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Hard work is done, but next two games will test reserves
Greg Growden in Montpellier | September 19, 2007
The victory over Wales has effectively taken the pressure off the Wallabies, as a quarter-final spot is all but guaranteed. Nonetheless, the next fortnight will be critical to the future of Australian rugby, as it will reveal whether the Wallabies have the required strength in depth to again be the world's best.
Wallabies officials have admitted they are unable to match New Zealand, who have two world-class players in every position. Now they will discover just how close they really are to the All Blacks.
Against Fiji on Sunday and Canada six days later, the Wallabies will take a good look at some of their fringe players, with the hope that several can use the opportunity to put serious pressure on the incumbents.
Selectors are certain to rest key men so they are primed for a last-eight clash, probably against England, on October 6. But several of these first-choice players will not be resting easy, as they know their understudies are breathing down their necks. Those most nervous would be in the forwards.
One player who could easily push his way into the starting XV is Hugh McMeniman. The Queensland second-rower/flanker is rated highly by selectors, who admire his fire-and-brimstone approach and exceptional skills. That he has made only nine Test appearances is due to him being shackled by a long run of injuries.
Last year, a shoulder problem restricted him to just four matches, and then, on the end-of-season Wallabies tour, he lasted just eight minutes of the first midweek match against the Ospreys in Swansea before injuring his neck.
This year, he played only half of the Super 14 season due to persistent knee complaints. McMeniman just needs game time, and that will come against Fiji and Canada.
Thankfully, Scott Staniforth will also get some proper time on the field, hopefully in the inside-centre position. Staniforth would have to rank as the most under-rated player in the Wallabies squad, because every time he appears on the Test field he does something.
If Staniforth is not looked upon as a genuine inside-centre, there is also the wing option - especially with Lote Tuqiri struggling for form. Although the selectors are not yet at the point of dropping Tuqiri, there are concerns that it has been some time since he has had a major impact on a Test match. If Staniforth excels in the next fortnight, this could become a pressing selection issue.
Loosehead prop Greg Holmes will also hope he is given the chance to remind everyone of his existence, along with halfback Sam Cordingley and back-rower Stephen Hoiles.
Chris Latham will be one of those rested, giving Julian Huxley his chance at No.15. But the Test fullback reminded his teammates during the week that this was not the time to slacken off. "We are not looking at the Fiji and Canada matches as lesser games," Latham said.
"And it would be very arrogant if we went into those games thinking that. You can never underestimate how tough Fiji are going to be. Defensively, Canada have shown at times that they can punish you. We need to use these games to improve our ball-carries, as well as being a bit tighter in the breakdown area.
"We all know that we can't take anything for granted in this tournament. That's the beauty of this World Cup. You have to perform on the day, and you've got to continue to perform. If you don't, you get knocked out." Bad performances will also result in selection KOs.
A strong sense of camaraderie among the players has been evident in the opening fortnight. Even ARU chief executive John O'Neill remarked this week how impressed he was that the Australian dressing room had been "a happy dressing room". That has always not been the case in the past two seasons.
The high morale in the Wallabies camp has been noted by numerous outsiders - including former French back Thomas Castaignede, who believes that factor will work in Australia's favour in the next month.
In his weekly column in the Guardian on Monday, Castaignede wrote: "The Australians showed organisation, power and, most surprisingly, pleasure in playing the game [against Wales]. It's been a good while since I've seen a Wallaby side enjoy themselves so much."