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Wallabies off the pace

Robbie Deans admits the Wallabies deserve to enter the upcoming Tri Nations series against New Zealand and South Africa as rank outsiders.

Saturday, 10 July 2010

Sportal.co.nz

Robbie Deans admits the Wallabies deserve to enter the upcoming Tri Nations series against New Zealand and South Africa as rank outsiders.

The Wallabies, who last lifted the Tri Nations trophy in 2001, managed a solitary victory over South Africa in Brisbane in last season's edition of the annual tournament.

And while the encouraging form of the Australian Super 14 franchises this season led to renewed optimism heading into the June inbounds Tests, a shock loss to England and an unconvincing win over Ireland would hardly have struck fear into the hearts of the All Blacks and Springboks.

And even the usually coy Deans concedes the Wallabies, currently ranked third behind the Kiwis and South Africans on the official IRB rankings, are along way off the pace two weeks out from their opening clash against the 'Boks in Brisbane.

"They've come out of June in great shape both of them, there's no doubt," Deans said of the Wallabies' Tri Nations foes.

"And hence they're ranked one and two in the world and there's some distance back to the rest of the world, that's evident. And we're chasing."

"The rankings are pretty clear, everyone's seen them and everyone knows them and that's our challenge and our opportunity is to try and adjust our place in the world."

Asked if he's happy with how the Wallabies are tracking, Deans quipped: "No, obviously not and we're going into a competition that's a step up again. If you look at it from a purely outcome-perspective we achieved all we could (in June after retaining the Cook and Lansdowne Cups)."

"But if you look at it from a performance perspective clearly we've got some needs. And they're needs that we're going have to cater for if we are to be competitive in the first instance and successful in the second."

The return of prop Benn Robinson (arm) and hooker Stephen Moore (jaw), both inclusions in the Wallabies 28-man squad on Thursday after missing the entire June program, is cause for some optimism for Deans.

Also included in the new-look squad are Reds rookies Scott Higginbotham, Anthony Faingaa and Rob Simmons, however, there was no room for Drew Mitchell, Lachie Turner, Josh Valentine, Pek Cowan, Laurie Weeks and hooker Huia Edmonds.

Two positions remain available but Deans and fellow selectors Jim Williams and David Nucifora are in no hurry to decide on the final two members of the squad.

"There's still two players to be confirmed and part of our thinking there is around the need to confirm the status of in particular a couple of outside backs in Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane who are both coming back from injury, and you would have noticed that we've only got two hookers and two half-backs at this stage as well."

Should Hynes (knee) or Ioane (shoulder) succumb to injury, Mitchell and Turner would be in line for a reprieve.

The availability of scrumhalf Will Genia (thumb) and Moore, who are both expected to overcome their injuries in time for the Springboks Test in Brisbane on July 24, will also decide the fate of Josh Valentine and Huia Edmonds.

"We can't assume anything," Deans said when asked if the two replacement players are likely to be backs or forwards.

"We don't know ourselves at this stage because it depends on how these (injured) blokes respond."

Deans expressed sympathy for Mitchell after the Waratahs winger's dramatic fall from starting winger to club rugby after poor performances against England and Ireland but admits he's excited by the arrival of Higginbotham, Simmons and Faingaa.

The All Blacks and Springboks will square off in consecutive Tests in Auckland and Wellington beginning this Saturday.

After hosting South Africa in Brisbane, the Wallabies play back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks in Melbourne and Christchurch.

Deans' men will then head to South Africa for two Tests in late August before rounding out the campaign against the Kiwis in Sydney on September 11.

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