Robbie Deans plays Barbarians hand

[travelling_gerry]

Bret Harris | May 30, 2009


Article from: The Australian

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans has, by releasing seven players for club duty this weekend, provided a clue to the potential make-up of the team to play the Barbarians in Sydney next Saturday.

Players are usually released to the clubs if they are not receiving much game time with the Wallabies so they can keep up their match fitness.

As the Barbarians match is the first game on this year's international program, it would be reasonable to speculate that the seven players sent back to their clubs -- Ben Alexander, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Dean Mumm, Timana Tahu, Lote
Tuqiri and Josh Valentine -- are not in line to start .

Of this group, only Tuqiri and Mumm would be regarded as strong contenders for starting positions, although Mitchell is a chance for the wing spot vacated by the injured Digby Ioane.

Tuqiri has started on the wing (or outside centre) in every Test he has been available for since switching codes in 2003.

While Tuqiri played strongly for NSW Waratahs in the Super 14 series this year, he would have been behind Queensland Reds duo, Peter Hynes and Ioane, in the Wallabies' pecking order.

If fully fit, Hynes is almost certain to occupy one wing spot. He played in 13 Tests last season and won the Wallabies' rookie-of-the-year award.

Tuqiri's Waratahs teammate Lachie Turner also has the genuine speed and work ethic Deans looks for in a winger and may issue a challenge for the other flank. But it is more than likely Deans will look to last year's regular fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper to play on the wing.

With teenager James O'Connor set to start at fullback, Deans would be keen to retain a player like Ashley-Cooper, who performed well last year. Ashley-Cooper played fullback, outside centre and wing for the Brumbies this year and could fill any of those positions in the Test side.

It is interesting to see that Mumm will play second row for Sydney University against Manly today, which underlines the sense he is primarily regarded as a lock in the Wallabies squad.

There are only two specialist second-rowers in the squad -- James Horwill and Nathan Sharpe -- and they are likely to start against the Barbarians with Mumm covering lock and blindside flanker from the bench.

But it is possible Mumm could start in the second row instead of Sharpe with Peter Kimlin on the bench. Either way, it would open the way for squad bolter Matt Hodgson to start at blindside flanker with George Smith at openside flanker.

When Deans played two openside flankers, Smith and Phil Waugh, against the All Blacks in Auckland last year, it did not work because it compromised the Wallabies' lineout. But the balance of the Wallabies' backrow against the Barbarians will be different with Richard Brown starting at number eight instead of the injured Wycliff Palu. Although Brown is only 189cm tall, he is a dynamic jumper in the lineout and would give the Wallabies the third option they require.

The Wallabies front row is fairly straightforward with hooker Stephen Moore and props Benn Robinson and Al Baxter, although Tatafu Polota-Nau could issue a challenge for the No2 jersey. The halves (Luke Burgess and Matt Giteau) and centre (Berrick Barnes and Stirling Mortlock) combinations also just about pick themselves.

With only two specialist halfbacks and hookers in the 29-man squad, Valentine and Polota-Nau are virtually assured of their place. Alexander, who will hone his tighthead skills for Eastwood against Gordon tomorrow, will be the reserve prop, while David Pocock will back up Smith.

Mitchell, Cooper, Tahu, Turner and Ryan Cross will probably compete for the last two reserve back spots on the bench.

Possible Wallabies team: 15: James O'Connor, 14: Peter Hynes, 13: Stirling Mortlock (c), 12: Berrick Barnes, 11: Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10: Matt Giteau, 9: Luke Burgess, 8: Richard Brown, 7: George Smith, 6: Matt Hodgson, 5: Nathan Sharpe, 4: James Horwill, 3: Al Baxter, 2: Stephen Moore, 1: Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Josh Valentine, Timana Tahu, Ryan Cross.

For more rugby news and analysis by Wayne Smith, Bret Harris and Mark Ella, go to www.theaustralian.com.au

[oxleymoron]

Who would Lote play for this week?

[robyn <3]

Uugh. Who would have Lote sent home from Wallabies camp altogether and get Cummins sent in to replace him?! Pleeease!?

Lote Tuqiri has played EVERY SINGLE GAME since he switched codes! I feel like spewing! Adam Ashley-freaking-Cooper ahead of Drew, Turner and even Tuqiri? Whoever wrote this deserves to be hit very hard with a baseball bat until they get some sense into their head. Bah.

Baxter... uugh again. I hope he's improved please. Valentine ahead of Burgess me thinks.

[TommyM]

Gimme AAC ahead of Mitchell. Just not at fullback. At least he can tackle (even if he can't kick)

[zimeric]

i notice that our two bolters in Cowan & Hodgo arent even mentioned.... hmmmm

beg your pardon Hodgo is mentioned...

[mudskipper]

Who would Lote play for this week?

The West Harbour Pirates along with Tahu... 2 nice players to get in your local team for a game....

[normie]

Does Lote know where the West Harbour Pirates ground is, or indeed who they are?

[Sheikh]

A Bret Harris picked team with 5 Force starters? Surely some mistake!

If seven players from a team of 29 have been released to play club rugby, wouldn't that point towards the other 22 being the squad? If Alexander isn't in against the Baa-Baas, then Pek's the bench prop!

Mind you, how good are Harris's sauces?

[GIGS20]

I'd think that Harris is making some good educated guesses there, FFS it's a Baa Baas match, they won't play their most experienced team, it'll be used as a hitout to see how the debutantes stand up, and try to gel some combinations.

Pekko and Hodgo are very likely to start, with some experience on the bench in case they get into hot water. If there weren't so many outside backs being sent to club land, I would think that Berrick would ride pine for this one, but it makes more sense to put rabbit into 15 with the way things are set up. Valo was a bit of a surprise, since many of the guys sent home this week are established players who Deans is confident of and who have young, untested copetition for their spot.

I wonder whether the Valentine Burgess thing is settled, or whether Valo has the wood and Burgo is just getting a chance to tip the scales?

[henry]

"although Mitchell is a chance for the wing spot vacated by the injured Digby Ioane."

When was Ioane a starting winger? Pretty sure he only got 1000 tackle busts because he runs sideways.... He's not even a winger... I'm sick of it...

[rahrahgirl]

"although Mitchell is a chance for the wing spot vacated by the injured Digby Ioane."

When was Ioane a starting winger? Pretty sure he only got 1000 tackle busts because he runs sideways.... He's not even a winger... I'm sick of it...

sick of what?
digby had a great tour at the end of last year, he got moved to 13 witht he reds due to injury, but he deserved to be amoungst the first picked this year on form and form alone. who would you have instead?

[GIGS20]

"although Mitchell is a chance for the wing spot vacated by the injured Digby Ioane."

When was Ioane a starting winger? Pretty sure he only got 1000 tackle busts because he runs sideways.... He's not even a winger... I'm sick of it...

Ummm, Number 11 for the Force, pretty much every match until Drew Mitchell arrived......

I think Digby's had a bloody good year, not surprised, he was always a damaging ball runner, especially cutting the ball back on the inside, the only thing I think you could be legitimately sick of is the way he seems to be incredibly up himself every time a contract comes up for negotiation.

I'm sick of THAT!