Deans goes for youth and experience
Columnist By Spiro Zavos, 9 Jun 2009 Spiro Zavos is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Luke Burgess, Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharpe, Richard Brown, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
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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- Luke Burgess, Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharpe, Richard Brown, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
June 9th 2009 @ 6:53pm
matt said | June 9th 2009 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
Mungehead , ther were other options, Salvi and Chapman among them. Sometimes size does matter.
June 9th 2009 @ 8:08pm
Worlds Biggest said | June 9th 2009 @ 8:08pm | Report comment
Dingo was quoted as saying Lote and Waugh may not play any Internationals this year. Not a bad situation to be in if neither of these two veterans not feature in the Test set up. Looking forward to seeing O’Connor get a start and how Gower goes.
June 9th 2009 @ 8:27pm
Knives Out said | June 9th 2009 @ 8:27pm | Report comment
Has nobody thought of the Azzurri in all this? Poor, poor Italy.
June 9th 2009 @ 9:51pm
OldManEmu said | June 9th 2009 @ 9:51pm | Report comment
Last year, half way through the domestic season Deans was asked a question about Sharpe and as best I can recall the answer from Deans was – “We know Sharpe’s game, we know what he is capable of, we’ve seen him play, we know him well.” At the time I was a bit disappointed because to me that was Dingo’s way of saying “Yes I know Sharpe and I dont like what I see and I dont think he has anything to offer the team going forward.” And then Sharpe was dropped for the SA tests in the Repblic and I thought, oh well Old Sharpie, get your agent on the phone for the Northern superannation jaunt.
And then something happenned. Sharpe was a revelation on the Spring tour and his form for the Force this autumn was indeed super. I think Sharpe is very much in Deans long term plans and thank God as well. He is a marvellous player and those who scream for his head when they see him “standing out on the backs” and “falling over at the first hint of contact” just dont get what he does bring to the team. Leadership, a cool head, great lineout work, good ball carrying, strong scrummaging, good knowledge of where the pubs are in London….the last point is tongue in cheek of course but you need a few old heads around the team, and if he is still performing well keep him there I say.
Go Sharpie….and Morty.
June 9th 2009 @ 9:58pm
OldManEmu said | June 9th 2009 @ 9:58pm | Report comment
KO – at risk of taking your possibly sarcastic post too seriosly I have thought, WHY? What do Italy get out of this off season tour to play two tests against Australia, one in Canberra in sub arctic conditions, and a test against the All Blacks that will undoubtedly be an absolute massacre – you heard it here first. It is really hard to see how this tour is going to develop the team. What then are the options? Wold it not be better for Italy to play teams they are a realistic chance of beating e.g USA, Canada, Japan and then maybe finish off with a game against Australia or NZ. Italy perfrom bravelyin the 6N bt do not win anywhere near enough games to develop confidence and momentum.
Just a thought.
June 9th 2009 @ 10:09pm
spiro said | June 9th 2009 @ 10:09pm | Report comment
I think the reason why Nathan Sharpe has come back is that Robbie Deans wants more bulk in the pack, especially when Rocky Elsom is not playing.
With the sanction on pulling down the maul now abolished we are seeing far more mauling than in the past year or so. Sharpe’s bulk and lineout skills will be useful for a smallish Wallaby pack (without Elsom). It is a holding operation, I think, until someone emerges to partner James Horwill as the Test second row.
June 9th 2009 @ 10:10pm
Peter K said | June 9th 2009 @ 10:10pm | Report comment
OLDMANEMU – On not so Sharpe. IMO all he offers is the lineout.
You say a good carrier of the ball, he is far to slow and goes down in the tackle too easily. Kimlin, Chisholm and Horwill all are better ball runners. Sharpe is too lazy and does not do the work in tight. He is supposed to be a tight forward not a seagull out wide waiting for scraps.
What happened is we lost Vickerman and Elsom so an expeireinced head was needed. I say not for much longer. I hope when Elsom comes back then Kimlin gets to start.
June 9th 2009 @ 10:11pm
Peter K said | June 9th 2009 @ 10:11pm | Report comment
Spiro – LOL we were on the exact same page!
June 9th 2009 @ 10:58pm
Knives Out said | June 9th 2009 @ 10:58pm | Report comment
OME, they have been very unfortunate with injuries, but other than that they have brought their main squad. However, the real issue is whether that squad can be competitive in the southern hemisphere. Mallett has publicly bemoaned the fact that the tour is at the expense of an opportunity to play teams more closely matched to Italy’s standard. So, all in all, a rather pointless and unfortunate excercise will no doubt ensue. The Wallabies will be able to test their pack against a very solid bunch and it will be good exposure for Robinson and Alexander playing against Perugini and Aguero but what can Deans learn about the backline? Probably not a great deal. Wheoever hooked this meeting up needs a good talking to.
June 10th 2009 @ 12:05am
jools-usa said | June 10th 2009 @ 12:05am | Report comment
Spiro,
During his tenure with Crusaders did Deans develope any as young as O ‘Connor’, and
if so how did they fare?
Jools-USA