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Deans to give Tuqiri a final fling
Greg Growden in Cardiff | November 30, 2008
LOTE TUQIRI'S quiet European tour is about to pick up, with the Test winger scheduled to return to the Wallabies' starting line-up for their final match against the Barbarians at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night.
Tuqiri had a knee operation before the tour and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was determined not to play him until he was convinced he was 100 per cent fit.
Tuqiri took part in most of the training sessions on tour but Deans wanted to make sure he did not ruin his star winger's progress by bringing him back too early. It was only in the week of the France Test that he believed Tuqiri was ready to play, so at the last minute he was put on the bench for the Paris match after centre Ryan Cross's late withdrawal.
Tuqiri was also on the bench for the Wales Test held overnight, and Deans is expected to include him in the starting line-up for the tour finale against a Barbarians side that is World XV strength.
Tuqiri yesterday said he hoped Deans would give him the nod.
"It's been a while since I've played, and I'm hoping to get a run next week, because I just want to get my hands on the footy again," he said.
Tuqiri is not despondent at what has happened.
"What has happened on this tour with me has actually been pretty good," he said. "I haven't had a rest like this for a while. Initially I thought I wanted to get back straight away. But in the end, not playing until the end of the tour has been a blessing in disguise.
"Had the tour not gone well, it may have been a bit more depressing. But the boys have been playing really well, especially the wingers."
Tuqiri's most recent appearance was against the All Blacks in Brisbane in mid September, when he admitted he was "playing on one-and-a-half legs".
"But now the knee feels good and it's all going well heading into next season with the Waratahs," he said.
Tuqiri said the influx of new players into the Wallabies squad had improved morale and made touring more enjoyable.
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