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Australia's June Series vs Wales Preview
by Pete Cresswell with additional reporting from Hywel Davies
Australia come into their June series vs Wales after a turbulent last nine months, beset by depth-testing injuries since a disappointing Rugby World Cup campaign and reeling after losing at home to Scotland for the first time in 30 years. However in recent encounters they have the wood on Wales; and as any New Zealander will tell you, never turn your back on a wounded Wallaby.
Last September things looked pretty good for Robbie Deans. The Queensland Reds had won the Super XV and the Wallabies the last ever Tri-Nations title; and they appeared set to be on the opposite side of the draw to fellow SANZAR heavyweights New Zealand and South Africa.
But star fly half Quade Cooper got rattled by hostile crowds in his native New Zealand, and injuries to key players like Stephen Moore and David Pocock helped facilitate an Irish ambush in their pool. A snatched quarter-final win over a superior Springboks side only meant a semi-final against an All Blacks team with a point to prove, and the consolation win over a shell-shocked Welsh team in the third place playoff proved little.
In 2012 the Australian sides have struggled in Super Rugby. The Reds' title defence foundered on an injury crisis that at one stage left them starting their fifth-choice fly half, the Waratahs flattered to deceive as usual, while the Rebels and Force floundered near the foot of the table. The initially unfancied Brumbies were the only highlight, scrapping past their compatriots to a virtually guaranteed playoffs berth, with four rounds remaining.
The horrific run of injuries that struck in Super Rugby this season have seriously impacted Dean’s choices in the backline. Quade Cooper, James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale are world-class absentees, that take a lot of replacing. Christian Leiliifano and World Cup skipper James Horwill are also missed, among others. Kurtley Beale may recover from shoulder surgery in time for the third test.
The scheduling has done the team no favours either. The Tuesday night loss in stormy Newcastle to Scotland came just 3 days after a round of Super Rugby, and 4 days ahead of the first test against Wales. The weakened team that ran out against Scotland had had just one day of preparation together, shades of the good old amateur days.
That said, there is still plenty of quality in the Australian squad. And they are a team Wales has struggled to tame in recent memory, the men in Red’s last win over the Wallabies in Australia was in 1969.
Last September things looked pretty good for Robbie Deans. The Queensland Reds had won the Super XV and the Wallabies the last ever Tri-Nations title; and they appeared set to be on the opposite side of the draw to fellow SANZAR heavyweights New Zealand and South Africa.
But star fly half Quade Cooper got rattled by hostile crowds in his native New Zealand, and injuries to key players like Stephen Moore and David Pocock helped facilitate an Irish ambush in their pool. A snatched quarter-final win over a superior Springboks side only meant a semi-final against an All Blacks team with a point to prove, and the consolation win over a shell-shocked Welsh team in the third place playoff proved little.
In 2012 the Australian sides have struggled in Super Rugby. The Reds' title defence foundered on an injury crisis that at one stage left them starting their fifth-choice fly half, the Waratahs flattered to deceive as usual, while the Rebels and Force floundered near the foot of the table. The initially unfancied Brumbies were the only highlight, scrapping past their compatriots to a virtually guaranteed playoffs berth, with four rounds remaining.
The horrific run of injuries that struck in Super Rugby this season have seriously impacted Dean’s choices in the backline. Quade Cooper, James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale are world-class absentees, that take a lot of replacing. Christian Leiliifano and World Cup skipper James Horwill are also missed, among others. Kurtley Beale may recover from shoulder surgery in time for the third test.
The scheduling has done the team no favours either. The Tuesday night loss in stormy Newcastle to Scotland came just 3 days after a round of Super Rugby, and 4 days ahead of the first test against Wales. The weakened team that ran out against Scotland had had just one day of preparation together, shades of the good old amateur days.
That said, there is still plenty of quality in the Australian squad. And they are a team Wales has struggled to tame in recent memory, the men in Red’s last win over the Wallabies in Australia was in 1969.
