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Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
From AAP
Teenager To'omua joins Wallabies squad
Brumbies teenager Matt To'omua will join the Wallabies‘ spring tour squad as the prospects of vice-captain Berrick Barnes going to Europe lengthened on Friday.
To'omua, a 19-year-old five-eighth, will arrive in London on Saturday and play in Australia’s second-string team’s mid-week fixture against English club side Gloucester on Tuesday night.
An MRI scan on Barnes’ left ankle on Friday night – after he rolled it on Thursday and was ruled out of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Tokyo – proved inconclusive.
But the general feeling was that the playmaker is likely headed home.
Barnes had stayed up until 4am on Friday icing the ankle in a desperate bid to restrict the damage.
“If anyone can get it right, that little bugger can. He’s so dogged,” Wallabies physiotherapist Geoff Clark said earlier on Friday.
Should Barnes’ worst fears be realised it will be the second spring tour in succession he’s returned early from.
Barnes had broken down with a knee injury less than 20 minutes into last year’s tour.
The classy midfielder’s absence would be a massive setback to the Wallabies’ prospects of completing a grand slam sweep of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
To'omua is the second Brumbies player added to the touring party this week after centre Tyrone Smith – younger brother of Test stalwart George – arrived on Thursday to replace NSW Waratahs youngster Rob Horne, who tore his hamstring at training.
“This is a great development opportunity for Matt, as it is for his Brumbies team-mate Tyrone Smith, who joined us earlier in the week,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.
“We had always planned to restrict the involvement of the Test playing staff in this match as much as we could, to allow those individuals to recover from the match in Tokyo on the Saturday.
“By having 19 players available to us who didn’t start in Tokyo, we can ensure those who started against the All Blacks can recover properly while providing a valuable development opportunity to a wider group of players at Gloucester.
“We can then settle on a combination for the Test against England the following weekend at Twickenham.”
Three players who start in Saturday’s Test in Tokyo will be required for the match-night 22 at Gloucester, but Deans said they would only be named on the bench.
Teenager To'omua joins Wallabies squad
Brumbies teenager Matt To'omua will join the Wallabies‘ spring tour squad as the prospects of vice-captain Berrick Barnes going to Europe lengthened on Friday.
To'omua, a 19-year-old five-eighth, will arrive in London on Saturday and play in Australia’s second-string team’s mid-week fixture against English club side Gloucester on Tuesday night.
An MRI scan on Barnes’ left ankle on Friday night – after he rolled it on Thursday and was ruled out of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Tokyo – proved inconclusive.
But the general feeling was that the playmaker is likely headed home.
Barnes had stayed up until 4am on Friday icing the ankle in a desperate bid to restrict the damage.
“If anyone can get it right, that little bugger can. He’s so dogged,” Wallabies physiotherapist Geoff Clark said earlier on Friday.
Should Barnes’ worst fears be realised it will be the second spring tour in succession he’s returned early from.
Barnes had broken down with a knee injury less than 20 minutes into last year’s tour.
The classy midfielder’s absence would be a massive setback to the Wallabies’ prospects of completing a grand slam sweep of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
To'omua is the second Brumbies player added to the touring party this week after centre Tyrone Smith – younger brother of Test stalwart George – arrived on Thursday to replace NSW Waratahs youngster Rob Horne, who tore his hamstring at training.
“This is a great development opportunity for Matt, as it is for his Brumbies team-mate Tyrone Smith, who joined us earlier in the week,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.
“We had always planned to restrict the involvement of the Test playing staff in this match as much as we could, to allow those individuals to recover from the match in Tokyo on the Saturday.
“By having 19 players available to us who didn’t start in Tokyo, we can ensure those who started against the All Blacks can recover properly while providing a valuable development opportunity to a wider group of players at Gloucester.
“We can then settle on a combination for the Test against England the following weekend at Twickenham.”
Three players who start in Saturday’s Test in Tokyo will be required for the match-night 22 at Gloucester, but Deans said they would only be named on the bench.
Scarfman
Knitter of the Scarf
In Barnes' news just to hand:
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/...-avoids-surgery/2009/11/02/1257010144162.html
Great news. I was a bit worried that this one might really affect his ability to turn. Should be fine, now, I think.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/...-avoids-surgery/2009/11/02/1257010144162.html
Great news. I was a bit worried that this one might really affect his ability to turn. Should be fine, now, I think.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Good news - apparently - but syndesmosis injuries are absolute dog injuries and one should take favourable opinions about outcomes from them with a grain of salt.
Matt Rogers had such an injury whilst under contract with the Tahs and it took him an age to get back on the park. If Barnes appears for the Tahs and has no syndesmosis complications, I will retract, should I remember to do so.
Matt Rogers had such an injury whilst under contract with the Tahs and it took him an age to get back on the park. If Barnes appears for the Tahs and has no syndesmosis complications, I will retract, should I remember to do so.
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