Wallabies take shape

Wallabies take shape

May 18, 2007 - 5:59am
Story by: Sportal

Qantas Wallabies head coach John Connolly has solidified the majority of the Australian line-up for the first Test against Wales in Sydney on May 26, with Matt Giteau to start at halfback, Dan Vickerman on the bench and Lote Tuqiri out.

Speaking on the final day of the Wallabies 37-man training camp in Sydney this week, Connolly indicated that there were still a few contentious positions, but for the most part, the side was coming together. (A FEW :confused: )
In the backs, Giteau looks to have got the nod over Gregan at scrumhalf for the first Test against Wales, Stephen Larkham will be at flyhalf and Stirling Mortlock, who will more than likely retain captaincy duties, at outside centre.

Tuqiri is to be given a rest to recuperate (suuuure...) from the Super 14 and will utilising the time to work on sprinting and stretching exercises to re-establish his speed. Youngsters Digby Ioane and Lachlan Turner will contest Tuqiri's sport, while Mark Gerrard is favoured for the other wing spot under challenges from Drew Mitchell.

Julian Huxley should be handed the No.15 jersey, while Adam Ashley-Cooper and Scott Staniforth battle for inside centre with Ryan Cross likely to be one of the players cut back to Australia A. Sam Norton-Knight will be on the bench with the other candidate at No.10, Berrick Barnes also going back to the A program.

"Lote Tuqiri will sit out the first two. Mortlock will probably play the four, Larkham could play three of them, George (Gregan) will come in and play at some stage," confirmed Connolly.

"We have a number of combinations and on the wing we have run Gerrard, Ioane and Mitchell, (while) Staniforth has run 12 and 14.

"There is a toss up between Huxley and Gerrard for fullback, but Huxley has played there most of the Super 14."

In the forwards, Al Baxter will start at tighthead prop with Waratahs team-mates Matt Dunning and Benn Robinson battling for loosehead. Guy Shepherdson will start from the bench. Queenslander Stephen Moore looks to have done enough to start at hooker ahead of Adam Freier.

Nathan Sharpe and Mark Chisholm will be the second row, Rocky Elsom and George Smith will be the starting flankers and Wycliff Palu at No.8 ahead of David Lyons and Stephen Hoiles.

Phil Waugh has an ankle injury but is likely to start on the bench alongside Dan Vickerman, who will make his long-awaited return to international rugby in the first Test against Wales.

"The program for Vickerman is he will play for Sydney Uni again this weekend, a little bit of an appearance and then more than likely come off the bench in the first Test," said Connolly.

"We are bringing Vickerman back in slowly so we have Sharpe and Chisholm in the lock position.

"(Waugh) has just had a tendon problem. We were a bit worried but we had it scanned and everything is OK. We will make a decision but on Smith and Waugh - one will start and one will come off the bench.

"Elsom wouldn't have played these first two Tests, except for the injury to (Hugh) McMeniman. Shepherdson is in that mode - he has also been on restricted training… so he will come off the bench for three weeks because we need a tighthead with Blake out.

"Al Baxter is a chance to start at tighthead with a decision to be made between Robinson and Dunning." :eek:

Connolly also indicated fullback/winger Cameron Shepherd and lock/flanker Hugh McMeniman hadn't recovered from injuries in time for the first Test but he is looking at both for bench positions in the second Test against Wales in Brisbane on June 2.

"Cameron (Shepherd) and Hugh McMeniman we hope will play club rugby the weekend of the first Test and then hopefully be available for the second Test. We would like them both to play half a game that weekend," said Connolly.

"My feeling is McMeniman may be a touch ahead of Shepherd. His injury has taken time to heal. The doctor thinks it is worse than first diagnosed."

Wallabies' selectors will name their final 30-man squad for the upcoming Test series on Sunday with the 22-man squad for the first Test is announced next week.

Be afraid... be VERY afraid...

I am so not liking this gits at half back rubbish... Why pick halfbacks for the squad (and not pick henjak) if you're just going to give their job to a centre?!?

I don't like it one bit!

Wonder if Shep will have to return all the way to Perth-Bayswater for half a match? Would make more sense to play him at Northern Suburbs. Spanner returned to play for Force Gold against Yamaha last season but there might be a couple of technical hurdles involved in club rugby.