Deans to persist with twin playmakers for Grand Slam
By Darren Walton, 9 Oct 2009
Darren Walton is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Adam Ashley-Cooper, Al Baxter, Ben Alexander, Benn Robinson, Berrick Barnes, Damien Fitzpatrick, David Dennis, David Pocock, dean mumm, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, George Smith, James Horwill, James OConnor, Lachie Turner, Luke Burgess, Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Matt Giteau, Matt Hodgson, Mitchell Chapman, Pek Cowan, Peter Hynes, Phil Waugh, Quade Cooper, Richard Brown, Richard Kingi, Rob Horne, robbie deans, Rocky Elsom, Rugby Union, Ryan Cross, Stephen Moore, Stirling Mortlock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, wallabies, Will Genia, Wycliff Palu
Offering no guarantees, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans plans to continue alternating Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes in the chief playmaking role on next month’s grand slam tour of the UK and Ireland.
Deans shot down talk that Giteau was upset at the prospect of being shifted from five-eighth to inside centre after Australia’s two midfield generals shared the flyhalf duties during the Wallabies’ much-hyped internal trial at Sydney’s Riverview College on Thursday.
Playing on the same side for the 70-minute hit-out, Giteau started at five-eighth before frequently switching with Barnes, who looked more comfortable in the No.10 role, delivering the last pass or kick for three of the so-called Wombats’ seven tries against the mostly second-string Possoms outfit.
Giteau and Barnes will be two of the first players picked in the 35-man touring squad named on Friday, but exactly where they line up in the four Tests against the home nations plus the Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand in Tokyo on October 31 remains up in the air.
Deans admitted to having addressed Giteau on the subject, but refused to divulge details of the discussions between coach and his reportedly unhappy camper – other than to suggest he remains undecided about who should call the shots on a more permanent basis.
“Well, you’ve seen them in both roles already so there’s nothing new in that,” Deans said.
“We talk about initiatives within the game. How long have you got? There’s a lot of detail involved with that sort of stuff, but it’s not a big deal.
“I know people like to make a big deal of those things (but) any initiatives that we take will probably not be discernible to the lay person.
“You’ve seen them in both roles, as you have done today. You’ll see them in both roles in the future.”
Conceding the Wallabies backline was not firing to its full capacity, Barnes said he and Giteau were “working with a few things at the moment and trying to sort out combinations – who’s where, what works best for both players”.
“So we’ll keep tinkering with those things for the next coming weeks,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get some fluency back in our game and obviously get the enjoyment back in the team.”
The in-house trial – which attracted about 3,000 spectators – gave Deans plenty of food for thought before he sat down with selectors to choose a final touring squad.
With the stakes high, Deans was delighted with the commitment, intensity and discipline of his players as they slugged it out under virtual match conditions for a berth on the historic tour.
“While there was intensity in it and there was a lot of meaning in it because there was a lot of individual aspiration, the good thing was it didn’t deteriorate into self interest,” he said.
“Blokes still thought about their team and how they could serve their team and those are the traits that we’re looking for.”
The casualty list included Richard Brown and Matt Hodgson, who both suffered head cuts, fellow back-rower Stephen Hoiles (grade one hamstring strain) and hooker Stephen Moore (nose).
All four, though, were expected to be available for selection, unlike veteran lock Nathan Sharpe, who will undergo shoulder surgery next week, and young wing hopeful Nick Cummins, who has a “nasty” foot injury similar to that which kept James Horwill out for six months last year.
With Sharpe and Cummins out, only six players from the 43-man train-on squad will be omitted, but Deans said even they may earn a call-up in the next fortnight should anyone else go down injured.
Possible grand slam squad
Backs: James O’Connor, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Rob Horne, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Ryan Cross, Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Luke Burgess, Richard Kingi.
Forwards: Richard Brown, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, George Smith, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Matt Hodgson, David Dennis, Mitchell Chapman, Dean Mumm, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Pek Cowan, Al Baxter, Matt Dunning, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Damien Fitzpatrick.
© AAP 2012
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Frank O'Keeffe said | October 9th 2009 @ 4:51am | Report comment
Stupid, stupid boy!
I’m convinced for the Wallabies to play at their best they need Barnes at 10 all the time. To me, the decision to leave Giteau at no 10 defines Robbie stint as coach more than anything else. It hasn’t worked for Australia. He should move back to 12. At 10 Giteau’s kicking from hand has been terrible, and when he actualluy passes the ball he usually runs across the field, complicating things for his outside backs.
