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I won't roll over for Palu: McCalman
- Bret Harris
- From: The Australian
- December 01, 2010 12:00AM
BEN McCalman will seek to play number eight for the Western Force in next year's expanded Super rugby series.
He wants to enhance his chances of retaining the position with the Wallabies.
In the absence of the injured Wycliff Palu, McCalman displaced his Force team-mate Richard Brown from the Wallabies' starting line-up.
The abrasive McCalman played strongly at number eight, forming a powerful back-row combination with captain and blindside flanker Rocky Elsom and openside flanker David Pocock. But there are indications that McCalman will pack down in the second row for the Force, which is likely to retain its established back-row of Pocock, Brown and Matt Hodgson.
"I certainly won't be rolling over and giving it to him (Palu)," McCalman said of the gold number eight jersey.
"There's a lot of depth in the backrow at the moment in Australian rugby. We help each other out and I'm looking forward to next year."
Asked whether he was concerned that playing in the second row for the Force could adversely affect his chances of playing number eight for Australia, McCalman said: "That's a long way off yet.
"We've got a full pre-season ahead before that happens. I'd love to stay in the backrow. I'll certainly be competing for that spot."
Many observers would probably assume that the dynamic Palu would automatically reclaim the Test number eight jersey.
But coach Robbie Deans may consider a horses for courses approach at number eight.
For example, Palu's damaging ball-running and big hitting in defence is well suited to combating the physical Springbok forwards.
But McCalman is more industrious at the breakdown, which helps the Wallabies to compete against the All Blacks.
While Pocock is more than a match for All Blacks captain and openside flanker Richie McCaw, the Kiwis have the benefit of a number eight in Kieran Read who is very constructive at the breakdown.
Palu and McCalman will both face competition from Queensland backrower Scott Higginbotham, who made his belated Test debut off the bench in the record-breaking win against France on Sunday.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225963536435