Deans prepares to keep spot open for Tuqiri

[travelling_gerry]

Deans prepares to keep spot open for Tuqiri

Bret Harris | September 22, 2008

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans will consider expanding the touring party bound for Hong Kong and Europe, depending on the fitness of winger Lote Tuqiri, who is in doubt with a knee injury.

Deans originally intended taking 33 players on the six-match tour but is now looking at adding an extra player.

Tuqiri carried the niggling knee injury in Australia's first nine Tests this year and underwent arthroscopic surgery last Monday.

Deans is expected to name a 33-man squad as planned tomorrow and if Tuqiri passes a medical examination in a month he will become the 34th member.

The uncertainty over Tuqiri may have influenced Deans to go for extra cover on the wing.

Tuqiri has started on the left wing in eight of the Wallabies' nine Tests, while Peter Hynes has started on the right wing in all nine. The only other player to start on the wing was Lachlan Turner, who replaced the injured Tuqiri in the Wallabies' 40-10 win against France in Brisbane.

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ryan Cross and Drew Mitchell have also spent time on the wing as replacements.

But none of those players is a specialist winger, which may open the door for Digby Ioane to make the tour as a development project.

Deans may also look to shore up an area of weakness in the inside backs by taking both Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper, who can play five-eighth and inside centre.

While Beale and Cooper have not been part of the extended squad, they were both sent away with the Australian team to the under-20 World Cup - along with openside flanker David Pocock - to gain international experience.

There is also a strong argument for the inclusion of James O'Connor, the 18-year-old Western Force inside back, who can play five-eighth, inside centre and fullback.
O'Connor would have been involved in the under-20 tournament, but he was too young under IRB regulations. If Ioane does not make the cut, it could create room for O'Connor.

Whether Deans takes Beale, Cooper and/or O'Connor, the fact remains he has to develop depth in the inside backs.

Matt Giteau started at five-eight in all nine Tests this year, while Barnes had a mortgage on the No12 jersey until he sustained a shoulder injury in the Wallabies' 27-15 win against South Africa in Durban.

Rugby league convert Timana Tahu was trialled unsuccessfully at inside centre in the record 53-8 loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg.

This resulted in captain and outside centre Stirling Mortlock starting at inside centre and covering five-eighth in the Wallabies' 28-24 loss to the All Blacks in Brisbane.

The Wallabies' 30-man Tri-Nations squad, minus departed forwards Dan Vickerman and Rocky Elsom, is expected to be named in the touring party.

This means Deans will look to add another six players.

Forwards Mark Chisholm and Stephen Hoiles, who were members of the Wallabies' 30-man squad for the in-bound Tests against Ireland and France, would be in the frame. Hoiles could go as extra cover for number eight after Wycliff Palu injured a knee in the Tri-Nations decider in Brisbane.

Pocock is certain to go away as a third openside flanker behind veterans George Smith and Phil Waugh, while prop Sekope Kepu would add depth to the front row.
If Beale and Cooper secure tour places, it may leave Ioane and O'Connor competing for the
final spot.


Likely Wallabies squad:

Forwards - Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Adam Freier, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Phil Waugh.

Backs - Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane/James O'Connor, Stirling Mortlock, Brett Sheehan, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Lachlan Turner


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

[Burgs]

So, does Tahu warrant a spot in the Squad or should he be doing the hard yards at Tahs pre-season to learn the sport first?

[robyn <3]

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ryan Cross and Drew Mitchell have also spent time on the wing as replacements.

But none of those players is a specialist winger, which may open the door for Digby Ioane to make the tour as a development project.

drew isnt a specialist winger? since when? even if he isnt a specialist winger, hes better than digby!! aac wont move from 15 i dont think and i think ryan should be in 13

please not beale please robbie!!

[laura]

I don't think a spot should be 'kept open' for him.
When Drew was unfit to be selected for the original 30 man squad he got left out, and he was a starter at the world cup and had a great season. Lote shouldn't be treated any differently. He should be made to train back to standard and then if a position opens up (heaven forbid someone get injured, but it it happens) then he should get the call up if he is the most in-form highest standard option available.

[Flamethrower]

Yeah!! What Bungeye said.

[Jehna]

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ryan Cross and Drew Mitchell have also spent time on the wing as replacements.

But none of those players is a specialist winger, which may open the door for Digby Ioane to make the tour as a development project.

That's ridiculous. Firstly, why do we need a specialist winger? I certainly would take any one of those wing replacements over Digby. Digby does not have the experience nor the skill to play at the level required. Secondly, if Mitchell can't be regarded as essentially a specialist winger then what on earth is he doing in the Force and what do you call his world cup campaign?

Deans may also look to shore up an area of weakness in the inside backs by taking both Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper, who can play five-eighth and inside centre.

You'd have to take Beale...as much as it pains me to put someone in the team who i'm not convinced is up to international standard just yet we can't afford to take away a squad with no replacement for 10 or 12.

There is also a strong argument for the inclusion of James O'Connor, the 18-year-old Western Force inside back, who can play five-eighth, inside centre and fullback.

