DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
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 Wallabiesv England ANZ Stadium, Sydney
26-06-2010 8:00pm Qantas Wallabies v Ireland Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
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 Fainga'a family, Simmons, Higgenbotham, Houston, Douglas, Fitzpatrick, Inman, Cummins, Brackin-Henry, To'omua, 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.
