Would-be Wallabies must wait

[Jehna]

Would-be Wallabies must wait

May 19, 2008

WHIZ-kid playmakers Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper will have to bide their time in the Australian Under-20s team before getting senior international exposure this season.

New South Wales five-eighth Beale and Queensland fly half Cooper will be told to play for the Junior Wallabies at the world junior championships next month in Wales rather than the Wallabies or Australia A.

Incoming Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is also expected to keep future star flanker David Pocock in the 26-man under-20s squad rather than have him on the Test fringes.

Deans will announce his first 30-man Wallabies squad on June 2 when the Australian Rugby Union will also name a 26-man Australia A squad.

New Australia A coach Phil Mooney said the under-20s tournament would take preference over A-team duties in the Pacific Nations Cup which kicks off on June 8 in Japan.

The Australian under-20s, who begin their preparations on Tuesday in Canberra under coach Brian Melrose, will play England, Canada and Fiji in pool C in Newport when the tournament starts early next month.

It's understood only under-20s who are seen as genuine contenders for the Wallabies team for the first Test of the season against Ireland in Melbourne on June 14 will be released.

World Cup revelation Berrick Barnes, who may be picked to start at inside centre for the Wallabies, is viewed as the main five-eighth back-up to likely No.10 Matt Giteau.
Selectors see the experience gained against the world's best young players as far more beneficial than training with the Wallabies squad or playing in the six-team Pacific Nations Cup.

Beale and Cooper, who both excelled together with the Australian Schoolboys in 2006, are currently seen as A-team players for the last two PNC matches after the junior tournament.

"Potentially they have one or two games they could be available for," Mooney said.
Beale won't join the under-20s squad until after the end of the Waratahs Super 14 campaign, which goes on the line in Saturday night's semi-final against the Sharks in Sydney.

As well Beale, Cooper and Pocock, NSW centre Rob Horne, Reds half-back Will Genia and Force lock Sam Wykes are Super 14 players in the under-20s squad.

Several of Australia's likely A-team candidates are this week leaving for Europe to play with the Barbarians against Belgium, Ireland and England.

The group includes Morgan Turinui, Tyrone Smith and Mitchell Chapman while departing Reds David Croft and Clinton Schifcofske are also playing.

AAP

[Burgs]

Totally agree with that policy

Knocked this team together earlier from the initial train on squad:
Super 14

Potential Under 20 Team:

1 Ben Daley (Qld)
2 James Hanson (Qld)
3 Daniel Palmer (NSW)
4 Sam Wykes (NSW)
5 Robert Simmons (Qld)
6 Ben Coridas (NSW)
7 David Pocock (WA) (C)
8 Seilala Lam (ACT)

9 Will Genia (Qld)
10 Kurtley Beale (NSW)
11 Ratu Nasiganiyavi (NSW)
12 Quade Cooper (Qld)
13 Robert Horne (NSW)
14 Alfi Mafi (NSW)
15 Peter Betham (NSW)

16 Nathan Charles (NSW)
17 Albert Anae (Qld)/Tetera Faulkner (ACT)
18 Tom Murday (WA)
19 Ben McCalman (NSW)/Andrew Rossiter (Qld)
20 Jeremy Sua (NSW)
21 Blair Connor (Qld)/Richard Kingi (Qld)
22 Dane Haylett-Petty (WA)/Ben Tapuai (Qld)

[James]

Looks good doesn't it?

I think Ben Daley has had a game or two for the Reds too. The South African team only has 2 players with Super 14 experience.

[Thequeerone]

[COLOR="blue"]4 Sam Wykes (NSW)

Why NSW has he moved ?



Wallabies games on live Foxsports they have started advertising them however who will show the Pacific Nations games and Under 20 games

[Burgs]

It's refering to their development rather than current TQ1.
As he had only the one season here I didn't bother changing it.

[Thequeerone]

Ok you had us worried for a minute - to many peps moving about at the moment

[James]

Ok you had us worried for a minute - to many peps moving about at the moment

Apart from Hilgendorf noone has actually left yet have they? I think thats always a good sign. If they had a definite plan they'd have sorted that out by now and the rule of being undecided is that if you can't make up your mind you go with the status quo and re-sign.

[JediKnight]

Reported on Ch10 news yesterday that Lachie McKay is surplus to requirements & contract isn't being renewed. Suppose 9 games in 3 years & covering medical rehab is a bit too much. Good luck Lachie.

[James]

Thanks for the update JK. I wonder if he'll head overseas or back east.

[travelling_gerry]

He would be a good asset for the Tahs.

[James]

He was a Tah before he decided to move up in the world. I heard he wanted out of the Tahs so badly he actually paid the Force to take him out of there.

[Skiza]

Question...how can Pocock play under 20's if he's 20?? By "under 20's" do they in fact mean "20 and under"? Or is he just going to train with them?

[gustafsl]

Question...how can Pocock play under 20's if he's 20?? By "under 20's" do they in fact mean "20 and under"? Or is he just going to train with them?

My guess would be the cut off date was a few months ago and not when the tournament is actually played. So he was probably 19 at the cut off date.

Just a guess though...

[Jasper]

Had to be under 20 at 31 Dec 07

[Jasper]

NZ team only has 4 super 14 players