Future Rebel bolts into Wallabies contention
Bret Harris
The Australian September 18, 2010 12:00AM
FORMER Red Nick Phipps is a possible halfback option.
AUSTRALIAN Commonwealth Games sevens representative Nick Phipps has emerged as a potential bolter for the upcoming Wallabies tour of Hong Kong and Europe.
Phipps, who will play halfback for Sydney University against Eastern Suburbs in the Sydney club rugby elimination semi-final at Coogee Oval today, has already been signed by Super rugby expansion franchise Melbourne Rebels.
He is likely to compete with Rebels teammate Richard Kingi, veteran Josh Valentine and NSW Waratahs recruit Brendan McKibbin for the third halfback spot in the Wallabies' squad.
Kingi was one of the bolters for the Wallabies' end of season tour last year, but he was restricted to the Queensland Reds reserves bench and Brisbane club Sunnybank this year.
Valentine was preferred to Kingi as the Wallabies' back-up to Luke Burgess for the Test against Fiji in Canberra in June while Will Genia was injured, indicating he has overtaken him in the pecking order.
But if Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is still looking for a third halfback option, he may well consider Phipps or even McKibbin, who is tipped as a possible starter ahead of Burgess at the Waratahs next year.
The fact Phipps is in the Australian sevens squad indicates he is well regarded by ARU high-performance manager and Wallabies selector David Nucifora.
If Phipps gets the call-up, he may well be the only bolter in the touring party, likely to be 35-strong.
With Deans having introduced 10 players to Test rugby this year - Anthony Fainga'a, Saia Fainga'a, Huia Edmonds, Ben Daley, Salesi Ma'afu, Matt Hodgson, Rob Horne, Ben McCalman, Rob Simmons and James Slipper - the scope for selecting bolters has diminished.
Added to this, loose forward Scott Higginbotham, prop Laurie Weeks, outside back Pat McCabe and winger Nick Cummins have been chosen in extended Wallabies squads, but remain uncapped.
Kane Douglas, Damien Fitzpatrick, and Pat McCutcheon were also involved with the Australian Barbarians, which means they could not be classified as bolters either.
A combination of rebuilding and injury has tested the limits of Australia's depth, but this squad could have a fairly settled look about it.
Of the Wallabies' 30-man Tri-Nations squad, only outside centre Rob Horne and winger Digby Ioane are unavailable for the tour.
If Deans takes 35 players away, he only needs to find another seven to round out the squad.
I imagine Deans would choose players who have been involved with the Wallabies or the Australian Barbarians during the course of the year, which would bring the likes of Mitch Chapman and Pat McCutcheon into the mix.
The final make-up of the squad will depend on whether established Wallabies such as James Horwill, Wycliff Palu and Tatafu Polota-Nau recover from injuries, which have sidelined them this year.
Possible Wallabies squad: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Alexander, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Mitch Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Quade Cooper, Ben Daley, Huia Edmonds, Rocky Elsom (c), Anthony Fainga'a, Saia Fainga'a, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Peter Hynes, Pat McCabe, Ben McCalman, Pat McCutcheon, Salesi Ma'afu, Drew Mitchell, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, James O'Connor, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, Cameron Shepherd, Rob Simmons, Matt To'omua, Lachie Turner.
