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NO matter how well Digby Ioane performs against Stirling Mortlock in the final Australian derby of the season in Brisbane on Saturday, Reds' coach Phil Mooney can't see him unseating Australia's captain at outside centre in the Wallabies.
While the clash of hookers, former Queensland stalwart turned Brumbies hero Stephen Moore against his long-time Reds team-mate Sean Hardman - who will become Queensland's most capped player - will be the emotional highlight of the match, it will be the collision of Ioane and Mortlock at outside centre that has most significance.
Ioane, nominated yesterday by Brumbies' coach Andy Friend as the Reds player his side must contain if it is to keep alive its semi-final hopes, has been the stand-out Australian player in this year's Super 14, save arguably for Matt Giteau.
While he might not singlehandedly have masterminded victories as Giteau has done for the Western Force, Ioane has been almost unstoppable at times. But whether that translates into an immediate call-up to the Wallabies Test side, either at outside centre or wing, remains to be seen.
Certainly Mooney feels that protocol needs to be observed, especially with the early-season Wallabies selections.
"I think players like Stirling and Lote Tuqiri have the runs on the board over many seasons," Mooney said. "So I'd expect they'd be given the chance first-up. After that, it's up to them."
It could be, of course, that Ioane is not being considered by Australia's selectors as a direct rival to Mortlock, especially as the Force's Ryan Cross has surged back into form at outside centre to provide real depth in the position. If that is the case and Ioane is tossed into the mix as a winger, he could well be challenging his own Reds team-mate Peter Hynes for a Test position.
While this match hopefully will not generate as much heat as the last Reds-Brumbies clash in Brisbane - the 2007 encounter that led to Queensland coach Eddie Jones being fined $10,000 for his post-match criticism of referee Matt Goddard - it still should be a no-holds barred affair.
Only the Brumbies have any hope of reaching the play-offs after the Reds dropped out of the race a fortnight ago, but positions on the table give no indication of current form. Queensland goes into the game on a high after breaking its 20-match away losing streak by blitzing the Blues in Albany on Saturday while the Brumbies still are clearing their heads after letting in eight tries against the Hurricanes.
"It was disappointing," said Friend, referring to the record-shattering 56-7 defeat in Wellington. "We've got to put it behind us as quickly as possible but not before we address one or two issues. One was defence, the other was our physicality."
Happily, teenage five-eighth Matt Toomua is not being saddled with any significant portion of the blame for the flame-out at the Cake Tin, with Friend holding out hope that the youngster would be retained. "I thought Matt did very well," he said.
But with Gene Fairbanks recovered from injury and eager to take on his old friend Berrick Barnes head-to-head, either at 10 or 12, it might well be that Friend opts for experience in this do-or-die affair.
Certainly the Brumbies will move to counter Barnes's kicking game by rushing Mark Gerrard back into the fullback position if he confirms his fitness in training.
"We're keen to have him back," Friend said. "He's been one of our key players this season."
Hardman, meanwhile, was giving no indication yesterday how long he would continue in rugby, insisting he would see out the season and evaluate his situation then.
But Mooney was in no doubt the 134-cap veteran still has his best rugby in front of him.
"I certainly don't see Sean (32 next week) as a guy who is at the end of his career," Mooney said. "He's getting better each year."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...7-2722,00.html
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Originally Posted by MSB
