I’m really looking forward to the rugby that’s coming up this year. I mean really looking forward to it.
In the last few years, the pre-Tri Nations June Tests have been reasonably exciting. Last year the Wallabies tore up the Barbarians in a try-fest, before wrecking the Italians in consecutive Tests. Finally the Wallabies edged out the French in a dour, yet physical, affair in Sydney.
These games provided some excitement for the fans, as well as giving the Wallabies some momentum going into the Tri Nations. But the quality of the opposition was questionable. The Italians, try as they may, are still just a few sandwiches short of admission to the elite rugby nations party, and the French were stretched thin after a tough series against New Zealand. And the Barbarians, well the less said about their performance last year the better.
Also, the Wallabies side featured in last years Mid-Year Tests was pretty much business as usual in terms of selection, with the odd new player (JO’C for example). Little experimentation was shown.
This year, however, the Wallabies have the opportunity to test new combinations in a special and rare way.
Beginning with the first Test against Fiji in Canberra the selectors should select the same, or a very similar incarnation of the team that played in the Wallabies last test (vs Wales at the Millenium Stadium) to set a benchmark. Australia will most definetly win this match, but this could be a chance to give last years squad a run and to see how they are performing.
For example, Giteau and Barnes have copped a fair amount of flak (fair as in justified, as well as large) around here this year especially. This option provides a good opportunity to see whether they are still capable of stepping up in the green and gold, or whether they dont deserve a spot in the squad this year. Richard Brown, Matt Dunning, and Luke Burgess are just a few names who need to be tested this way as well, just to name a few. For the Wallabies coaches, this could be the “Damage assesment Test”.
The “Australian Barbarians” games are where the new up-and-coming players and combinations should be given a run. Beale, Horne, most of the Faingaa family, Simmons, Higgenbotham, Houston, Douglas, Fitzpatrick, Inman, Cummins, Brackin-Henry, Toomua, Leilifano, this list goes on- these are all exciting prospects that are too green to be thrown into the deep end of full Test Rugby. It is critical that the “roughies” of Australia are given a decent chance to prove whether they are ready, need work, or they’re just Hendrik Roo- I mean duds. Oh, and don’t forget Hangers.
Hopefully, if the coaching staff and selectors follow this method, by the time the Wallabies take on Ireland, a new look, jam packed and optimal Wallabies squad will have been molded out of the extended squad to be picked at the end of the Super 14.
By all means, go nuts for the remainder of the Super 14. But if you are dissapointed by May 29th, just remember what’s around the corner.
One of the big questions I’ve been wondering about is whether the touring squad selections will be based on this being a serious tour or a development tour, as we have seen the Northern Hemisphere countries send fresh faced squads down under with some very one sided results. However, the trend seems to be shifting- for instance, the French squad that toured New Zealand and Australia last year was as close to a full strength squad as possible. Hopefully, we can see sides that really take it to the Wallabies, as this will give them a solid pre-Tri Nations hit out.
Here are the challengers:
England
The last time Australia played England was in the EOYT’s at Twickenham, with Australia winning 18 – 9 in the opening match of their Grand Slam Tour. England have stalled since the last RWC, where they were runners up. They haven’t won the 6 Nations since 2003, although they have been runners up twice since then. In the most recent 6 Nations, England were a mixed bag. They opened their tournament with a 30 – 17 drubbing of the Welsh, probably the highlight of their competition. However, lowlights included a 15-all draw with the Scots at Murrayfield and Jonny Wilkinson ending his streak of penalty goals that had begun in 2003.
England haven’t won in Australia since that man kicked a heartbreaker in 2003, and their last trip to Australia saw them crucified 43 – 18 at what is now Etihad Stadium. With current captain Steven Borthwick all but ruled out for the tour, the English may be led down under by Lewis “Mad Dog” Moody. The travel will be an issue for them, as they are set to play two games in Perth before getting steel-toed back to Gosford for a midweek game, then winding up in Sydney, before leaving Australia to end their tour against the NZ Maori.
(Edit: England Australasian Tour Squad of 44 picked; see Lance’s article here )
Ireland
Ireland stole a 20-all draw last time these two sides met in their match at Croke Park, with Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll scoring in the 79th minute to wreck the Wallabies Grand Slam party. Ireland have experienced a resurgence since their embarassment at the 2007 RWC, bouncing back to win the Six Nations in 2009 and be runners up this year. 16 Irish players were selected in the British and Irish Lions squad that toured South Africa last year.
The last time Ireland played in Australia was an 18-12 victory for Australia in match that featured a spirited performance by the Irish. Many of the players in this game are still core members of the Irish side, now seasoned veterans having experienced tours, 6 Nations and the B&IL Tour last year. The two tests against England might be an opportunity to test some new combinations, but the game against Ireland will be tough. Ireland play New Zealand two weeks before their clash against the Wallabies, and one would assume they will come to Australia and acclimatise. The Irish team will be fresh and rareing to go- expect a trasher.
If the Irish bring a top team to play a top Wallabies team, it should be an absolute cracker.
Fiji
In between World Cups, Fiji are usually an unknown quantity. In 2009, the IRB designated that June was a Global Release Period, so the Fijian players in European clubs are available for selection- this is a big win from both a rugby and a marketing perspective. They may not be picked, but some players that are available for selection include Napolioni Nalaga, Deacon Manu, Nicky Little and Mosese Rauluni.
The last outing the Fijian team had was last years EOYT’s, but the coaching staff claimed that the IRB did not help them gain access to Fijian players tied up in their club teams in France, which the IRB denied. Regardless, the Fijian team was competitive against Scotland, going down 23 – 10 at Murrayfield, but they were demolished the following by Scotland 41 – 6. The last time Fiji played the Wallabies they were spanked 49 – 0 at Subiaco.
Fiji have the ability, when at full strength, to be giant killers. This was obvious in the RWC 07. A full strength Fijian team will provide an exciting and testing fixture, and a good start for the Wallabies Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.
Timetable
05-06-2010 7:30pm Qantas Wallabies v Fiji Canberra Stadium, Canberra
08-06-2010 7:00pm Australian Barbarians v England Members Equity Stadium, Perth
12-06-2010 6:00pm Qantas Wallabies v England Subiaco Oval, Perth
15-06-2010 7:30pm Australian Barbarians v England Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
19-06-2010 8:00pm Qantas Wallabies v England ANZ Stadium, Sydney
26-06-2010 8:00pm Qantas Wallabies v Ireland Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
