juan Smith. That spells out the challenge to the Wallabies in fairly stark terms.

"Whoever wins the backrow battle in Cape Town will come out on top," Hodgson predicted.

The temptation for coach Robbie Deans might be to pick a high-workrate trio of Hodgson, Smith and Brown to counter the Boks at the breakdown, but that would leave the Wallabies exposed for height against the best lineout in world rugby. Even if they do as the All Blacks did and try to avoid the touchline, ultimately there will come a moment when Australia's fortunes will rise or fall on their ability to win their own lineout throw.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[GIGS20]

The temptation for coach Robbie Deans might be to pick a high-workrate trio of Hodgson, Smith and Brown to counter the Boks at the breakdown, but that would leave the Wallabies exposed for height against the best lineout in world rugby. Even if they do as the All Blacks did and try to avoid the touchline, ultimately there will come a moment when Australia's fortunes will rise or fall on their ability to win their own lineout throw.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

Yeah but we have a hooker who can throw......and both Brown and Hogeo are genuine lineout options.....sure not as tall as Matfield and Botha, but that'll make 4 recievers, surely somebdy like Sharpie can weave his way through the puzzle that is lineouts against South Africa.

I'd suggest Hodgeo for 6 and Brown for 8, with Palu and Pocock on the bench. Mobility will have it's advantages against the big boks pack, and at least with a mix like that you can be sure the work will get done. Palu can come on in the last 15 when the work isn't so important (the breakdown battle's usually over then with one team exhausted, hopefully not ours) and he can take his big runs on the wing as per his usual game.