Here’s a theory: is the reason why Giteau and Barnes kicked so much this year because they aren’t settled in the one position?
Make one the singular playmkaer. I’d suggest Barnes is by far the better option.
cookee said | October 9th 2009 @ 6:32am | Report comment
FRANK,YOU CALL DEANS STUPID and yes some of his tactics have indeed failed.but playing giteau at ten with barnes alternating to me is not his worst decision but smacks of treating the players ingenuously;where is the courage to commit to the development of barnes for the future or is placating giteau more politically motivated.seems to be one rule for team another for coaches
fox said | October 9th 2009 @ 7:10am | Report comment
Like there’s not enough to worry about for the inside backs during the high pace of test rugby, do you have to add’whose turn it is to play glory boy’ to that list? It creates indecision. What’s next, midfield rock paper scissors?
cookee said | October 9th 2009 @ 7:16am | Report comment
fair enuf foxy
fox said | October 9th 2009 @ 7:42am | Report comment
I am reading on the Australian that Mortlock has been dumped as captain with Rocky at short odds to be his replacement. I hope that’s true!
simon said | October 9th 2009 @ 7:46am | Report comment
For all we know, it could be Barnes to play no 10 after all. If he gets a shot in that spot and plays well, that will confirm it. It might be all part of the transition.
ExpatSin said | October 9th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Deans is too scared to upset the senior players but he must be talking advice/direction from O’Niell. I have never known him to shy away from hard decisions. Giteau should stop sulking. If his form warranted his stay at 10 there would be no issue. As for Mortlock, he is Japan/overseas bound. The writing has been on the wall all season.
cookee said | October 9th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
EXPAT;roarers must distinguish between deans armchair ride in nz and new role and situation in aust .deans inability to adapt in aust , using his same mode of operating simply doesnt wash ;easy making the hard decisions with a huge catchment of players coming thru and lack of other code competition in nz;it requires a different approach and deep understanding of man mgt not stating the obvious individual reactions to deans style of coaching and kneejerk punishment .the effective coach surely feels the situational climate and fabricates ,unravels and resolves the complication.do you agree?
Invictus said | October 9th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Two playmakers is the traditional kiwi setup. Playing the next 10 at 12 to begin with isn’t unusual either. If they are going to alternate in the role it will be interesting to see which one ends up spending more time there.
If Barnes goes well at flyhalf for the Tahs next year, and manages a full season, I think that will seal the deal.
ohtani's jacket said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:09pm | Report comment
Nah, the way Deans is playing Giteau and Barnes is not the traditional New Zealand first five/second five set-up, and more importantly it’s completely alien to Australian rugby. Whoever’s responsible for this is an idiot. It hasn’t worked for nigh on two years. TWO YEARS.
Brett McKay said | October 9th 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Squad named Gents.
Qantas Wallabies named for 2009 Spring Tour
October 09, 2009 – 10:00am
Story by: ARU
Rocky Elsom will captain the Qantas Wallabies for the 2009 Spring Tour
Seven uncapped players have been included among the 35-man Qantas Wallabies squad announced today for the 2009 Spring Tour, among a travelling party which also includes a new captain, Rocky Elsom, and vice captain, in Berrick Barnes.
The tour, which kicks off at the end of the month in Japan, will incorporate Australia’s first attempt at a Grand Slam of the four British Home Unions in 25 years.
While Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson and NSW Waratahs utility back Kurtley Beale had been involved within the Qantas Wallabies set-up during the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series earlier in the year, the tour will represent the first Qantas Wallabies’ involvements for five others.
These are Queensland Reds halfback Richard Kingi, NSW Waratahs midfield back Rob Horne, Brumbies blindside flanker Mitchell Chapman, NSW Waratahs lock Dave Dennis and ACT Brumbies prop Salesi Ma’afu.
The new leadership group is headed up by Elsom, 26, who has played 44 Tests for his country, having debuted against Samoa in 2005. He returned to Australia earlier this year in time to play four times during the Tri Nations, after a successful off-season in Ireland where he helped the Dublin-based Leinster club annex its maiden European Cup title. He now becomes Australia’s 76th Test captain.
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans felt that the time was right to adjust the leadership of the team.
Stirling Mortlock was the incumbent captain when Deans took over last year.
