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Bret Harris | August 26, 2009
Article from: The Australian
AFTER thinking long and hard about the team to play South Africa in the Tri-Nations Test in Perth on Saturday, Australia coach Robbie Deans has been forced to think again following the withdrawal yesterday of inside centre Berrick Barnes and second-rower Nathan Sharpe, and continuing doubt over blindside flanker Rocky Elsom and fullback James O'Connor.
Deans was scheduled to name the team yesterday, but will announce it tomorrow instead.
Barnes (neck and concussion), Sharpe (shoulder), Elsom (ankle) and O'Connor (corked leg) sustained injuries in the Wallabies' 19-18 loss to the All Blacks in Sydney last Saturday night.
"We have delayed naming the team because of circumstances, really," Deans said in Perth yesterday.
"Sharpe and Barnes have been ruled out, but O'Connor and Elsom look promising. They are moving. We'll wait and see."
The loss of Barnes and Sharpe is a major setback to the Wallabies' hopes of staying alive in the tournament.
Barnes is one of the Wallabies' key tactical decision-makers and kickers, while Sharpe is their chief lineout forward. The Springboks have a great kicking game and the best lineout in world rugby, with four genuine jumpers led by second-rower Victor Matfield.
Waratahs second-rower Dean Mumm is expected to replace Sharpe with Mark Chisholm coming on to the reserves bench, while utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper is likely to start at inside centre and Ryan Cross promoted from the bench to start in the No13 jersey.
Ashley-Cooper moved from outside to inside centre to replace Barnes in the second half of the All Blacks game and Deans will no doubt recall that he performed very well at No12 in the Wallabies' win against the Barbarians at Wembley last December.
The strong running Ashley-Cooper would give the Wallabies much-needed go forward in the inside backs.
But Deans also has the option of starting O'Connor at inside centre and shifting Ashley-Cooper to fullback.
This would give the Wallabies a ready-made midfield combination of five-eighth Matt Giteau, O'Connor and Cross from the Western Force backline which played in this year's Super 14 series.
If there were any concerns about O'Connor's lack of size at inside centre, he could play fullback in defence as he did at the Force.
The presence of O'Connor at inside centre would mean the Wallabies would still have two playmakers with left- and right-foot kicking options.
"We've seen a combination already," Deans said in reference to the Wallabies backline which played the second half against the All Blacks.
"There are many ways of approaching it. We do have some choice. The first thing is to determine who is available."
If Elsom is ruled out, Richard Brown will most likely move from number eight to blindside flanker with Wycliff Palu recalled to the back of the scrum.
The loss of O'Connor would almost certainly see Ashley-Cooper start at inside centre with Drew Mitchell at fullback and Peter Hynes coming into the starting line-up on the wing.
Hynes is expected to challenge Mitchell and Lachie Turner for a wing spot even if O'Connor is fit.
In the only other unforced change, Ben Alexander is expected to replace Al Baxter at tighthead after the veteran was hooked in the 31st minute of the All Blacks Test.
The absence of O'Connor would mean the Wallabies would not have a right-foot kicker at inside centre or fullback, which would force Giteau to assume much of the tactical kicking role.
The Wallabies' kicking game fell apart in the second half without Barnes and Deans will demand significant improvement in this area of the game.
"Our kicking game was poor," Deans said. "That didn't help us. It came from people who are capable of much more as well.
"It's got to be better. It makes our life harder and it makes it easier for the opposition to bring pressure to bear on us."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
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