The Australian Barbarians side will be taking on the Canadian national team tonight on the Gold Coast. Join us before the 7:30pm AEST kickoff for live scores and blog of the match featuring a number of fringe Wallabies hoping to impress – and a rare chance to see the Canadians play rugby.
This is a last-chance saloon for a few Australian players to prove themselves before the Rugby World Cup is underway.
Berrick Barnes will want to prove he is up to the task of running the show at 10 to prove himself a worthy back up to Quade Cooper.
He won’t necessarily be expected to produce the same off the cuff attack, but will be hoping he guides the team well, makes space for his backline and gives them chances in space to show their wares.
Rob Horne has been earmarked for big things and will be out to prove himself on a bigger stage after spending the majority of the last two years on the sideline without a chance to prove his backers.
James Slipper, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Drew Mitchell – all returning from injury lay-offs – will be eager to get through the match unscathed.
Robbie Deans, and Wallabies supporters are well aware of what these men offer the national side, the real issue is the fitness of the trio.
A running Mitchell on the wing for the Wallabies makes the side far more balanced; Slipper has been one of the in-form and most promising props in Australia over the last 24 months while Polota-Nau is a human wrecking ball.
A solid 60+ minutes is on the agenda for all of them before they are put back in the cotton wool.
With Matt Giteau pulling out through injury, Nick Phipps is another interesting player to watch because he is arguably the most improved player in the country this year.
At the world cup – barring injury – he isn’t likely to see many playing minutes in meaningful situations.
However with Luke Burgess leaving for France after the Cup, Phipps will be eyeing off every chance to solidify his standing as the next in line to deputise for Will Genia in the future.
One thing that might make his life a little difficult is the selection of the back row.
Pat McCutcheon, Matt Hodgson and Dave Dennis are hardly the type of players to physically dominate the play for long periods.
No one has doubted Phipps skills this year but his decisions under pressure haven’t always been able to match that talent.
This is Canada, but Phipps may find himself under pressure clearing slow or loose ball on occasion. It will be up to Polota-Nau, Sitaleki Timani and Nathan Sharpe to provide a bit of the grunt and enforcement both with the ball in hand and in the ruck.
p.Tah
Guest
I don't think you want me blogging from the pub :)
p.Tah
Guest
Just read that Horne is likely to be named on the bench for tomorrow, so good call Jutsy
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Thanks for the feedback guys - we're working on ironing this out before the Rugby World Cup. ...and does that mean no to live blogging tomorrow night? :)
p.Tah
Guest
perhaps they were just making sure Hornes elbow wasnt risked any further. Thought he had a good game except for one defensive lapse in the 1st half.
Jutsy
Guest
I only saw the second half and noticed rob horne was already subbed off but he was running with the bench so didnt seem injured. Do you guys think he was subbed early because deans wants him on the bench tomorrow? I thought he would choose barnes but barnes played the whole 80 so I doubt he would back up tmrw
Nashi
Guest
Yeah, I kept waiting for you to type something so I din't have to scroll to the bottom, luckily you posted rapid fire! If the comments box xtayed at the top you could see the comments as they came in rather than losing track.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
I think I agree with both of those suggestions. It would be great for the actual comment box to be above the comments. And the article could slip below the comments once the game actually starts, or a few mintues before.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Thanks very much guys! Appreciate it. I'd love to be doing it tomorrow as well but I have 2 parties to attend that I have been strongly reminded are compulsory. So if someone could fill in that would be great. I will be refreshing this page on my phone to keep up to date with the action if someone volunteers! I should be covering some games on here for the world cup too. Bigger and smaller ones. There is a lot of rugby left this year!
Nashi
Guest
and add the "Have your say" to the top as well.
p.Tah
Guest
Tristan, love the live blog. A potential improvement: when the page refreshes you need to scroll down past the article. perhaps put the article at the bottom of the page once the blogging starts so the most recent comment is at the top of the page and no scrolling is required, Not really a hassle, but could be an improvement.
Nashi
Guest
I guess Barnes would be a maybe given the lack of 10/12 cover.
Shahsan
Guest
This is what i said about this issue, on another post on Samoa and other minnows and refs: "The problem for the island teams, in fact for all the smaller nations, is that refs take the opportunity to show off their knowledge of the law books when they ref the small teams, something they dont dare do when they ref the biggest nations. How many times do refs dare penalise McCaw or Pocock or Brussow, or Botha, Du Plessis, for examples, without paying the price?"
p.Tah
Guest
Yep, great call EP, tnx!
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Nice effort barbarians and canadians. can the canadians push the french at the rwc?
Nashi
Guest
Thanks for the call EP. Looking forward to the big one tomorrow!
Elisha Pearce
Expert
I don't think thats the plan. Mitchell and Turner have been out there a long time.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Nice call EP - thanks... and on that note! Roarers - we're after a live blogger for tomorrow night's Tri Nations decider: Wallabies vs All Blacks Can anyone help? Email us via our contact form! http://www.theroar.com.au/contact-us
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Just saw a close up of Slipper. Is he pudgier than before his break?
Elisha Pearce
Expert
The Baa Baas line up and clap off the Canadians and then the Canadians form up to do the same thing for the Baa Baas. One of the best things about rugby is comraderie.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
I think that is a fair call Heavyd. The ref was a little harsh on them. I don't think they were doing anything the Baa Baas weren't but they certainly appeared to get called out a lot more.