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Wallabies coach Robbie Deans talks to the team during the Wallabies Captain's run in Sydney on Friday, July 25, 2008. AAP Image/Jenny Evans
The Wallaby team that Robbie Deans has announced to play Italy at Melbourne on Saturday night has been called “a radically experimental team.” I’d be more inclined to say that Deans is cautiously trying out a few players in slightly different positions with a view to the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad.
Another consideration is to give other players some experience in positions that are not at risk (first five-eighths, second five-eights, centre, the props, second row), so that when the inevitable injuries occur, the quality of the cover is known.
For some time I’ve been advocating looking at George Smith as a Toutai Kefu-type of number 8. One reason for this is that the openside flanker position is a sort of kamikaze type of role that exposes the player to continual injuries.
The case of Richie McCaw is an example of this.
Smith has been fortunate in that he hasn’t suffered from injuries, but they are more likely if he plays in the number 7 jersey than in the number 8 jersey.
The Wallabies, moreover, have a very good young openside flanker in David Pocock. Pocock is 183cm, which makes him taller than Smith (180cm) and Phil Waugh (175cm).
If the experiment of the Pocock/Smith combination works, and with Rocky Elsom/Dean Mumm providing the third lineout jumper, the Wallabies would have a very creative, quick, skilful and hard-running backrow that would match even the Springboks (who will be much taller) in impact.
Playing Berrick Barnes at first five-eights and Quade Cooper at second five-eights is also interesting, and correct in my opinion. The Queensland Reds tended to use the two players the other way around, which was wrong.
But Cooper, like Carlos Spencer, a player he resembles a lot in style and skills, plays too often like a headless chook when given the frontline playmaking role. But at inside centre, with service from the steady Berrick Barnes, Cooper can challenge the fatties in the middle of the field after the first phase play.
Matt Giteau has played splendidly at first five-eighths in both the Wallabies matches this season. But, aside from a brilliant performance against England at Twickenham some years ago, he has rarely been dominant, in the Daniel Carter mould, at first five-eighths for the Wallabies.
Barnes plays more like the five-eighths that Deans likes.
He underplays his hand but sets up the outsides intelligently, kicks well and defends his inside channel very strongly against the charging opposition loose forwards.
Last season Nathan Sharpe was dropped from the Wallaby squad. He was brought back and has started in the first two games this season. But I can’t see him playing a big part in Deans’ 2011 RWC plans.
The search is on for a tall timber, jumping and scrummaging second-rower to partner James Horwill. Peter Kimlin seems to have the inside running. His performance on Saturday night will be closely observed, for future reference.
The intriguing omission is Lote Tuqiri, not only from the starting side but from the reserves as well. Deans has said that he wants everyone to get a game in the early-season Tests so we should see Tuqiri in the squad, at least, to play a fascinating Test against France.
Peter Hynes has been given a chance to make a claim for his wing position. He impressed this season for the Queensland Reds with his attack of the ball at kick-offs, and also his energy around the field.
The back-three of James O’Connor, Lachie Turner and Hynes has a Crusader look about it, with brilliance, skills and importantly (for Deans) hard work on and off the ball showing out.
Although this side is being called experimental, my guess is that most of the players in it will feature strongly in the RWC 2011 squad. There is, of course, something of Mrs Beetson and her rabbit pie recipe in this: “First, catch your rabbit.”
For this team to be the prototype of the 2011 RWC squad, it has to perform well against Italy, something that should not be taken for granted.