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Wallabies want to build midweek tradition
David Beniuk, AAP November 8, 2010, 3:32 pm
- Buzz up!
The Wallabies' midweekers are intent on building a tradition all of their own.
Champing at the bit to get a game on the spring tour, the second string Wallabies are taking plenty of pride in their achievements, which included wins over Gloucester and Cardiff Blues last year, since coach Robbie Deans brought back the tour match concept.
A Wallabies side led by Berrick Barnes will travel to play the English Premiership champions Leicester on Tuesday night (0630 Wednesday AEDT), intent on preserving the pride they have in their own 'club'.
"There's obviously competition for spots and guys want to aim up at training and I think there's just a general bond between them too," Barnes said.
"It's tough when you're not getting a run but they've been training hard off the pitch and enjoying themselves as well and we've just obviously got to put it together on Tuesday night."
A folklore is even emerging among the Australian midweek veterans, Barnes said.
"(No.8) Richard Brown's a big one for that, he played in them last year and is probably one of the real leaders of the spirit stuff," the skipper said.
"There's a number of guys who are involved in it and they've passed a few more stories onto the younger guys who didn't get to experience it."
Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale graduated out of the midweek games last year and there will be interest this time in the performances of rookie halfback Nick Phipps, veteran lock Van Humphries and speedy back three Peter Hynes, Lachie Turner and Rod Davies.
"It's a great opportunity and Robbie's reiterated that to all of us, so whether it's on this tour or next year this can be a good springboard for a lot of guys," Barnes said.
"It's obviously not as much pressure as a Test week but there's expectation to perform."
The Wallabies will run into a side running fifth on the English Premiership ladder but missing several stars on Test duty.
The Tigers, who have Australian Matt O'Connor on their coaching staff, upset South Africa 22-17 in a tour game last year.
"What we do have (is) some good combinations there," Barnes said.
"You look through the side with a number of the Reds up front, you've got (Western Force pair) Browny and Hodgo (Matt Hodgson) in the back row there and obviously myself and (Luke) Burgess (from NSW).
"There's some good combos there and hopefully we can just tie it all in together."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...eek-tradition/
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