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JOsh Rakic and Greg Growden | May 21, 2009
THE international future of Phil Waugh has taken an unexpected detour, with the Waratahs captain scheduled to travel to France on Saturday to join the Barbarians squad.
To add to the confusion, the Herald has been told that Waugh's anticipated Barbarians appearance against England at Twickenham on May 30 would not preclude him from being named this morning in the Wallabies training squad for the June domestic internationals.
Nonetheless there was uncertainty last night over whether Waugh had made the 30-man Wallabies squad.
It is understood the Barbarians invited Waugh to play for them some time ago, along with former Waratahs teammate Rocky Elsom and league convert Sonny Bill Williams.
The Herald yesterday obtained a letter sent by NSW Rugby Union officials to the Sydney Premier Rugby clubs declaring Waugh's availability to play for the Barbarians. It is even likely that Waugh will play against his old teammates for the Barbarians against the Wallabies at Sydney Football Stadium on June 6.
But with the Barbarians to play England the same time the Wallabies go into camp, Waugh's future with the Australian Test team must be under question.
The NSWRU letter outlined player availability for coming club rugby matches, and stated: "Players available for the Barbarians are Ratu Nasiganiyavi and Phil Waugh."
Randwick winger Nasiganiyavi was named in the Barbarians squad last week.
Waugh's position in the Wallabies squad has become less secure, because of doubts over whether the Test selectors - Robbie Deans, Jim Williams and David Nucifora - would pick three openside breakaways.
George Smith, who recently agreed to re-sign with the ARU, will be among the first picked in the Wallabies squad, with his back-up expected to be David Pocock, who is highly rated by Wallabies coach Deans. Pocock
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is viewed as a future Test skipper. In Deans's opening year as Australian coach, it was soon apparent that he rated Waugh behind Smith when the NSW skipper was not a regular Test starter on the end-of-season northern hemisphere tour.
Little wonder an offer to play for the Barbarians was enticing for Waugh, 29, who has 77 Test caps.
Deans last week said that some major names would not be included in the June squad.
"It's not going to be straightforward, and we're going to have to make some hard decisions," Deans said.
"There will be some players who have played international rugby who will miss out."
Meanwhile, Wycliff Palu's misfortune in breaking his hand will work in the favour of several past and present Waratahs teammates, including Ben Mowen and Stephen Hoiles, expected to make the squad.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/a...498809640.html