Craig Gower set to play five-eighth for Italy against Wallabies
By Iain Payten
May 14, 2009 Craig Gower is set for a showdown with Wallabies ace Matt Giteau in Canberra next month after being given the nod for Italy's tour of Australia.
The exciting duel is expected to be confirmed next week when Gower is officially selected in the Azzurri squad, following two years in French rugby.
Gower has been in outstanding form for Bayonne at five-eighth and starred for the mid-table side in a close loss to powerhouse outfit Toulouse at the weekend.
Italy coach Nick Mallett was in the stands watching on, and is believed to have rubber-stamped Gower for the June tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The former NSW and Kangaroos halfback qualifies for Italy through his grandfather.
The Azzurri play two Tests against Robbie Deans' Wallabies in Canberra on June 13, and in Melbourne a week later.
Gower will compete for the Italy No.10 jersey against another Aussie, Luke McLean, who played for the Perth Spirit in the ARC before joining Calvisano in Italy.
The ex-league star has strong claims after a stand-out second Top 14 season, which has recently seen him agree to a three-year extension at Bayonne.
Having played centre for much of his time in rugby, Gower has this season displaced former Wallaby Manuel Edmonds at No.10 and three weeks ago laid on six tries as Bayonne thrashed Bourgoin 61-10.
Mallett was considering Gower for the Six Nations but was reportedly put off by the 31-year-old's bad-boy history, which he found when checking out Gower's Wikipedia page.
Those concerns about behaviour have apparently dissolved, and after Italy were heavily beaten in every game of the Six Nations with McLean at the helm, the Italy coach has watched Gower twice in the last two months.
"Mallett was front and centre in the Bayonne stand for their last game, so that tells you something," Stade Francais coach Ewen McKenzie said.
McKenzie's side and Bayonne play this weekend in the last round of the Top 14, which will see Gower and Mark Gasnier lock horns.
The former Waratahs coach said he's not surprised Gower has come to the attention of Mallett.
"He's playing pretty well. I've seen a fair bit of him and the reality is they're playing him every week," McKenzie said.
"That says straight away how important he is to them. He was playing centres and now he's at No.10, so he's a bit of a troubleshooter and can play a number of positions.
"He doesn't look troubled at all so he's certainly playing with confidence. He's never referred to in the context of league, he's just a rugby player."
It is understood Gower is due back in Sydney next week with wife Amanda but will return to Italy to join the Test squad, before flying back to Australia again in June.
Given he hasn't had a decent break in several seasons, Gower said last month he was considering skipping the June Tests and asking Mallett to only play in the Six Nations. He has subsequently changed his mind.
Bayonne are not in the Top 14 finals but are vying for a spot in the top six, which earns them entry to the Heineken Cup. Sonny Bill Williams' struggling Toulon side have avoided relegation.
