Deans must find room for Tuqiri, says Horan
By Darren Walton, 26 Jun 2009 Darren Walton is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Lote Tuqiri, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Tim Horan, Tri Nations, wallabies
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Former Test selector Tim Horan believes Robbie Deans will be taking a huge risk if he overlooks powerhouse winger Lote Tuqiri for the Wallabies’ Tri Nations campaign.
Tuqiri was the only fit member of Deans’ 30-man squad not given game time in the June internationals against the Barbarians and Italy and has again been omitted from Saturday night’s Test against France in Sydney.
Unless he’s bluffing, Deans looks to have shown his hand by picking speedsters Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell and Peter Hynes on the wings ahead of Tuqiri so far in 2009.
Horan, though, believes Deans would be rolling the dice if he left the 67-Test veteran on the outer for the bigger Tests of the winter – most particularly the Bledisloe Cup clashes with the All Blacks.
“I still believe that Lote should be on the bench somewhere because having a small back three can sometimes hurt you when it’s a wet game or a tough game against the All Blacks,” Horan said on Thursday.
“When it’s pretty close, you need players to get you across the advantage line.
“So I’d like to see Lote there in time. He’s too good an asset, especially in those tighter games.
“We saw in the Lions and Springboks match last week that you need bigger players to get across the advantage line and then offload to the quicker players.
“Sometimes in Test matches, that’s the only way to get through that defensive line.”
Horan acknowledged that being a specialist winger, as opposed to boasting the versatility of a Mitchell or an Adam Ashley-Cooper, was working against Australian rugby’s reputed highest-paid player.
“He can only play one position virtually,” Horan said.
“Putting him at outside centre in a Test match would be a last resort, but I just think he’s obviously suffered for the way NSW have been playing their game plan.
“But certainly he’s someone who tries to look for the ball … it will come for him; he’ll play more Test matches, there’s no doubt.
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Who Needs Melon said | June 26th 2009 @ 1:51am | Report comment
Nup. Horan is a huge hero of mine and I enormously respect his opinions. And I can see his point that in some conditions you might, instead of a fast, try-scoring winger, want a bigger guy who will just put his head down, get over the advantage line and offload… But that’s NOT a description of Lote.
LeftArmSpinner said | June 26th 2009 @ 7:22am | Report comment
on ya inside WNM. With you all the way. He can be a Wallaby again when he is fast enough both off the mark and in a straight line, can kick out of hand, runs straight and recycles the ball 100% of the time!!! It doesnt take 6 years to learn this. Just ask any junior rugby coach.!!!!!
Now, WNM, a pop pass. Melon never had the speed to go on with it, despite what he may have said!!!!!
Even looser said | June 26th 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
Am I detecting a slow ground swell to support my theory that Lote will be back?
I believe I am. So far that’s Tim & me.
Come on Lote….speed, speed, speed, straight straight straight, safe hands, safe hands, safe hands & now pop pass, pop pass, pop pass. As Arnold would say ‘yoo kan doo eet’!
Brett McKay said | June 26th 2009 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Not often I find myself disagreeing with Tim Horan, but here I am:
Tim, I dis-concur.
Jason said | June 26th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Until Ioane comes back it makes sence to have Lote at least on the bench. Apart from Stirlo and maybe AAC their’s not a lot of power runners who can beat a tackle with stength. As Timmy said in test matches often you need players like that.
Even looser said | June 26th 2009 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
That’s three.
Dan said | June 26th 2009 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Wow! Lote seems to have really earned the ire of a lot of people… I know he’s not scored a lot of tries lately and he’s lost some pace, but the guy is still a brilliant and intimidating defender (that outpacing a couple weeks ago notwithstanding) and I think there’s still room for him at the wallabies under the right conditions.
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | June 26th 2009 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
I dis-concur, too, with Jason Little’s centre partner.
That’s me ‘n Brett McKay turning your 3, Even looser, into a net 1!
Brett McKay said | June 26th 2009 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
Mick, you haven’t counted Melon and Leftie eiter, so Even Looser is actually at -1….
Peter K said | June 26th 2009 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
In the forwards we have Palu and maybe Elsom as the only ball carriers able to get over the advantage line. In the backs we have ONE Mortlock. If Mortlock is injured and we are playing a top side, especially in the wet then we need a bash barge power runner in the backs. That means either Tahu or Tuqiri. Out of these 2 I would rather have Tuqiri.
Needs a lot of special conditions to apply.