As much as i love this guy he still needs to earn his spot on the squad. He's a fearless gem but hasn't had the experience to be thrown into the big time yet....i mean...look what happened to Gits when they did it to him

I don't think a spot should be 'kept open' for him.
When Drew was unfit to be selected for the original 30 man squad he got left out, and he was a starter at the world cup and had a great season. Lote shouldn't be treated any differently. He should be made to train back to standard and then if a position opens up (heaven forbid someone get injured, but it it happens) then he should get the call up if he is the most in-form highest standard option available.

Couldn't agree more Laura. I accept that in sport, it is not all fair game. At the end of the day you want your best team on the field. But something has to be said for consistency in the application of this rule. If Deans is prepared to allow Tuqiri to just waltz into the squad when he's ready for it then the same consideration so be applied to all injured players that meet the Wallaby standards. I am so sick and tired of exceptions being made for Lote over and over again...wake up...he's not irreplaceable. We're not talking about an extremely gifted player here where no one else can match him for talent, skill or dedication....

[laura]

Final shot for Wallabies' touring places to Europe
Bret Harris | September 19, 2008

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans will attend the Sydney club rugby grand final between Randwick and Sydney University at Concord Oval tomorrow before finalising the 33-man squad to tour Hong Kong and Europe.

Deans will have pencilled in the majority of the touring party, which is expected to include the Tri-Nations squad, minus departing forwards Dan Vickerman and Rocky Elsom.

This would leave five vacancies for the tour, which involves five Tests and a match with the Barbarians at Wembley.

There are several players in the Randwick-Sydney University decider vying for selection.

Sydney University forwards Phil Waugh and Dean Mumm are almost certain to tour, while Randwick hooker Adam Freier is also expected to be included.
But Randwick forwards Mark Chisholm and Stephen Hoiles may be playing for spots in the touring party.

It is also a last chance for Randwick's former Wallabies backs, Josh Valentine and Morgan Turinui, to press their claims.

On the face of it, Chisholm and Hoiles would replace Vickerman and Elsom quite neatly.

Chisholm and Hoiles were both named in Deans' initial squad in June, but did not figure prominently in the opening three Tests, against Ireland and France.

While Chisholm did not play Test rugby at all, Hoiles got a run in the second international against France in Brisbane.

Chisholm may face a challenge from Brumbies second-rower Peter Kimlin, who played well for Australia A this year.

Hugh McMeniman is likely to replace Elsom at blindside flanker in the Test team, while Mumm is capable of starting in the second row. Whether Deans decides to go with two extra specialist second-rowers or just one may determine whether Kimlin and/or Hoiles makes the cut. Hoiles is primarily a number eight, which means he has Wycliff Palu and Richard Brown in front of him, but he can also play blindside flanker.

If Chisholm and Hoiles make the squad, it will leave three spots open for development players.

The Wallabies already had four props in the Tri-Nations squad - Al Baxter, Benn Robinson, Matt Dunning and Ben Alexander.

But a strong performance at loose-head by Randwick's Sekope Kepu tomorrow could influence Deans to take a fifth prop on tour. Kepu is regarded as highly promising and would benefit from the experience. Deans is also expected to take three openside flankers - Waugh, George Smith and rookie David Pocock.

Deans will consider bringing another five-eighth into the squad, probably Kurtley Beale.

Possible Wallabies squad - Forwards: Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Adam Freier, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Phil Waugh. Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Stirling Mortlock, Brett Sheehan, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner.

Final shot for Wallabies' touring places to Europe | The Australian

[jono]

we are screwed for halfbacks...

[AndyS]

Doesn't "specialist winger" = "one trick pony"? If you are off on tour, why would you want to limit your options like that unless the guy was just in a different class in his position (which none of the specialists are)?

[The Lone Hydrangea]

I think most TWF punters are forgetting that Lote is a marquee player and is a Superstar, apparently.......hence a walk up start! God bless his little cotton socks.

[Flamethrower]

As much as i love this guy he still needs to earn his spot on the squad. He's a fearless gem but hasn't had the experience to be thrown into the big time yet....i mean...look what happened to Gits when they did it to him

He's got more experience than Gitts had when he first pulled on a Wallabies Jersey.

[GIGS20]

Geez I'm sick of the Sydney papers pusing their barrows with this tripe. Personally I reckon Deansey would be taking a backward step to call up Chis and Hoiles. Not that they're a long way off, but I reckon the future is the place to look and there is a helluvalot of promising pack meat available south of the 25 year mark. Let's face it, you've got Dave Pocock, Beef O'Connor, Sam Wykes, Tom Hockings, Richard Brown and Matt Hodgeson and That's just the , now I have to admit that I'm not really up to speed with the other provinces (nor do I really care too much to find out) but if we've got six good names who would be there or thereabouts surely there's one or two kicking around the other provinces and you could pick a pretty bloody close to world class back two rows out of development players....add that to the remnants of the back two rows from the tri nations and Voila....instant devleopment team!