Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock shunned bold predictions of an unbeaten tour in favour of less tangible goals as the national rugby squad flew out for the northern hemisphere today.
Given the Wallabies’ away record in recent years, the strength of their opposition and the injuries which have cost them key forwards, it was a circumspect Mortlock who emphasised continuing growth and development of coach Robbie Deans’ new-look squad.
The party of 34 includes four new caps and nine other players with five or fewer Test appearances.
Additionally, there are players like backs Peter Hynes and Ryan Cross who can still be classed as Test rookies.
The Wallabies face five of the world’s top-10 nations plus a star-studded Barbarians side, without established forwards Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman and the fast-improving James Horwill.
The six-match campaign starts with the dead rubber Bledisloe Cup Test against world No.1 New Zealand in Hong Kong on Saturday.
The itinerary continues with Tests against Italy and the three highest-ranked northern hemisphere sides, England (fifth), Wales (sixth) and France (seventh), and concludes at Wembley Stadium against the Barbarians.
While centre Mortlock said an unbeaten campaign wasn’t impossible, he emphasised the tour’s challenges and “significant opportunities”.
“Every week there will be a significant mountain to climb and a new challenge,” Mortlock said.
In Italy a couple of years ago we found it very difficult to play there and all the matches, looking ahead on this tour, will be quite difficult.
“Obviously, at the end of the day, you want to have a successful tour by your win-and-loss ratio.
“I think in this team there’s a huge amount of guys who haven’t been on many spring tours, a lot of guys that are in their first and second season at Test match level and some uncapped guys, as well.
“It’s a great opportunity to blood some of our younger guys and for them to get greater awareness of what they can achieve as a group.
“I think growth is really important on this tour. We’ve come off a Tri-Nations campaign where we went all right, but we weren’t successful, so we know exactly where we want to improve our game.
“If we do that again, that would be good enough in itself and hopefully the by-product of that would be good results.”
New Zealand and Australia have had different lead ups to Saturday’s game with the majority of Wallabies not playing since the climax of the Tri-Nations close to two months ago.
The Australians went into four weekly camps in Sydney, while the majority of New Zealand’s stars stayed match fit over the closing rounds of their domestic competition.
“They will be match-hardened and ready to go, whereas we’ve had an opportunity to regroup as a team and think upon where we want to take our game,” Mortlake said.
“We definitely needed a solid block of work together because realistically it’s pretty hard in the season, you always have a match to focus on.”
Mortlock didn’t expect Australia and New Zealand would change their traditional high-tempo style this weekend, even if the conditions were very humid as expected.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I tell you what, if the yen stays at its current value I reckon more guys will look towards Japan. It's not a bad gig -- good schedule, light games, money that's worth double in NZ and if you're a back you get to be a star like David Hill or Tony Brown. It's probably not as attractive as Europe, but it can add a few years to your career.
mudskipper
Guest
From what I understand Luke McAllister and his father were both given contracts at his UK club Sale. McAllister had to consider what was advantageous to his family and not just himself. Most players need only to consider their own career paths. I respect Luke's choice and for being magnanimous enough sure those that personally matter to him are looked after. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to walk away from all the AB glory…He is a second generation professional who understands to business of sport. He may well come back to NZ, I would expect he would have to play a year at a NZ S14 province before the ABs jersey was offered to him. I hope the New Zealand administration and public don’t hold that against him. If he had an outstanding season with a S14 club he would be back in the AB squad and Henry and Smith couldn't hold back the public demands for McAllister to be included. Remember this is Henry’s last try at winning the RWC cup for eternity, he will do what it takes and use who will win it for him.
Jerry
Guest
"I dont think he will be a regular fixture in the Black jersey." Well, no he won't cause he's signed with another Japanese club. Obviously he came back to NZ hoping to make the 07 WC squad and that didn't happen. He wasn't gonna turn down the yen for another 4 years waiting for 2011 when he'd be too old anyway.
Benjamin
Guest
I wouldn't say i've seen him enough to comment Tah but it has been a recurring theme in certain papers that his distribution has improved. OJ, although NZ did well to win the 3N I don't think Henry would be foolish enough to disregard such a player. Nonu has only ever been a short term fix and Donald is still untried. All it takes is a single loss for the NZ public to be up in arms.
True Tah
Guest
OJ, Flavell's discipline problems were well established, but I can recall him saying that when he was in Japan, he really needed to work on his discipline a lot more - I would have thought his provinical coaches in NZ (given as he used to play for the Blues, he may have played under Graham Henry) would have sorted this out. Good to see him back in NZ, but given the depth/quality of guys coming through, I dont think he will be a regular fixture in the Black jersey.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I don't think MacDonald and Flavell really compare to McAlister bolting off to Europe. Not saying Henry wouldn't take him back, but I don't think he'd waltz his way back into the side. He's a second five who can cover 10, so he's a valuable commodity in NZ rugby, but I'd make him earn his stripes all over again.
True Tah
Guest
OJ, McCalister is a big athletic powerful five-eighth, but he has shown some tendencies to be a bit greedy and ignore his outside man...however Benjamin suggests that he may have improved for Sale, so Im willing to give him the benefit of the doubt here...he will be back in Black, but Carter would need to lose a leg for Luke to wear the no. 10.
Jerry
Guest
I don't think Henry will let McAlister having played in the NH prejudice his selection at all. He's shown that he's good enough in the past and unless his form is considerably poorer on his return, I imagine he'll be back in black sooner rather than later. Henry & his crew didn't hesitate in giving Leon MacDonald and Troy Flavell a second shot at the black jersey when they returned from Japan.
