Matt Giteau says Wallabies will show more hunger in 2009

By David Beniuk
June 01, 2009 Wallabies superstar Matt Giteau believes version two of Robbie Deans' Australia side will show more hunger as the New Zealand supercoach prepares to announce his first team of the international season.
Far from being more at ease in year two of the Deans regime, Giteau said competition for spots meant the squad was on edge as they prepare for their first hit-out of 2009, against the Barbarians at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.

Deans will name his first 22 of 2009 on Tuesday.

"Because of the depth and the way Robbie's got everyone challenging for positions, no one's assured of a starting spot so no one's really at ease," Giteau said on Monday.

"You've still got to work hard and train the best you can and prepare and do all that so you can get that position so I think there's a lot more hunger within the group."

Giteau said a first-up clash with the Baa Baas, traditionally a festive occasion of free-flowing rugby, would not mean the Wallabies explore their ability to throw caution to the wind.

"I don't think it's a chance for the ad lib," he said.

"Obviously you've been used to the patterns you've been playing at Super 14 level so you've got to get familiar now with the patterns that we want do here at the Wallabies and the calls.

" ... So we've got these four Tests (against the Barbarians, Italy and France) which give us a chance to really sharpen up and get ourselves nice and ready for a Tri-Nations."

That would suggest Deans is ready to name a conservative line-up, although speculation has suggested players sent back to club rugby last weekend, including star winger Lote Tuqiri, would sit out the match.

There are few contentious positions, although whether Dean Mumm starts at blindside flanker or covers lock from the bench, with the Western Force's Matt Hodgson wearing the No.6 jersey, is one decision Deans and his selectors will need to make.

Force teenager James O'Connor is expected to get the nod at fullback, and Giteau said he would handle his second straight encounter with the Barbarians.

"If he's given his opportunity, he's always been a pretty confident guy so I don't think he'll lack any confidence so I'm sure he'll be fine," Giteau said.

One position not in doubt is Giteau's, and the five-eighth said he was feeling more comfortable in the position heading into this international season.

"I feel a lot more confident this year than I did this time last year because it was a little bit of the unknown," he said.

"I hadn't really played a Test series or gone into Tests just playing flyhalf ... so I'm a lot more confident in my role and I certainly know exactly where I need to be at to play my best football in that position.”


AAP

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...016959,00.html

By Bret Harris
June 02, 2009 .Winger Peter Hynes is in doubt for the Wallabies team to play the Barbarians in Sydney on Saturday night because of a knee injury.

Hynes, who underwent surgery on his injured knee while playing for Queensland Reds during the Super 14 series, sat out the Wallabies' first training session at Coogee Oval in Sydney on monday. He did speedwork on his own with the team trainer to rebuild the strength in his knee.

Given that Hynes has not played since the Reds' big loss to the Brumbies in Brisbane a month ago, it is unlikely Wallabies coach Robbie Deans would rush him back and risk further injury.

If fully fit, Hynes would almost certainly start on the right wing for Australia, having worn the gold No.14 jersey in 13 Tests last year. But if he is unable to play as expected, it will add further intrigue to the make up of the Wallabies' back three.

Teenage sensation James O'Connor is poised to start at fullback, which means regular No.15 Adam Ashley-Cooper would become a candidate for a start on the wing.

If Ashley-Cooper started on one wing, Lote Tuqiri, Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner would compete for the other spot.

Western Force outside centre Ryan Cross also missed the training session. Cross was dogged by a shoulder injury in the Super 14 series and is also considered doubtful.

He would have been expected to compete for a place on the reserve bench.

The other main contentious position is blindside flanker. With Australia's premier blindside flanker Rocky Elsom playing for the Barbarians, Deans will choose between Matt Hodgson and Dean Mumm for the No.6 jersey.

Mumm would be the safer option, but Deans has indicated he was prepared to start Hodgson, who was one of the bolters in the Wallabies' 22-man squad.

If Hodgson starts at blindside flanker, Mumm will compete with specialist locks James Horwill and Nathan Sharpe for a start in the second row. But it is more likely Mumm will sit on the bench, covering second row and blindside flanker.