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Australia’s June Squad to face Wales
Management Team: Head Coach: Robbie Deans Coaching Co-ordinator: Tony McGahan Forwards Coach: Andrew Blades Coaching Assistant: Nick Scrivener Manager: Bob Egerton Strength & Conditioning Coach: Ashley Jones, Logistics Manager: Matt Sheppard, Doctor: Dr Warren MacDonald, Physiotherapist: Andrew Ryan, Physiotherapist: Ed Fitzgerald, Analyst: Andrew Sullivan, Media Manager: Matt McILraith |
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Players:
Props: Ben Alexander, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Salesi Ma’afu, Dan Palmer, James Slipper
Hookers: Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota Nau, Saia Faingaa
Second Rows: Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Sitaleki Timani
Back Rowers: David Pocock, Scott Higginbotham, Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Wycliff Palu (covers centre, wing)
Half backs: Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White
Fly Halves: Berrick Barnes (covers inside centre, fullback), Bernard Foley (covers fullback)
Centres: Michael Harris (covers fly half), Anthony Faingaa, Rob Horne, Pat McCabe
Wings: Digby Ioane (covers centre), Dominic Shipperley, Joseph Tomane, Cooper Vuna
Full Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper (covers centre, wing), Jesse Mogg, Luke Morahan
Props: Ben Alexander, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Salesi Ma’afu, Dan Palmer, James Slipper
Hookers: Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota Nau, Saia Faingaa
Second Rows: Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Sitaleki Timani
Back Rowers: David Pocock, Scott Higginbotham, Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Wycliff Palu (covers centre, wing)
Half backs: Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White
Fly Halves: Berrick Barnes (covers inside centre, fullback), Bernard Foley (covers fullback)
Centres: Michael Harris (covers fly half), Anthony Faingaa, Rob Horne, Pat McCabe
Wings: Digby Ioane (covers centre), Dominic Shipperley, Joseph Tomane, Cooper Vuna
Full Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper (covers centre, wing), Jesse Mogg, Luke Morahan
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1st Test Starting 15
1. Benn Robertson 2. Tatafu Polata-Nau 3. Sekopi Kefu 4. Rob Simmons 5. Nathan Sharpe 6. Scott Higginbotham 7. David Pocock (c) 8. Wycliffe Palu 9. Will Genia 10. Berrick Barnes 11. Digby Ioane 12. Pat McCabe 13. Rob Horne 14. Cooper Vuna 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper |
Key Players
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David Pocock: Crowned as captain this year in place of the injured James Horwill, Pocock has spent the last couple of years battling Richie McCaw for the title of "World's Best Openside Flanker". "Bam-Bam's" contest with Welsh captain Sam Warburton will be gripping viewing, and will go a long way towards deciding the series. Will Genia:
While Fourie du Preez may dispute Genia's claims to the "World's Best Half Back" title, Genia's running, passing and kicking skills will be more important than ever to this Wallabies side, forced into selecting an uncharacteristically "direct" midfield, which rather lacks the usual Australian creativity. Genia's battle with the more physical Mike Phillips is a delightful exercise in contrast. The front row:
The scrum has been Australia's achilles heel throughout the professional era. Whenever they can deliver steady ball to the explosive backs the Wallabies are a handful, hard for anyone to beat. On those all too frequent occasions where the scrum has buckled, the Aussies have generally taken a pounding. |
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Prospects
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Dave Dennis:
A rare bright light in another difficult season for the Waratahs, big Dave Dennis has managed to keep former Wallabies capatain Rocky Elsom on the bench in recent weeks. While it's early days in his career he is getting rave reviews from the admittedly parochial Sydney rugby media, and he could have a big career ahead. Joe Tomane:
The New Zealand diaspora has lead to nearly one fifth of New Zealand's population settling in Australia over the last generation or so. That has had a big impact on Australian rugby, with rugby-mad Kiwis swelling the playing ranks. Joe Tomane moved to Brisbane as an infant, and played for Australia Schools before a spell playing rugby league in the NRL. An ankle injury has unfortunately ruled him out of the first test in favour of fellow Kiwi ex-league player Cooper Vuna Mike Harris:
A Junior Rugby World Cup winner with New Zealand in 2008, Harris has rebuilt his career replacing the injured Quade Cooper at the Reds, after being discarded by the Blues, more evidence that the Auckland franchise's record of talent identification and development is seriously disfunctional. While his goalkicking radar went AWOL in the gale in Newcastle against Scotland on Tuesday, Harris is a steady hand as playmaker who gets the job done. |
There are a slew of previously uncapped players in the squad, five of whom were blooded in the Scotland match. That is not surprising given the injury list. On the other hand Pocock has racked up over 40 caps already and Sharpe is a centurian. The real key to this series will be up-front. If the often maligned Australian tight five can hold their own at scrum time, home ground advantage may well prove enough to get them home
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(c) Copyright 606v2 2012. Please do not reproduce without permission
To discuss this further with our members, please visit the 606v2 forum here
(c) Copyright 606v2 2012. Please do not reproduce without permission
