Deans to stick with Barnes
6 Jun 2012
Berrick Barnes will retain the Wallabies No 10 jersey with coach Robbie Deans ruling out Quade Cooper as an option for Saturday’s Test against Wales.
Barnes may be the Wallabies’ fourth-choice flyhalf, but according to the head coach he should start in the first of three Tests against Wales. Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor are not available because of injuries, and Cooper is not yet fit enough to be considered for selection.
Cooper recently made his return from a serious knee injury, playing in two matches for the Reds. Deans, however, believes it would be foolish to rush Cooper back into Test rugby.
‘There’s no chance of that,’ said Deans. ‘Because it would be negligent. He’s not ready and he understands that. It’s not worth the risk because you could compromise not only him in the long run but also us.’
Barnes started at flyhalf against Scotland on Tuesday, a match the Wallabies lost 9-6 in terrible conditions. Deans expects Barnes to turn in an improved performance against Wales.
‘To use the ball effectively you’ve got to have a greater understanding of direction and shape and we lacked that against Scotland,’ Deans said. ‘Combinations and so forth came up short in the first instance.
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if the Welsh, in the knowledge that we have had to play two games already this week, don’t adapt their tactics to make the most of that. You’ll see some fresh legs [in the Wallabies team] with a fresh mindset.’
10 Comments
6 Jun 2012, 11:23 am
on a hiding to nothing dragons.
fluit fluit mr deans… jou storie’s uit…
6 Jun 2012, 11:53 am
Aus haven’t been excellent since the days of rod macqueen
Just as well that Deans got them a WC bronze medal+ won a 3N last year.
Eddie Jones’ highlight was a WC silver medal (never won a 3N3. John Connolly delivered nothing.
6 Jun 2012, 12:08 pm
@viewer(viewer)-2:
deans did not get them a wc bronze medal.
6 Jun 2012, 12:13 pm
Australia doesn’t build consistent teams…players are always moving around and I think that is why they never settle and dominant team.
In SA players make one move when they are young or before they retire…so we are a bot more consistent…
6 Jun 2012, 12:17 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-3: bryce right? I hated the way robbie deans celebrated in that quarter final almost like his team was good and deserved to win! Doos
6 Jun 2012, 12:21 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-5:
absolutely.
6 Jun 2012, 12:30 pm
Stop whingeing. I remember reading on this very site how someone said that the Boks had enough territory & possession in that QF to win two games.
And also how somebody said that the last time a team had something like 70% territory & possession they put 50 points past the Aussies.
Think about it…
6 Jun 2012, 18:41 pm
@BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-7:
If you truly think the Aussies deserved to go through that day then there is no hope for you.
6 Jun 2012, 19:13 pm
@wpjoulekkading(wpjoulekkading)-8: You’re entitled to your opinion mate, but I’m pretty sure that you know as well as I do that not all wins are “pretty”. The Springboks had everything in their favour but failed to “do the job”.
Accept it and get over it.
6 Jun 2012, 22:27 pm
@wpjoulekkading(wpjoulekkading)-8:
IF you think SA deserved to go through then you have no hope as well.
@BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-9:
Fair comment.
But the last part, “Accept and get over it ” lol, yeah right.
There is a few on here that cant, Houston,Sasuke and wpupyabum are prime examples.
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