Benjamin
Guest
It's funny you should say that OJ. Stuart Barnes wrote a rather insightful, albeit short, piece on McAlister in 'The Sunday Times', either last week or the week before. He commented on how he felt that McAlister had turned into a better player who was taking better options. As far as I'm concerned Henry showed the ultimate faith in McAlister during the WC QF so I couldn't imagine Henry holding out for too long, especially in light of how one dimensional Nonu makes the midfield.
Nick (KIA)
Guest
McAlister would have to break the door down with dramatically better form than the other options to get back in. Henry/NZRU will rightly want to make it difficult for players to shimmy off and come walzing back into the team when they feel like it. Er, unless your initials are DC.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I dunno if Henry would take McAlister back with open arms. He'd have to show some pretty good form for the Blues and the Blues are a shambles. He'd also need to become a better player. So many times he had a guy on his shoulder and didn't make the pass. Howlett used to chew him out about that. Donald's only 24 so there's a good chance he'll last the distance. He has a good kicking and passing game. His running game is nothing special, but running games don't always win you tight Tests. Perhaps Henry's idea is to develop a back-up who's a different player from Carter. Until he puts a foot wrong, I can't pick holes in the guy. I do agree that playing for Waikato means he lacks Finals experience, and Waikato All Blacks have always had a bad reputation, but I think the judgement on Donald will come when he takes the reigns by himself.
mudskipper
Guest
I think Henry would be taking unnecessary risk not to develop another back up at 10, Brett, Bateman or Slade. Donald is likely not to last the distance to the next RWC and could take a better northern offer. Remember the French game ABs used 3 playmakers…Donald price with a few ABs caps under his belt will go up significantly in the rugby market place. Wallabies have a similar problem with Giteau; any player is one tackle away from serious injury. Wallabies need to create a genuine back up. Look at Jonny Wilkinson story.
True Tah
Guest
OJ, what about McCallister? Doesn't he want to return to NZ to play for the All Blacks? Would you rather have Carter at 10 or Luke? Donald is a safe player, but he's not Carter or Giteau, he hasn't really achieved a lot with the Chiefs though, maybe if he moved to Blues or Hurricanes he would get some more attention?
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I don't follow NZ provincial rugby as closely as others here, but my understanding is that there are a number of young first fives in the country right now. They have about zero chance of making the All Blacks until after the World Cup. Unless Henry falls in love with Carter at 12, or Carter has a career ending injury or something, the only chance for our first fives is as a back-up or a utility. Donald's had limited opportunities at Test level and hasn't dropped the ball yet. After his performance in Brisbane, he can't be faulted. I'll admit he doesn't look the goods as such, but what you want is a guy who's safe as houses.
Nick (KIA)
Guest
I've posted elsewhere about Donald, but I'll reiterate here. I'm not a big fan. He's hot and cold in the S14, sometimes spectacular and other times a liability. He is able to be rattled, and despite what W Smith says about his kicking improving, I think G Smith will fancy a few chargedowns off his kicks. I don't think he'll be in the frame come 2011, suspect there will be others that overtake him. Slade's green and promising. I'm sure he'll be in Crusaders colours next year, probably as understudy to Brett. Carter heading off shore is good for him, or else he'd probably be drafted elsewhere/be open to Force offers. I think he'd be foolish to decide to head too far from Red and Black territory, in terms of his development. This far out, I think best combo for ABs in next year's 3N at 10 and 12 could be Carter-Bateman. Bateman is small but strong fast good defender. Nonu is another like Donald - probably best currently available, but likely to be usurped by someone with more talent showing form. I also don't think the result is a given, much like the other 3 games this year. Neither team has had a lot of rugby as a combination, both sides have first choice players missing or distracted. But I don't think the Humidity will beat anyone.
mudskipper
Guest
ohtani's jacket...fare enough... what do you think about young Colin Slade? We may see more of him at the Crusaders next season. Personally if Giteau doesn't sign with the Brumbies for 2010 they should offer Slade a two deal...before he becomes a AB.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I imagine that the Wallabies want it more than the All Blacks, though the All Blacks would probably be digusted with a loss. It wouldn't surprise me if the Wallaby forwards frustrate the All Black pack. The real test will be whether Australia's defence has improved since the Tri-Nations. IIRC, Carter will miss the Super 14 and the June internationals, then there was some talk about whether he'll be rushed back into the All Black squad or not. Carter's return may depend on results. In any event, Donald has been pencilled in as the back-up 10 and I expect him and Carter to share the duties on this tour.
mudskipper
Guest
ohtani's jacket...There playing for pride and their fans and their national jerseys...The Wallabies have plenty to play for, the question is do the All Blacks? OJ, I didn't realise that’s why Henry has Donald is at 10...next year 2 of the 3 Bledisloe matches are played in NZ so it could be some time before Australia win the cup. I wouldn't be surprised if a similar foreign field was chosen for a fourth Bledisloe match next year. Perhaps Japan if they have a S14 team in 2010 or the USA…or even Twickenham match to kick off the spring tour NH…
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Well the Wallabies might win, but there's nothing to win. They might as well be playing for Wally the Kangaroo. Donald at 10 and Carter at 12 won us the Brisbane Test. Nobody knows when Carter will be phased back into the All Blacks, so Donald is the incumbent first five eight. He might have to play that role in next year's Tri-Nations so get him going now. It's not like Carter won't kill the Wallabies from second five.
mudskipper
Guest
Nick...Williams and Thorn haven't played either for a while. I'm just raising a few observations...the result is not given, half the All Blacks are match fit but exhausted after the ANZ Cup and the other half haven’t trained together. There was only 4 points in it last time… Wallabies Locks Chisholm and Sharp have enough experience to handle the pack. I like Donald at 10, has Henry lost the plot? Gear is great player but ANZ Cup final he was ordinary. I think the humidity will get the better of both sides.