Former Wallabies playmaker Elton Flatley believes Robbie Deans is unlikely to find room for both ex-vice-captains Berrick Barnes and Matt Giteau in Australia’s 30-man Rugby World Cup squad.
Adding further significance to Barnes’ eagerly-awaited comeback this weekend from footballers’ migraine, Flatley says three doesn’t go into two, leaving only one of the ball-playing midfielders to join star five-eighth Quade Cooper on the plane to New Zealand in September.
“So Robbie might have to make a decision on that. That’s his job,” Flatley told AAP on Wednesday.
“But if you had to, you probably wouldn’t go with three – obviously Quade is the first-choice 10 at the moment and Berrick and Gits probably cover the same positions – 10 and 12.”
With coach Deans preferring hard-running inside centres Pat McCabe and reserve Anthony Faingaa ahead of Giteau for Saturday night’s Tri Nations opener with South Africa, Wallabies teammates on Wednesday rallied around the relegated 92-Test veteran.
Flatley agreed with hooker Stephen Moore and lock James Horwill that Giteau had been harshly judged following Australia’s embarrassing 32-23 loss to Samoa on Sunday.
“I still think Gits is a world-class player,” he said.
“He was behind a pack that just got physically dominated. So it’s never easy for a five-eighth when that’s the case.
“Gits has still got a lot to offer the Wallabies this year.”
But with Deans offering the 28-year-old no guarantees, Barnes has a golden opportunity to press his World Cup claims when he lines up for Sydney University against Penrith on Saturday.
He hasn’t played for five weeks but Flatley – who had to prematurely retire at just 28 after his own series of head knocks – has been in contact with his former Queensland Reds teammate to offer support and advice.
“It doesn’t matter from what injury, you might have a few reservations,” Flatley said.
“But Berrick’s a smart guy so he knows how his body is and he’s getting good medical advice.
“I don’t think it should be a huge thing for him. Coming back in a club game, he can feel his way back into it. He doesn’t have to come out and play his best game of footy.
“He just has to get in there and do some good things, go and have some fun.
“Bring the smile back, don’t worry about it too much and just get out there and play.
“We all want to see Berrick back out there and running around and playing some good footy and, hopefully down the track, it’s a World Cup year and we’ll be looking at him playing some good footy.
“I know Berrick’s goal is to play in that World Cup.”
While Barnes opted to take time out after enduring painful headaches during several games in the Super Rugby season, Flatley said the series of concussions that forced him to hang up the boots were “a different situation”.
“I basically got to the stage where, if I got a hit, there was a bit of a blurred vision,” he said.
“It would come on quickly and go away pretty quickly but, playing five-eighth, you can’t have that.
“When it started happening more and more, I just knew that it wasn’t right and then I started to shy away from contact situations a little bit and, as soon as you start doing that, you’re nowhere playing professional rugby.
“I don’t know all the ins and outs of Berrick’s situation and hopefully it will never come to that.
“Hopefully he’s got a very long career ahead of him.”
Capital
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq2nY-EExl4 Damo - check out Pat in the Samoa test.
Dexter William
Roar Guru
People assume that Gits is a good halfback, but is it true? Hi s passing skills is pretty bad. He floats his pass and many of them behind the receiver. Againsy Samoa he completely botched a few pass to nobody.
Capital
Roar Guru
Maybe not Fernando He may be lucky to find a place in the 22. If he does it will probably be a result of injuries.
Drew Musch
Roar Pro
I agree wholeheartedly Capital. As this was proven on the end of year tour last year, where in the last match or two Barnes replaced Giteau at inside centre and our backline gelled beautifully. Cooper and Barnes are a good mix.
Capital
Guest
I think James, if Barnes is fit he is the person we want as a second five behind Cooper. You don't want two wildcards, Cooper is unique, we need someone who can provide a different tack and Barnes provides that maturity. I don't think we need him to be a dominant player, we need him to keep our backline going forward, providing good distributiion and kicking effectively when required. As I have said many times, I hope he can cut it.
