shit
Printable View
shit
Barnes out of Bledisloe Cup
October 29, 2009 - 5:33PM
Wallabies vice-captain Berrick Barnes has been ruled out of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks after rolling his left ankle at training in Tokyo today.
Barnes was taken to hospital for x-rays which will determine whether or not he is able to remain with the Wallabies for their grand slam tour of the UK and Ireland.
Should he be sent back to Australia, it would be a devastating personal blow to the 23-year-old midfield general, as well as a huge setback to the Wallabies's grand slam chances.
Barnes lasted less than 20 minutes of last year's spring tour of Europe before breaking down with a knee injury against Italy that required an early journey home.
Barnes's scratching has prompted coach Robbie Deans to reshuffle his backline, promoting teenager James O'Connor from the bench to start at fullback and moving Adam Ashley-Cooper to inside centre.
Although the x-rays tonight cleared Barnes of any fractures, Wallabies management say it is unlikely they will learn the full extent of his injury until the swelling subsides in the next 24-48 hours.
It is hoped Barnes has not suffered major ligament damage, which would almost certainly rule him out of the tour.
Things that make you go "hmmm"... :(
Ahh well. At least now they have to persist with Giteau and we'll know for certain whether he has what it takes at 10 or not.
Can't think of a worse player to have out injured though.
i think we will really struggle without him
what does this mean for the team then JO'C in for 12 and Q.Cooper on the bench
Well well..best add another v10k on the All Blacks to crush the Wobblies..
fuck, this game is lost
Who cares it was a load of crap game anyway, chasing the Dragons cash.
Did anyone else just watch the 7:30 Report on ABC? They were talking about Japanese rugby and the upcoming test and had Mark Gerrard on it. God he came off sounding like a complete wanker.
Deans should stick with Burgess, he will be the best halfback in the world. Genia has a good pass, but does not have the flair that burgess brings to the game. Barnes is a natural playmaker, and should be at the point of distribution. Occonnor is good but as we saw against the All Blacks he cannot step it up as the last line of defence, play him at outside centre and see how he goes. Cooper in my opinion is the best outside back in the world, he is very much like matt Burke.
9-Burgess
10-Barnes
11-Digby Ioane
12-Giteau
13-James O' connor
14-Hines
15-Adam Ashley Cooper
P.S We need to toughen up in the forwards.
JOC's a bit small for 13 i would have thought, better at 12.
Genia is the next big thing and Burgess has been far from consistent enough to make the bench, let alone the starting XV. Valentine deserved to make the Trinations squad and deserves a look in on the tour. JOC is way too small to be 13! With Barnes gone now he should be at 12, since Giteau will prob stay at 10 *sigh*