Barbarians battle key for Richard Brown to seal backrow spot in Wallabies side

WALLABY discovery Richard Brown has a huge chance to nail down a permanent position in the Test backrow for 2009 with a storming audition against the Barbarians in Sydney tomorrow night.
With all the headlines swirling around Rocky Elsom's re-signing and the latest edition of the George Smith-Phil Waugh tango, Brown has been overlooked in the backrow billing.

Selection-wise, he is in pole position to play as Test No. 8 against Italy (June 13 and 20) and France (June 27) after his impressive five-Test blooding in 2008.

The strength of these displays will decide whether he gets the jump on Wycliff Palu for the Tri-Nations when the steamrolling NSW No. 8 returns next month from a broken hand.

A frontline Test backrow of George Smith, Rocky Elsom and Brown certainly has the workrate and hard-on-the-ball dynamism to click.

Brown's abilities as a former openside flanker perfectly suit the new breakdown clarification in force from tomorrow where the first man on the ball at the tackle has all the rights to keep playing at it.

There was an eye-catching frenzy to the play of the bushie from Queensland's Julia Creek last year. While that is not about to stop, he is tailoring it a little more.

"I was bit more frenetic last year. Through Super 14, I worked on directing that energy with more purpose and making sure what I do is quality," Brown said.

"Composure and keeping up the intensity through a game were big areas of learning for me with the Wallabies last year so hopefully I can put that to use."

The expertise of Western Force coach John Mitchell, a former No. 8, has also polished specialist areas of his game.

"You can have a hard time at the back of the scrum when it wheels so Mitch was good in helping me work at improving my ball delivery," Brown said.

He cracked a Wallaby jersey from the Force and it was loyalty and results that persuaded Brown to make the call to knock back an offer from his old state Queensland.

"I made it to the Wallabies from the Force environment where we live and train together and the squad is very focused on rugby because of the isolation," Brown said.

Barbarians captain Waugh and Wallaby leader Stirling Mortlock yesterday met Sir Nicholas Shehadie, the decorated former Wallaby after whom tomorrow night's cup is named.

Injured Wallaby Digby Ioane, in discussions with the Reds, said yesterday he was still dissecting the big call on his future - staying in Australia or a rich club deal in Japan.

Queensland Country meet NSW Country in Noosa tomorrow (3pm) after the arrival tonight of a fund-raising peloton of Vintage Reds cyclists on a 165km charity ride from Brisbane

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