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GREG GROWDEN
July 7, 2010
QUEENSLAND centre Anthony Faingaa is a strong contender to join his twin brother Saia in the Wallabies Test line-up in the early rounds of the Tri Nations tournament.
While the Faingaa family may soon be celebrating Anthony's anticipated elevation, Wallabies Drew Mitchell, Mark Chisholm, Lachie Turner, Pek Cowan, Laurie Weeks and Dean Mumm are in danger of missing the 30-man Tri Nations squad, to be announced tomorrow.
Among those under serious consideration of being promoted from the Australian Barbarians squad are Faingaa, Reds second-rower Rob Simmons, Brumbies back-rower Mitchell Chapman and Western Force utility forward Ben McCalman, while Queensland back-rower Scott Higginbotham is a strong possibility as he is only a week away from returning to club football following ankle concerns.
In the back line, coach Robbie Deans has shown interest in inside-centre Faingaa, whom he watched playing club football in Brisbane before the Australia-Ireland Test at Suncorp Stadium last month. It is known the Australian selectors - Deans, Jim Williams and David Nucifora - are impressed with Faingaa's solid defence and eagerness to play direct in attack. Rather than being a flashy centre, Faingaa is a reliable midfielder who makes few mistakes.
If Matt Giteau's form remains erratic at No.12, the Wallabies back line could easily revert to the Reds' 9-10-12 combination of Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Faingaa - a partnership that worked extremely well during the Super 14 tournament.
To bring in Faingaa, a winger may have to be dropped from the squad, and Mitchell and Turner are under serious threat of missing out. Despite comments by ARU officials that Turner being added to the Australian Sevens squad in preparation for the Commonwealth Games would not hinder his Test chances, they don't help them either.
Mitchell could be saved due to lack of options, including Reds winger Rod Davies being unavailable, and uncertainty over when Digby Ioane will return during the Tri Nations from his shoulder injury.
Up front, the scrum will be bolstered by the return of loose-head prop Benn Robinson and hooker Stephen Moore from injury. Cowan is the most likely to make way for Robinson, while the impressive recent rise of 21-year-old Queensland prop James Slipper, who can play both sides, should see him picked ahead of Weeks.
Whether Huia Edmonds remains a back-up hooker will be determined by Tatafu Polota-Nau opting to have surgery on his troublesome ankle, or returning to the playing ranks via his club team Parramatta.
Australia's second-rowers against Ireland - Mumm and Chisholm - failed to impress, and this could convince the selectors to bring in 21-year-old lock Simmons. Mumm is the most likely to remain in the squad, as he is the more versatile player.
The greatest concern is in the back row, especially with the considerable lack of depth at No.8. The Wallabies are sorely missing the drive and power play from the injured Wycliff Palu, and Richard Brown now has no proper back-up, as Stephen Hoiles has undergone an Achilles heel operation which will sideline him for three months.
This has prompted recent ARU enquiries to Queensland officials over Higginbotham's fitness, after he hurt his ankle in the final round of the Super 14. Higginbotham, at 109kg and 195cm, is the type of bulky forward the Wallabies desperately need. He is also threatening and fast.
Higginbotham is scheduled to return to full training next week. That may be enough to convince the selectors to include him.
Other key Wallabies forwards unavailable for the Tri Nations are second-rower James Horwill and prop Ben Alexander.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugb...0706-zz2r.html
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