Fernando Marzano
Guest
I do not think Robbie has ruled out MG, rather I think he wants to try and see other players, but Mat will end is in the final list, I hope so
Fernando Marzano
Guest
I agree whit Capital, Giteau is a great defender than JOC, Barnes and Cooper, is pretty close (talking about size) to Johny Wilkinson, you can question him if is a good kicker or not, if you like how he play or not, but you can´t said anithing about his defensive stage. Matt has a great actittude. I live in Argentina and I don´t miss any WBs game and can´t said is a great player, he has a great respect and consideration of all commentators and fans on this side of the planet. Now that Hernandez is injured we would like to have a replacement in the Pumas with the quality of Git. Anyway traducción del español al inglés anyway everything is debatable and there is nothing written tastes. Fernando - Córdoba - Argentina
The Way It Is
Guest
He has had one super 15 season and is really just getting into grade. He is too raw at the moment give him a year or two
Capital
Guest
Is this the final word? http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/berrick-barnes-says-matt-giteau-is-the-likelier-to-claim-contentious-wallabies-world-cup-squad-berth/story-e6frf55l-1226099222901
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
I sometimes feel bad for Giteau because the press, and everyone at The Roar (including me), can be pretty hard on him. But I agree 100% with Deans not placing him in the squad. His form hasn't been good enough. For all the criticisms people have had of him, he was a better player circa 2005-2007 than he is now. Since 2009 he hasn't been the same. Five-eighth isn't his natural position.
drop kick
Guest
and Barnes put the Reds to the sword that night in Sydney.
Damo
Guest
I like the idea of McCabe too Johnny-boy. But he is still an unknown quantity due to the poor season 4 out 5 super teams had. And I like Faiinga too. My bet is that Deans will have JOC playing 12 in attack and wing in defense, so that Fainga or McCabe can defend in he centres. The more I look at this squad the more it seems that Deans is picking players with multiple position capability possibly to expand his squad options from within. Communication on field will be paramount. While we are tricking the opposition with all the switching we could also trick ourselves.
Justin
Guest
Name a better performing centre in S15 the last 2 years? Yes he made a blue in his first Test, who hasnt? I would hardly call AAC a searing attacking player to be honest. His only option is to put the fend on. Outside of that he NEVER passes, dies with the ball, rarely hits a hole
formeropenside
Guest
Barnes is not a runner of the ball, full stop, and if even he does go through a hole he is too slow - or wont stretch out - and is run down from behind, unless he is about 5m out.
RobS
Guest
Agree again johnny boy, same old same old with the Gits idea at midfield, move on and create new opportunities, Robbie is moving another new exciting piece into place I reckon. Early days for some boys to see if they can (still) do the business before the big one - RWC! Samoa Tri Nations is the chance to iron out some ideas before launching an attack on the Webb Ellis Cup.
jameswm
Guest
Barnes is a stronger runner, better kicker and better defender than Giteau, and puts more people through gaps. Giteau is otherwise comparable.
jameswm
Guest
You've got Brocks in your head. Giteau a better defender than JOC? JOC is a big defender for a smaller guy, though he's more nuggety than Giteau. JOC is stronger in contact overall - significantly. Giteau goes to the mercy position when tackled a lot of the time - ie go to ground and lay it back, rather than wrestle. I'm not necessarily cricising him for that because it can be smart when a bigger guy is defending you, but guys like JOC and AAC shrug off bigger guys sometimes. McCabe, Fainga'a, Barnes, JOC and AAC are all much stronger defenders than Giteau. Look what JOC does to bigger guys. Giteau is a solid defender but no more, Capital. He's not a noted defender, but he's competent. Defence is neither a weakness nor a strength of his. A solid defender does not add "midfield starch" - you need to be more than ok to do that.
A
Guest
He wont get the opportunity at 13 as AAC/Mccabe defend just as well as him but offer so much more in attack. Note, i thought AAC very ordinary at fullback with his useless kicking, but he gives so much go forward, although at the brums this year he was...ordinary. As for 12 deans has previously liked a second five playing and watch for JOC to come in off wing and run through middle if Mccabe already had a few hit ups. Watch the lines he ran in Samoa game, very good for a bloke with limited game time in 12. Best centre in either spot...? Are you his agent? He is very courageous and he has played some really good footy this year but he is not the best in either spot in those years. Bled cup game last year he ran off his line twice and got beaten by by nonu who scored from one of those stuff ups from memory. Although that was his debut with gits/barnes (can't remember) not doing him any favours at all...maybe a chance at redemption against a minnow in the RWC. Happy for him, and hope he gets that chance to prove that he is better than our other centre options!
mudskipper
Guest
franky I don't think its been barnes best year. Giteau is the guy with form in 2011. He sure put the Reds to the sword that night at suncorp...
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Gits is a better defender than JOC but thats it - JOC is a much better playmaker, kicker, goal kicker, etc