“Stirling has done a good job as Australian skipper, both before I became involved, and over the last 16 months. He also understands that this initiative has no meaning in terms of his playing future. He has indicated a desire to continue not only to play but also to lead and we respect that,” Deans says.
For Deans, leadership has never been about title, but more about actions.
Deans has also historically shown a preference for the captain to be in the forward pack.
“Although George [Smith] did a sound job taking over once Stirling [Mortlock] was injured this season, we feel the role has never really sat naturally with him. Captaincy requires a big commitment both on and away from the field and we believe George is better served not being saddled with the additional responsibility. He still has the opportunity to contribute leadership within the group.”
Deans says Elsom appealed as the best option for the position, both due to his certainty in terms of selection, and ability to lead from the front.
“Rocky has the respect of his team-mates because of his approach and the total commitment he brings to the game,” Deans says.
Twenty seven of the players selected today featured for the Wallabies earlier in the year, in either the mid-year Test window or during the Tri Nations.
Three players who were members of the pre-tour training squad – lock Nathan Sharpe, uncapped winger Nick Cummins and flanker Phil Waugh, were not considered due to injury. Sharpe and Cummins both have injuries which ruled them out for the entire tour while Waugh was not going to be available for the first fixtures.
The other player to miss selection from the Tri Nations squad is prop Al Baxter.
…..
The Qantas Wallabies Squad for the 2009 Spring Tour, incorporating Australia’s first Grand Slam attempt in 25 years, is:
Player Position Super 14 Team Age Test Caps
Ben Alexander Prop Brumbies 24 13
Adam Ashley-Cooper Fullback-Wing Brumbies 25 32
**Berrick Barnes Inside centre-Flyhalf Queensland Reds 23 21
Kurtley Beale Flyhalf/Fullback NSW Waratahs 20 Uncapped
Richard Brown No 8/Loose Forward Western Force 25 11
Luke Burgess Halfback NSW Waratahs 26 19
Mitchell Chapman Blindside Flanker Brumbies 26 Uncapped
Mark Chisholm Lock Brumbies 28 43
Quade Cooper Flyhalf Queensland Reds 21 7
Pekahou Cowan Prop Western Force 23 3
Ryan Cross Centre Western Force 30 15
Dave Dennis Lock NSW Waratahs 23 Uncapped
Matt Dunning Prop Western Force 30 43
*Rocky Elsom Flanker Brumbies 26 44
Will Genia Halfback Queensland Reds 21 6
Matt Giteau Flyhalf Western Force 27 73
Matt Hodgson Loose forward Western Force 27 Uncapped
Rob Horne Centre NSW Waratahs 20 Uncapped
James Horwill Lock Queensland Reds 24 19
Peter Hynes Wing Queensland Reds 27 17
Digby Ioane Wing/Centre Queensland Reds 24 4
Sekope Kepu Prop NSW Waratahs 23 2
Richard Kingi Halfback Queensland Reds 20 Uncapped
Salesi Ma’afu Prop Brumbies 26 Uncapped
Drew Mitchell Wing/Fullback Western Force 25 37
Stephen Moore Hooker Brumbies 26 41
Stirling Mortlock Centre Brumbies 32 80
Dean Mumm Lock/Loose-forward NSW Waratahs 25 15
James O’Connor Fullback Western Force 19 10
Wycliff Palu No 8 NSW Waratahs 27 31
David Pocock Flanker Western Force 21 11
Tatafu Polota-Nau Hooker NSW Waratahs 24 18
Benn Robinson Prop NSW Waratahs 25 26
George Smith Flanker Brumbies 29 105
Lachie Turner Wing/Fullback NSW Waratahs 22 11
* = captain
** = vice captain
Invictus said | October 9th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
They’ll be happy at Nudgee.
Knives Out said | October 9th 2009 @ 8:33pm | Report comment
And… Ewen McKenzie is the new Reds coach. What a day.
Invictus said | October 9th 2009 @ 9:46pm | Report comment
Doesn’t look good. The only other person interviewed was Knuckles. You have to wonder at the decision making process at the QRU.
jacko said | October 9th 2009 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Elsom is now captain…. perhaps we’ll see some on field leadership for a change.
cookie said | October 9th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
So who are the six that will be omitted?
Brett McKay said | October 9th 2009 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
cookie, Sharpe and Cummins were ruled out of the 43 by injury, and Waugh was essentially ruled out the same way. From the remaining 40, Hoiles, Baxter, Valentine, McCalman and Fitzpatrick look to be the ones omitted…