Robbie Deans keeps his Wallabies guessing ahead of Tri Nations opener

By Adrian Warren
 July 15, 2010
Wallabies players admit they don't have any idea what coach Robbie Deans is thinking ahead of Australia's opening Tri Nations match against South Africa on Saturday week.
Deans, who is notorious for giving nothing away where potential team changes are concerned, was at his secretive best this week when questioned about possible changes to the side to play the Springboks in Brisbane.

Benn Robinson and Stephen Moore are expected to start in the front row, both returning after long-term injuries, but Deans has remained tight-lipped about the selectors' options for the game.

A number of outside backs are vying for the two wing spots while three uncapped forwards, backrowers Scott Higginbotham, Ben McCalman and lock Rob Simmons are pushing hard for places in the pack.

Greg Clark's preview of this weekend's Tri Nations match.

Lock Dean Mumm said: "I think there is an edge, everyone is vying for positions; there's no regularity to the team, different combinations every day.

"You don't know what to expect and you are trying to work hard and provide an edge for you to get that spot that you so desperately want.

Mumm, whose position is under threat from highly-rated Queensland Reds youngster Simmons, acknowledged his form hadn't been great during the four home Tests last month.

"I didn't perform in that Test series earlier in the year so it leaves the door open for someone else,'' he said.

"I'm certainly not 100 per cent confident, but I desperately want to be there,'' added Mumm, who has been told by Deans to do more ball carrying.

Fullback James O'Connor was another player unsure about retaining his spot, with Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Cameron Shepherd pushing hard for selection.

But one thing O'Connor was pretty certain about was the chosen fullback would be subjected to a bombing barrage by the Springboks.

"We're preparing for that, we're standing under the posts at training and 'Woody' (Wallabies skills coach Richard Graham) is putting up the best torpedoes he can,'' O'Connor said.

Meanwhile, former Wallabies prop Patricio Noriega has lauded the efforts of the cluster of young front-rowers who were subjected to a fiery Test baptism by England last month.

After being pushed back in the two Tests, the youngsters fought back well in the one-off clash with Ireland.

"I'm very happy with the way they performed on the field and off the field,'' Noriega said.

"They are a great bunch of kids and they are keen to learn. They concentrated on the simplicity I tried to transfer to them and they picked it up very quickly.''

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