Barnes injury scare

Barnes injury scare

By Peter Jenkins
September 19, 2007

ROOKIE flyhalf Berrick Barnes has thrown a further scare into an Australia camp already struggling with injuries to key backline stars.

Barnes strained a groin muscle at training in Montpellier last night and was immediately removed from a session staged in front of more than 4000 locals.

The concern among the Australian management was obvious when team doctor Martin Raftery consulted Barnes then sought out coach John Connolly to discuss the problem.

Connolly walked over to Barnes and ushered the youngster from the field.

The significance of any injury to the 21-year-old will not be lost on Connolly with the Wallabies already set to open the sudden-death stages of the World Cup without leading playmaker Stephen Larkham.

Larkham is not expected back from knee surgery until the semi-finals.

In his absence Barnes starred against Wales at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

But if his training mishap leaves him in doubt for the next pool match against Fiji on Sunday, the Australians will have to find anhother replacement No. 10, either Matt Giteau or Julian Huxley.

Barnes has won high praise from Fijian coach Ilie Tabua, a former Wallaby flanker, who said he had not seen a Test career launched in more emphatic terms than Barnes's role against Wales.

The Fijian boss, planning to field a second-string side against the Wallabies at Montpellier on Sunday, watched Barnes from close quarters earlier this season.

The 21-year-old turned out for Australia A against Fiji when the islanders were on a short tour.

Tabua was impressed with what he saw, and again when Barnes was given a second-half cameo off the bench as the Wallabies opened their World Cup against Japan in Lyon.

"He's come of age," Tabua said.

"Barnes has always played the ball to the line and he does it extremely well. But he was really impressive against Wales and the good thing for Australia is that he's still got a lot more in the tank, a lot more to offer."

Tabua confirmed he wanted to rest all his topline players for the game against Australia.