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Burgess, Brown at second-chance saloon
JIM MORTON
June 21, 2010 - 6:04PM
AAP
At numbers 8 and 9, Richard Brown and Luke Burgess are supposed to pull it all together for the Wallabies.
But up until this month it appeared to be all coming apart for the pair who are warming spots for the two Australian players who can lay claim to being world class.
With halfback Will Genia joining blockbusting No.8 Wycliff Palu (knee) on the sidelines with a broken hand, Burgess can again join Brown drinking at second-chance saloon.
Burgess is the one of two certain changes to the Wallabies side for Saturday night's clash with Ireland at Suncorp Stadium.
The 26-year-old was unlucky not to keep his spot for the weekend's 21-20 loss to England in Sydney after his finest international performance in the first Cook Cup Test in Perth.
Coach Robbie Deans described his decision to reinstate a fit-again Genia ahead of Burgess as one of the toughest in his career.
The NSW halfback, actually dropped by the Waratahs for one match late in the Super 14 season, wasn't bitter by another benching but has used the demotion as a motivator.
"It's just magic being here, it isn't about me it's about the Wallabies winning," he said.
"Every day should be magic, you may not wake up every day feeling magic but if I take that approach my career will be where I want it to be.
"You are not here for long and I think that approach makes you live in the moment and makes you enjoy yourself."
While Genia is looking to make it back for the start of the Tri-Nations, possibly leaving Burgess with just this one last chance to state his case, Brown can cement the No.8 jersey for the rest of the year after Palu underwent a knee reconstruction.
The tireless Western Force back-rower had played himself past Palu early last year before having a forgettable match with his hands in a poor loss to South Africa in Perth.
"Looking back, it was good for me," he said on Monday. "I didn't take it for granted to start with, but ... it helped me reset my goals.
"Super 14 is different to the Australian environment.
"While playing in sleepy Perth, rugby-wise it's easy for me to go about my business.
"On the east coast it's quite intense and (the extra attention) had taken my focus away from doing gym work, doing my basics."
Mr Fix-It Adam Ashley-Cooper is also set to be reinstated to the starting backline, possibly for injured winger Digby Ioane, but Deans might also call in Peter Hynes for the inconsistent Drew Mitchell.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0621-yrz5.html
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