Deans goes for youth and experience
Columnist
By Spiro Zavos, 9 Jun 2009 Spiro Zavos is a Roar Expert
Australian Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans, center, talks to players Matt Giteau, left, and Stirling Mortlock during the captain's run at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. Australia will play against New Zealand on Saturday. AP Photo/NZPA, Wayne Drought
The most notable feature of the first Wallaby side in 2009 is that coach Robbie Deans has opted for a squad that has youth and experience in it. The side has the chance to grow and also mature with this combination of talents.
The coach clearly is looking at bettering last season’s record, while keeping an alert eye on the Rugby World Cup tournament in 2011.
So James O’Connor, Lachlan Turner, Luke Burgess and Richard Brown, three relatively inexperienced players at the Test level, get their chance to establish themselves in the side.
And Stirling Mortlock, Al Baxter, George Smith, Nathan Sharpe (who was dropped last year) and Matt Giteau form the very experienced hard core of the side.
In non-World Cup years it is a good thing that sides are selected with the seeds of growth into a better side implanted in them.
The All Blacks have done this in their team to play France with two novice second rowers, Isaac Ross and Bryn Evans, and Stephen Donald, Rudi Wulf and Isaia Toeava (who has only played 8 Tests) in the backs.
Deans is conscious of the mauling skills of the Italians and he will want the forwards to be a bit more forceful in confronting the maul than they were against the Barbarians. Hopefully, too, the match referee will enforce the ‘two-stops and its a turnover’ rule more efficiently than referees in Australia or South Africa have so far this season.
Italy is Australia’s first opponent in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the Wallabies want to put a stamp on their superiority over the Azzuris in the two Tests in Australia.
If the Wallaby scrum holds up, you’d have to think that the fast ensemble game Deans is developing with the Wallabies will be too good for the plodding Italians.
Australian Wallabies Team: James O’Connor, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Peter Kimlin, David Pocock, Josh Valentine, Quade Cooper, Adam Ashley-Cooper.
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matt said | June 9th 2009 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Makes sense to pick the bigger Mumm and Kimlin at 6 against a forward oriented Italian squad. Be interetsting to see how much time O’conner gets.
Mungehead said | June 9th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Matt, sense had nothing to do with it, Hodgson copped a shoulder injury.
Spiro, all I can read from the Wallabies team selection is that Deans had already found the team he wants to coach. Except for the injury just mentioned, the sole difference from the side that faced the BaaBaas is the starting of O’Connor over Ashley-Cooper. Maybe he’s already better?
We won’t really know if that’s true though until Deans rings the changes (if any) to face France. Regardless, I don’t fancy Italy’s chances.
As for the All Blacks side, there was very little choice but to name exactly the side that was named. The AB backline consists of the sole test strength players still standing, and the loose forwards are simply what Henry has available to work with, no more and no less.
Lion Red said | June 9th 2009 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
No Lote again.
Sam Taulelei said | June 9th 2009 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
This squad merely shows it’s the first one Deans has selected from scratch and represents the types of players he wants and has faith in. We will never know but there could have been more personnel changes until injury intervened during the Super 14. There is an element of unknown quality at test level for some but it’s also an exciting time for those players and fans alike. I would have been a concerned Wallaby supporter if there weren’t changes, last years team could only have made incremental improvements as the same personnel had been together for the past three to four seasons. This side offers greater potential.
James Mortimer said | June 9th 2009 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
Spiro, don’t think the analogy with the All Blacks is quite right.
Deans is injecting youth because they are
a) the best players
b) he has no choice as they don’t have veterans in some places
The AB’s are doing it because they have had their team hamstrung by injuries. BTW Toeava has 20 tests.
Xan_Philp said | June 9th 2009 @ 5:04pm | Report comment
Good to see Deans is giving O’Connor a chance as starting fullback, he should go well.
Xan_Philp said | June 9th 2009 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
O’Connor should perform well as starting fullback, it’s good to see Deans giving the kid a chance to prove himself.
Xan_Philp said | June 9th 2009 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
It’s good to see Deans giving O’Connor a chance to prove that he is capable of being a regular in the run-on side.
Xan_Philp said | June 9th 2009 @ 5:57pm | Report comment
(Ignore the previous posts, computer malfunction)
craig said | June 9th 2009 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
Is that Xan or Mrs O’Connor??