SMH
A number of Wallaby players turned out in club rugby in the Sydney and Brisbane competitions at the weekend, although Quade Cooper, who has completed a two-match suspension, was not among them.
Saturday's Shute Shield round provided an opportunity for the Wallabies coaching staff to monitor players before the trip to South Africa. Head coach Robbie Deans attended Warringah's home 90-14 win against Parramatta, while forwards coach Jim Williams saw Southern Districts lose to Eastern Suburbs at Forshaw Park.
It was a round of upsets in the Shute Shield at the weekend, with all three top sides defeated. First-placed Eastwood were beaten by Sydney University 38-24 at TG Millner Field, and third-placed Southern Districts went down to Eastern Suburbs 38-26 at Forshaw Rugby Park, but the biggest boilover was lowly Gordon beating second-placed Manly 22-20 at Chatswood Oval.
It was just the fifth win of the year from 18 games for the Highlanders, who sit in 10th spot. University's win on Saturday was inspired by Wallaby Berrick Barnes. ''They have certainly hit some form at the right time of the year,'' Gordon coach David Dinning said of the Students, who his team face next weekend.
He reckons Eastwood or University will take out this year's Shute Shield. Manly are back on top of the ladder because they snatched two bonus points from the narrow loss to Gordon. They sit on 71, with Eastwood 69 and Southern Districts 66.
