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Wayne Smith | June 23, 2009
Article from: The Australian
WHAT now for Lote Tuqiri if he is not selected today in the Wallabies side to play France at ANZ Stadium on Saturday?
This is Australia's last outing before embarking on its Tri-Nations campaign, having played two Tests against Italy and a non-capped match against the Barbarians, and still Tuqiri is yet to be seen in a gold jersey this season.
Meanwhile, all the other wing candidates in the 30-man Australian squad - Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell, Peter Hynes and Adam Ashley-Cooper - have been given the chance to impress and, to varying degrees, all have done so.
By contrast, Tuqiri has been sent back to play club football for West Harbour and even there he has lost ground, with Mitchell scoring a dazzling try for Randwick against him in the mud on the weekend.
Some of the squeeze on the wingers could ease if Ashley-Cooper is chosen at fullback ahead of 18-year-old James O'Connor, but, even so, Turner appears to have one wing spot which leaves Tuqiri as the likely loser in any selection ballot against Hynes and Mitchell.
It is an astonishing fall from grace for the 67-Test veteran. Since making his debut for the Wallabies against Ireland in 2003, he has only ever sat out international matches because of injury, suspension or rotation, never because he was rated outside the top-two wingers in the country.
Tuqiri continues to train with the Wallabies and it would not surprise if he was suddenly elevated into the Test side today, particularly considering the quality and experience of the French side. But if he again is passed over, it seems his only chance of figuring in the Tri-Nations will be if injury or loss of form presents him with an opening.
Today's team selection also should shed some light on what role coach Robbie Deans has in mind for O'Connor in the Tri-Nations. If he envisages him as a starting fullback, then it would make sense for him to get him battle-hardened against the French who, on the evidence of their Test series against the All Blacks, are now playing as physical a brand of rugby as any southern hemisphere power.
But with Ashley-Cooper in arguably the best form of his life, there is no compelling reason to push O'Connor's rugby development beyond its present breakneck pace. It is not just Ashley-Cooper who has the versatility needed on the bench. O'Connor has it as well, as desperate as he is to play in what would be the biggest Test of his short but stellar career.
"Physically I am up to the challenge, but I think it's good having a development program that the coaches develop me and see me keep picking up a level," O'Connor said yesterday.
Seemingly it is only the back three positions that will trigger any great debate at the selectors meeting, although Ryan Cross continues to make the most of every opportunity to turn up the heat on Stirling Mortlock at outside centre. Still, while the Wallabies captain continues to command such respect from opposing defences, the 13 jersey remains safely in his keeping.
In the forwards, the only real selection hot spot is blindside flanker. With Rocky Elsom, Hugh McMeniman and Matt Hodgson still out with injury, Dean Mumm appears the logical choice, although there is a mounting body of evidence that second row is his better position. But unless the selectors are prepared to turn to Peter Kimlin, who performed solidly in his run-on debut against Italy in Canberra, Mumm's the word.
It will be intriguing to see how this Test unfolds, given the Wallabies have not yet been stretched this season, while France was fully extended in its two Tests against the All Blacks, just doing enough to win the Dave Gallagher Cup for the first time on a points differential.
Certainly, Deans does not subscribe to the theory that Les Bleus will be fatigued.
"They'll be looking to finish their season on a really good note. They would see getting two out of three results in the southern hemisphere as one of their better returns," he said.
"So that will be their intent. But it's a really important game for us as well. It's the culmination of a good month."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html