The rest of the starting line-up should be fairly predictable, with Luke Burgess and Matt Giteau in the halves and Berrick Barnes and captain Stirling Mortlock in the centres.

The front row is likely to be props Al Baxter and Benn Robinson and hooker Stephen Moore. Openside flanker George Smith and number eight Richard Brown will round out the backrow.

Meanwhile, Barbarians assistant-coach Mike Catt believes Elsom and Australian openside flanker Phil Waugh will be fired up for the Barbarians against the Wallabies.

Elsom, who inspired Leinster to victory over Leicester in the Heineken Cup final, will announce his signing with the ARU and the Brumbies on Wednesday, making him eligible for the Wallabies' Tests against Italy and France.

Waugh was included in the Wallabies' squad, but released to play for the Barbarians against England and Australia.

"I know Phil is very interested in getting back into the squad and being part of the Wallabies again; same with Rocky Elsom, obviously coming back from a fantastic season in the northern hemisphere," Catt said.

Former Wallabies halfback Chris Whitaker and uncapped Waratahs winger Ratu Nasiganiyavi are the other Australians in the New Zealand-dominated 23-man squad.

Barbarians head coach Dai Young said the team intended to play their traditional free-flowing rugby, but he warned it also wanted to win.

"We want to throw the ball about. We want to be entertaining, but make no bones about it as well, we want to win."


http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...016959,00.html

Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent | June 2, 2009

ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER was the established Wallabies fullback last season, but he won't be shocked today if he is not named at No.15 to play the Barbarians at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.

Ashley-Cooper accepts it's the price he pays for being recognised as a utility player, rather than a specialist. As he said yesterday about holding on to his fullback spot: "I'm certainly going to have my work cut out."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was offering no clues about the starting XV at the squad's first training session of the year, at Coogee Oval yesterday afternoon. During team drills Deans repeatedly mixed up the back-line formations, with Ashley-Cooper often sighted on the wing, while James O'Connor and Drew Mitchell shared time at fullback. The only constant was Matt Giteau at No.10 and Berrick Barnes and Stirling Mortlock as the midfield combination. Lote Tuqiri and Lachie Turner also made appearances on the wings while Reds winger Peter Hynes seems to be the only doubtful starter, as he spent a great deal of the session practising by himself with team medical staff.

While Peter Kimlin and Matt Hodgson were regularly involved with the main forward contingent, only the foolish would proclaim they saw the Wallabies final line-up running around yesterday. It will all become clearer at training at Leichhardt Oval this morning, and concrete when Deans officially announces the team in the afternoon.

Nonetheless, Deans is likely to try some new names, which could mean Ashley-Cooper either moved to the wing, or picked as one of the backs reserves. But Ashley-Cooper is one of those rare athletes who doesn't believe his life is finished if he is overlooked for the run-on team.

During his five-year international career, which includes 23 Tests, he has repeatedly been shifted between the centres, wing and fullback. Ashley-Cooper understands that as he is adept in all of those positions, coaches can look upon him as being the ideal back-up player, and the perfect man to have sitting on the bench to cover virtually every back-line spot. If that happens, then so be it. He is not going to throw a tantrum in front of the coaching staff.

"There's admittedly a lot of competition for that fullback spot," Ashley-Cooper said yesterday. "You look at James O'Connor and he's had a brilliant Super 14 season, and he definitely deserves a start.

"They are obviously looking at him at fullback. There's Lachie Turner, Lote Tuqiri and Peter Hynes for the wing spots, as well as Drew Mitchell, who can cover both wing and fullback.

"From my perspective there's a lot of competition everywhere. Robbie sees me covering a few positions this year, and I do love that utility type of role. It's a situation where I like learning different skills as well as playing different positions."

While some players begrudge being tagged a utility because it often means life on the bench, Ashley-Cooper looks at the positives. "I see it is as an advantage. The skills I learn from one position I can take to the others," he said. "In my situation, you can't really have a preference where you like to play. As you've played so many different positions over the years, you've got to embrace being a utility, and whatever position you're given. That's because every position is an opportunity, and every opportunity is a bonus.

"Admittedly every player wants to be in the starting team. But I see the role off the bench as being just as important. If that's the role Robbie wants me to do, it's a role I will embrace."

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...708380671.html