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Wallabies target a trophy feast
June 5, 2010
THE Wallabies open their 2010 Test campaign against Fiji in Canberra tonight desperate to replenish their trophy cabinet with meaningful silverware.
Australia hasn't won a Bledisloe Cup since 2002 or the Tri Nations since 2001 and skipper Rocky Elsom and coach Robbie Deans bristled yesterday when it was suggested they hadn't challenged for major spoils in the past two seasons because they were rebuilding.
''There's never a time that we haven't wanted to win those trophies.'' Elsom said. ''There's never a time that we've said that we're rebuilding this year so we'll just have to do the best we can. That's always the goal for us. We always want to win those trophies, particularly those two. We're hungry.''
Deans was also eager to set the record straight, intervening with: ''Rebuilding has never been in our language. The reason for that is, when you play a Test match it only happens once and for those players who are lucky enough to have that opportunity, it lasts for 80 minutes and you've got to live with that experience for the rest of your days. And those who come to watch don't care how long you've been there and that's the way it should be. So we're chasing wins.''
Fiji is not expected to truly test the Wallabies, but Elsom certainly isn't treating the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalist with any disrespect.
''Fijians are always good athletes,'' said Elsom, who will lead Australia for the first time on home soil in his milestone 50th Test. ''They have very quick feet and are very agile and they enjoy the unstructured play more than most.''
Much home interest will centre on the performance of Australian Super 14 player of the year Quade Cooper, who will line up at five-eighth in a Test for the first time.
Deans said there'd been no visible change in the dazzling playmaker's demeanour since Cooper on Tuesday edged out Matt Giteau for the No. 10 jumper. ''That's probably a refection of his growth. He's taking things in his stride now,'' Deans said. ''The dynamic in the back line has been good. The boys are enjoying running off him, playing outside him.''
There is also much anticipation about the debut of classy young outside centre Rob Horne. ''Everyone's pretty excited to see how Rob Horne goes. It's like you don't see him enough. He's had various injury worries but he's definitely a talented player,'' Elsom said.
''You can be excited about the ability of the whole back line. All of them provide a lot of genuine spark. How they perform is up to them and we'll probably know more in four weeks but, potentially, it's one of the best Wallabies back lines I'll have played with.''
Deans doesn't see picking form players as fresh approach
GREG GROWDEN
June 5, 2010
IF ALL five Wallabies newcomers take the field against Fiji at Canberra Stadium tonight, including the two novices on the bench, Robbie Deans will have blooded 21 new players to the Test arena since taking over as head coach three seasons ago.
That is new broom stuff. But don't tell Deans that amounts to rebuilding. He bristles at the mention of the word. It is not rebuilding. As far as the Wallabies coach is concerned, whoever is in the Test team - regardless of whether they are a debutant or a 10-year veteran - is there because they are the best around. Test triumphs always remain the No.1 priority for Deans, not trying to completely revamp a team.
''Rebuilding has never been in our language,'' Deans said. ''The reason for that is the reality is that when you play a Test match, it only happens once. And for those players lucky enough to have that opportunity, it lasts 80 minutes, and you have to live with that experience for the rest of your days.
''Those who come to watch don't care how long you've been there. And that's the way it should be. We are chasing wins.''
Nonetheless, there will be great interest in how several newcomers perform, and if they are ready to be a critical part of the Wallabies new generation at the World Cup next year. So much will hinge on how new outside-centre Rob Horne performs.
Due to his long-running hamstring problems, Horne was used cautiously at training this week to ensure that he is in peak condition for his first run-on start. If Horne performs well in his head-to-head duel with Fijian centre Rupeni Caucaunibuca, he can certify himself as the man to take over from Stirling Mortlock as the established Test No 13.
''We've talked a lot about Rob's qualities, and he is a natural outside-centre,'' Deans said. ''He is a specialist, and can also play at No.12. He's probably played more at No.12 through his age-group rugby than No.13. But he's obviously at home at No.13, and he's going to be good for us. He's a guy who straightens things up both in attack and defence. He's got foot speed, and that's handy both with and without the ball.''
The other newcomers are hooker Huia Edmonds, prop Salesi Ma'afu and, on the bench, hooker Saia Faingaa and back-rower Matt Hodgson.
Deans is also working hard on those who have featured more regularly in the Wallabies strip and require help with their core skills. At the end of yesterday's captain's run at Canberra Stadium, Deans spent more than 10 minutes with the Test halfback Luke Burgess working on his technique, in particular passing the ball directly from the ground.