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Barnes set for pivotal role
Story by Sportal for the ARU
Monday, September 17, 2007 - 14:43 PM (AEST)
Wallabies young-gun Berrick Barnes looks set to play a pivotal role in his side's final two Pool B matches, following his impressive showing against the Welsh on Saturday.
Barnes showed all the poise of a seasoned veteran in the biggest match of his short career, laying on the opening try of the match and snapping an opportunistic drop goal as part of a dream start.
But the excitable 21-year-old, who had less than 24 hours to prepare for the match, admitted to being caught off guard when informed he would start in place of the injured Stephen Larkham.
"Sheer disbelief," Barnes said of his initial reaction. "Obviously disappointment for Bernie (Larkham) but you've just got to do the job I suppose - that's the way I thought about it (but) I was nervous that's for sure."
But despite the occasion the young Queenslander said he was able to take a carefree approach into the match.
"I sort of went in feeling I had nothing to lose - I hadn't had the best preparation going into it but I probably look at that as good and bad because you've got less time to think about it."
"I was nervous before hand but I think once you get out there you're buzzing on cloud nine … I've got a lot of experience around me so it was made a little easier through that."
Wallabies attack coach Scott Johnson was full of praise for the young pivot but also acknowledged the efforts of his more experienced members of the backline who helped Barnes through the match.
"It says more about the bloke as a bloke rather than as a rugby player. He gets called in at the last minute with no prep - he did some time with us (at training) during the week but very limited," Johnson said.
"And I think it not only says a bit about him but a bit about the sole of the people around him … so I think while Berrick did unbelievably well the other (players) around him did well too."
While the Wallabies are expected to prevail over Fiji in Montpellier on Sunday Barnes warned they could ill-afford to enter the match lightly.
"We've got a tough game next week and we're going to have to get our heads on for Fiji … when they turn it on they're pretty tough to keep at bay."
"So we've got to start well against them and try and carry this form through and build on our way to the semis," Barnes said.