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Bret Harris From: The Australian September 06, 2011 12:00AM
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans is poised to name his strongest team to play Italy in their opening game of the World Cup at North Harbour Stadium in Albany on Sunday.
It has been speculated that Deans might rest players against Italy because there is only a six-day turnaround before their key pool game against Ireland in Auckland.
But indications at Wallabies training at Coogee Oval in Sydney yesterday were that Deans would today name the same starting line-up that ran on in the Tri-Nations deciding 25-20 win against the All Blacks in Brisbane two weeks ago. This would mean that winger James O'Connor, who missed the All Blacks Test because of suspension, would return via the bench if selected.
There were also indications Queensland prop James Slipper, who has not played a Test this year because of an ankle injury, may be recalled to the bench. Asked whether he was looking to play his best team against Italy, Deans said: "Totally. That's what we'll do. Then we'll regroup. Six-day turnaround.
"The state of the group is obviously going to impact on our ability to prepare for Ireland. We have already done a lot of our work. Preparation started some time ago. Years ago."
The Wallabies will set the tone for the campaign with their performance against Italy. "It's key in every way," Deans said. "We've got to hit the ground running. We are going in the deep end essentially when you look at our pool.
"Our first two opponents we've had a challenge with in recent times. It starts on Sunday. We've got to get past that. We are approaching Sunday as our last game."
The Wallabies would be strongly favoured to beat Italy, but the Azzurri loom as a danger. They have never beaten the Wallabies, but have given them a scare in recent years. "And not only us. In their last Six Nations outing they beat the French and they should have beaten the Irish and they should have beaten the Welsh," Deans said. "They will be expecting us to be vulnerable as well. The fact we won our last outing makes us potentially vulnerable if we don't get our heads around it. What we are going into is different. Distinct. They've got a big pack. You've seen it in recent internationals they have played in. They go toe to toe with anyone.
"Their scrum is part of that. They've got a good lineout. They have a presence physically . . . and they like to get you into that arm wrestle so they can use that."
Deans said the Italian scrum would provide a "litmus test" for the Wallabies in the set-piece.
"They look to their scrum. They will look for a pushover try from their own 22. That's how much they enjoy scrummaging."
The Wallabies made a farewell appearance at Sydney Town Hall yesterday before flying to New Zealand this morning, but Deans said psychologically the Wallabies were already in New Zealand.
Deans - who turned 52 last Sunday - did not have to reveal his birthday wish. "I'm not disclosing it to the family until the end of the year, but they reckon they all know," he said.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226130033205
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