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4th June 2009, 16:15 WST
It took Wallabies No.8 Richard Brown three weeks to recover from last December's bruising end-of-tour encounter with the Barbarians at Wembley.
And he's not listening to all the talk about “having fun” from the invitational side this time either.
“They said that last time,” Brown told reporters on Thursday.
“I reckon I was broken for a good three weeks after that game.
“They can say what they want but I won't be listening to it, it will be what I see on the day.”
Brown said the last clash with the Baa Baas was “a wild game”.
“That was an unusual game because such a focus was put on the fact that it's our last time together and this is the last game and we can't go home with a blotch, like a dark spot, where we didn't put in,” he said.
But the refreshingly up-front 24-year-old is more hopeful than confident of laying some bruises on the Phil Waugh-led side at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.
“You always aim for the stars I reckon, you always want to go out there with that intent, it doesn't always happen,” Brown said.
“We want to go out there and start our game with good defence and then attack from there.
“I can talk as much as I want, it doesn't mean it's going to happen.”
Brown will be one third of a lightweight Australian back row which also includes Western Force teammate Matt Hodgson and George Smith.
They will come up against the bigger Jerry Collins, Phil Waugh and Rocky Elsom on Saturday.
Brown said the Wallabies' pocket rockets, all with an openside flanker background, were used to the challenge of bigger men opposing them.
“We were always coming against bigger back-rowers (in the Super 14),” he said.
“It's always a challenge, you don't ever come up against a team that's got a weak back row.
“So we're always used to that challenge of playing a bigger and a good, strong back row so it's nothing different.
“I won't say it's going to be a success but we'll see after the game.”
Brown is equally honest in talking about his chances of retaining the No.8 jersey when the injured Wycliff Palu returns.
“I understand that I've had a lucky opportunity with Cliffy breaking his hand,” he said.
“I'm not saying that I'm the best, that I'm going to keep it or anything, but I'll go out there and put my best foot forward.”
AAP
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=146140
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