RUGBY:AUSTRALIA SCRUMHALF Will Genia said he's confident of playing in today's Tri-Nations rugby decider against New Zealand following concussion concerns.
Genia, who was voted as the best Australian player in this year’s Super Rugby competition, had been in doubt for the match in Brisbane after getting hurt in two training-ground collisions this week.
“All the signs look good,” the 23-year-old Genia said at a televised news conference. “A lot’s been made of it but it’s nothing too serious.”
Genia received six stitches to a head injury after colliding with number eight Radike Samo three days ago and was hurt again yesterday when secondrower Rob Simmons landed heavily on him. Luke Burgess, Genia’s back-up, is yet to play a test this year after breaking his hand in June.
The Wallabies, who play Ireland in the World Cup pool stages on September 17th, are tied with the All Blacks on nine points atop the Tri-Nations standings as they seek a first Southern Hemisphere rugby championship since 2001.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was reluctant to give the match any significance beyond the silverware.
“Certainly going forward to the next couple of weeks, it (would) give you a bit of confidence. But here and now we want to make sure we do the job right.”
The title was also on the line when the teams last met in Brisbane three years ago and New Zealand went on to win that match 28-24.
AUSTRALIA: Kurtley Beale; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Anthony Faingaa, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander; Dan Vickerman, James Horwill (captain); Rocky Elsom, David Pocock, Radike Samo. Replacements: Saia Faingaa, Salesi Maafu, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, 22-TBC.
NEW ZEALAND: Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Maa Nonu, Zac Guildford; Dan Carter, Piri Weepu; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks; Brad Thorn, Samuel Whitelock; Adam Thomson, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read.
Replacements: Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Isaia Toeava.
