Wallabies mixed on Super Rugby switch
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Wallabies and Queensland forward Scott Higginbotham says having just five-days to transition from Test match football back to Super Rugby will be a tough ask, especially with the Reds’ finals hopes on the line.
Higginbotham and fellow Queenslanders Will Genia, Digby Ioane, Anthony Faingaa and Rob Simmons must make an immediate re-adjustment to the different demands of provincial rugby for Friday’s must-win clash against the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park.
The defending premiers can’t afford a slip-up as they fight to either dislodge the Brumbies from top-spot in the Australian Conference or grind out a wildcard playoff spot on their own terms.
There’s a five-point gap separating them from the Brumbies, and just a point between them and the sixth-placed Hurricanes.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has stressed the importance of his players returning to their provinces as leaders and carrying form forward into the Rugby Championship in August.
Deans said the controversial new system of going back and forth between Test rugby and Super Rugby was a good thing because it refreshed players and fans.
Higginbotham said he and those backing up will have to dig deep.
“It’s not going to be easy going back to Super Rugby and it’s a complete different ball game and style of footy,” he told AAP.
Wallabies winger Adam Ashley-Cooper plays for the battling NSW Waratahs (who have a bye this week) and says the Test break will provide a boost.
“It does a lot for individual confidence. When you’re winning you put yourself in a good zone and hopefully you can carry that on and also just give a little bit more to the other players around you,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“We’ve got a week off so we’re definitely going to use that to recover and refresh ourselves and get back to the ‘Tah camp excited and ready to go for our last two games.”
Higginbotham said the Wallabies could have opened another can of worms had they lost the third Test, even though they’d already secured the series against Wales.
“It’s the old saying, you’re only as good as your last game and we knew if we lost this game there would be a lot of talk,” Higginbotham said.
© AAP 2013
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The Crowd Says (8) | Page 1 of Comments
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June 25th 2012 @ 8:26am
Red Kev said | June 25th 2012 @ 8:26am | Report comment
The Reds have finals hopes? Tell Higginbotham he’s dreaming!
June 25th 2012 @ 9:55am
Cattledog said | June 25th 2012 @ 9:55am | Report comment
You’re right, Higgers. Had you lost, there would have been a lot of talk. Good thing it was such a convincing win…
Now get your mind around the next 3 games for the Reds you blokes…
June 25th 2012 @ 9:58am
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | June 25th 2012 @ 9:58am | Report comment
God I hope the return to Super footy sees some major changes at Tah World.
Surely the Tah coaches can learn something from how guys like Barnsey played in Gold that will transfer to Blue. Surely!
June 25th 2012 @ 10:30am
rl said | June 25th 2012 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I was going to say that the Tahs players will surely struggle with the transition back to… crap.
June 25th 2012 @ 1:34pm
jeznez said | June 25th 2012 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
BBB, you’d have to think the returning guys will bring a lift to the whole squad. between Robinson, Polota-Nau, Kepu, Timani, Dennis, Palu, Barnes, Horne and Ashley-Cooper you have 3/5th’s of the starting Tahs team. Factor in other guys who were part of the Wallabies initial squad selection like Foley and Douglas along with Mitchell who will be further along in his injury recovery and I expect major improvement.
Obviously the season is over for the Tahs but pride has to count for something. If they can lift it may provide a bit of heartache for other Aussie fans as our last two games are the Brumbies and Reds. Still I think overall it would be a good thing for the Wallabies with a view to the internationals later in the year.
Anyway – if it was the Tahs trying to make the finals I wouldn’t expect either of the Reds or Brumbies to lay down for them – so go the Tahs! Here is to nuisance value upsets late in the season!
June 25th 2012 @ 5:22pm
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | June 25th 2012 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
jeznez – Mate I’m praying hard that something BIG changes at Tah World.
I’ll support the boys ’til the death but if I were part of the management & coaching team, I’d be frantic to at least get the appearance of the 2013 campaign started this season. We need a recovery asap. Can Foley do it? That’s the question.
Regardless, I’ll be there in Brisbane wearing my sky blue and probably copping heaps from those rabid Red’s fans.
Nothing would please me more than to have the boys earn the Qld fans respect and by default their respect for me. 
June 25th 2012 @ 4:12pm
Skills & Techniques said | June 25th 2012 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
When are we going to see massive, wholesale changes at the Waratahs?
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June 25th 2012 @ 6:44pm
Ralph said | June 25th 2012 @ 6:44pm | Report comment
Very interesting quote from Higginbotham about the difference between playing for the Reds and the Wallabies; “… a complete different … style of footy…”