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It's Barnes or Beale - Carter
Rupert Guinness in Christchurch | January 22, 2008
BERRICK BARNES and Kurtley Beale will battle it out for the Wallabies No. 10 jersey, according to a keenly interested observer - All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter.
With star pivot Stephen Larkham having left to play in Japan, Carter - who will face his replacement in the Bledisloe Cup - believes the door is open for a number of players to fill the void. He told the Herald he saw Beale, Barnes, Matt Giteau and Julian Huxley as the key contenders.
"[Larkham] is such a great player that I respected immensely, a player you look up to," Carter said of the 102-Test veteran and foundation Brumby.
"Probably because he has played that position for so many years, leaving is going to leave a hole [in the Wallabies' line-up]. But it is also going to leave a real chance for the young five-eighths to really stick their hands up."
But yesterday, it was clear Barnes, of the Queensland Reds, and Beale, the Waratahs youngster, had made the biggest impression on Carter.
"Julian plays a bit at fullback and Matt at half and second five-eighth (No.12)," said Carter, who played at inside-centre before making the five-eighth's role his own at Test and Super level.
"They are all capable of playing five-eighth if asked. But it's important to get game time in that position if they are to cement the No.10 jersey."
Carter, appointed the Crusaders' vice-captain this year, believes Barnes is poised to stake his claim for the jersey since being blooded at Test level in last year's World Cup. Barnes came off the bench against Japan and started at No.10 in the next four games after Larkham was felled by a knee injury that later became infected.
"He would have learned a lot from that," Carter said. "That will help his game this year. He will become a better footballer because of the experience. It is always tough being thrown into the deep end like that. But I thought he responded well on the field. He looked relaxed and a pretty confident guy."
Beale might not have Test experience, but Carter is aware of 19-year-old's ability to turn fortunes with just a few steps.
"He is a young, exciting talent. He has a bit of X-factor … he can change a game," Carter said of Beale, who should play a trial against the Brumbies next week.
"If he can get more consistency to his game, he will be a great player. He has a year's experience [in professional rugby] now. He would have learned a lot in that time. He is another player pushing for the next step up."