Deans may look further afield for fullback

[travelling_gerry]

Deans may look further afield for fullback






Bret Harris | July 07, 2008


THE loss of Cameron Shepherd with a season-ending leg injury has robbed the Wallabies of their third fullback from last year's World Cup squad.

Chris Latham, who is injured, is leaving Australia at the end of the season to play overseas, while Julian Huxley had surgery for a brain tumour.

The depletion of Australia's fullback stocks has left Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mark Gerrard, Drew Mitchell, Lachlan Turner and Peter Hynes as candidates for the No15 jersey.

There is no doubt that all four are capable of playing fullback as Ashley-Cooper demonstrated against France on Saturday night in Brisbane.

But there is a question mark over whether any of them is the type of fullback preferred by coach Robbie Deans.

At the Crusaders, Deans always played three ball distributors in the backline, at five-eighth, inside centre and fullback.

With the possible exception of Gerrard, none of the other fullback options is what you would classify a ball-player.

If Deans were to try to manufacture a ball-playing fullback from another position, it would make sense for him to look at the five-eighth ranks.

It is important to remember that one of Australia's greatest five-eighths, Stephen Larkham, was converted from fullback by former coach Rod Macqueen.

There is no reason why the conversion cannot work the other way.

Deans himself played Test rugby for the All Blacks at fullback, but he started out as a five-eighth, playing outside his younger brother and future All Blacks halfback Bruce at Christ's College, Christchurch. And the Crusaders' long-time fullback Leon MacDonald also began his career as a five-eighth.

If Deans scoured Australia's five-eighth reserves, would he find a fullback in playmaker's garb?

Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones always said Matt Giteau would make a great fullback, although he never chose him there.

And the way Giteau is playing at five-eighth, there is no way Deans would consider playing him anywhere else.

Waratahs five-eighth Kurtley Beale has played fullback for NSW in Super rugby.
Australia A five-eighths Daniel Halangahu and Sam Norton-Knight can also play fullback.

It would be difficult to see either Halangahu or Norton-Knight drafted into the Wallabies' Test squad at fullback, although Beale could be a long-term option.

Beale is unlikely to displace either Giteau or Berrick Barnes from the inside backs, but he is an exciting player and he would fit Deans' criterion as a ball-playing fullback.

Hynes is expected to start for Queensland Reds at fullback in next year's Super 14 series, which could be a step towards playing there for the Wallabies.

He has had limited experience at five-eighth and in the midfield, so he would have some ball-handling skills.

Another mid to long-term prospect for the Wallabies' fullback position is James O'Connor.

O'Connor, 17, is a natural five-eighth, although he plays inside centre at the Western Force outside Giteau.

O'Connor has also played fullback for the Australian Schoolboys so he has already had some familiarity with the position.

And O'Connor fits the Deans mould of a ball-playing fullback.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[Thequeerone]

Speculation on all of this is beginging to Sound like a book with the choices as follows:

Adam Ashley Cooper
Mark Gered
Kurtley Beale
Lachlan Turner
Drew Mitchell
Peter Hynes
James O' Connor

No mention of Lote though - wonder if Chook will be upset ?

[BLR]

No mention of Lote though - wonder if Chook will be upset ?

Considering the money they pay him Lote is the first person they pencil in, in spite of any lack of form.

[Moses]

Vote 1: Sam Norton-Knight.

Ticks all boxes. Ball player, big boot, looks like Larkham.

[Fullback]

Don't forget "The Deans Facture"

Timana Tahu called up to Qantas Wallabies Tri-Nations squad

[JediKnight]

Tahu for fullback!!!

[Moses]

Tighthead Tim-Tam Tahu, might not hold up the scrum but does showcase alliteration at it's most potent

[Thaied_Up]

Is Israel Folau a bit too far afield? Israel was exceptional under the high ball in S.O.O. III. Not so sure about his kicking game though. He's still young enough to learn it all.

Deans should be heading to the NRL with the ARU chequebook flapping out his back pocket.

[JediKnight]

Tahu for fullback.

[Hoolly Doolly]

Well i must say im surprised gerrard isnt in the squad. He actually had a decent season at the Brumbies actually playing fullback and personally i thought it was a close call between him and sheps. Cooper on the other hand is not a true fullbackk and his best position imo is on the wing or outside centre. I remember 2007 had cooper and huxley alternating between fullback and centres depending if the brumbies were attacking or not. His times against france the last couple games were nothing special.....he didnt stuff up but he didnt bring anything either.

My first choice to replace Sheps is Gerrard, followed by Mitchell.

I cant believe lachie turner is in the team. he did nothing in the s14's and his performance against france was terrible.

[NTT]

Is Israel Folau a bit too far afield? Israel was exceptional under the high ball in S.O.O. III. Not so sure about his kicking game though. He's still young enough to learn it all.

Deans should be heading to the NRL with the ARU chequebook flapping out his back pocket.

id like to think Aussie rugby could develop its own backyard instead of going running to mungoleague for its regular quick fix. i mean it is starting to make the ARU look like mungoleagues bitch
plus we already got one overpaid underachieving mungo winger do we need another?