Anthony Fainga'a seizes running for inside centre spot as Robbie Deans weighs up Test squad
Berrick Barnes ... lined up at five-eighth for the Wallabies at training this week.
Source:Gregg Porteous / News Limited
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is close to finalising the team to play the All Blacks in the opening Test of the inaugural Rugby Championship in Sydney in two weeks.
Deans oversaw
his squad at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Friday on the final day of a three-day camp. Based on what was on display, the run-on side against New Zealand will not differ much from that which beat Wales in the third Test in June.
The backline was virtually the same, with Berrick Barnes at five-eighth instead of Quade Cooper, who ran with the reserves and will play for Souths in Brisbane on Saturday. Kurtley Beale was at fullback with Adam Ashley-Cooper and Digby Ioane on the wings, and Rob Horne at outside centre.
Anthony Fainga'a ran almost exclusively at inside centre in place of the injured Pat McCabe, indicating he was among the frontrunners for the No 12 jersey.
Fainga'a is one of a number of options, including Ashley-Cooper, Barnes, Horne, Ben Tapuai and Mike Harris.
"It's bad timing for Paddy," Fainga'a said. "If that opportunity arises, I'm happy to fill the spot and make it my own, but Paddy's done a fantastic job over the last couple of years. Like I say to Ewen (McKenzie), Robbie (Deans), any coach I play for, as long as I'm in the team, that's all that matters."
While Fainga'a has mainly played outside centre for the past two years, he played his first Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park in 2010 at inside centre.
One of the reasons he is being strongly considered for the inside-centre role is his physical, low-tackling style, which would be effective against powerful All Blacks midfielders Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu.
"They are both proven players and they are fantastic in their own right," Fainga'a said.
"Ma'a Nonu has been around for a long time and Sonny Bill is playing fantastic, which is why they (the Chiefs) are in the (Super Rugby) final.
"For myself, or whoever plays in the centres against the All Blacks, it is going to be a tough task."
Fainga'a said the way to stop Williams was to tackle low, but you still needed a second defender to prevent him from offloading.
"You still tackle low, but your second man has to be over the top quicker," he said. "Both Sonny Bill and Ma'a have great leg speed, great passing and all the abilities. For us as a team and as a backline it's going to be a big task. It's something we'll look forward to."
In the forwards, Queensland prop James Slipper trained in the starting line-up instead of regular No 1 Benn Robinson, who ran with the reserves.
While Robinson, who started in all three Tests against Wales in June, is regarded as one of the best-scrummaging looseheads in the world, there are concerns about his lack of match fitness, which is why Deans asked him to play for Sydney club Eastwood on Saturday.
Deans may have to weigh up the benefits of Robinson's superior scrimmaging against Slipper's higher work-rate before making a decision about who starts. Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau did not train because of a knee injury but is expected to start instead of Stephen Moore if he is fit.
Sekope Kepu ran at tighthead prop with Nathan Sharpe and Sitaleki Timani in the second row and David Pocock (openside flanker), Dave Dennis (blindside flanker) and Scott Higginbotham in the back row.
Possible Wallabies team: 15: Kurtley Beale, 14: Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13: Rob Horne, 12: Anthony Fainga'a , 11: Digby Ioane, 10: Berrick Barnes, 9: Will Genia, 8: Scott Higginbotham, 7: David Pocock , 6: Dave Dennis, 5: Nathan Sharpe, 4: Sitaleki Timani, 3: Sekope Kepu, 2: Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1: James Slipper or Benn Robinson
