BLEDISLOE CUP/Australia v New Zealand: AUSTRALIA vice-captain Berrick Barnes will miss tomorrow's Bledisloe Cup game in Tokyo after suffering an ankle injury in training yesterday
X-rays showed Barnes had not sustained any fracture in his left foot but the Wallabies did not say if the inside centre would miss the rest of the team’s Northern Hemisphere tour which includes Test matches against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Medical staff will wait for the heavy swelling to subside before determining the extent of any ligament damage.
“It’s unfortunate for him and for us,” said lock James Horwill.
“But were moving forward and confident the guys in there are going to be more than able to do their jobs.”
The absence of Barnes for Saturday’s match is a major blow to a Wallabies side hoping to restore pride after signing off their Tri-Nations campaign with a 33-6 thrashing by the All Blacks last month. Australia have lost their last six meetings against their trans-Tasman rivals.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will be forced to bring in youngster James O’Connor at starting fullback and move Adam Ashley-Cooper to inside centre.
Frustrated by his team’s slump in form this year, Deans dumped Stirling Mortlock as captain in favour of ex-Leinster flanker Rocky Elsom for the Japan and Europe tour and warned other senior players their places were on the line.
Veteran George Smith has been demoted to the bench in a side showing four changes and a positional switch as Deans looks for major improvement.
The decision to select Wycliff Palu ahead of the 105-cap loose forward was one that surprised All Blacks coach Graham Henry.
“Smith is an outstanding international footballer and it is a wee bit of a surprise to us. But we’re not working with that team.
“We’ve got enough challenges of our own, without trying to pick the Australian team,” he added.
“When you make changes it adds an extra edge. You can’t do it every week but it does bring something to the team.
“We made a number of changes for Wellington and I thought that brought an extra edge. I’m sure Robbie is hoping that will occur here also.”
Meanwhile, Rodney So’oialo has credited a spell in provincial rugby with helping him claim back the All Black number eight jersey.
The 30-year-old has endured a tough year, carrying a neck injury during the latter stages of the Super 14 which saw him rested from the June Tests.
He then struggled to impose himself in the first three matches of the Tri-Nations and was consigned to the bench for the final three matches of the series as Henry opted for Kieran Read in the loose forward mix with Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino, then latterly McCaw and Thomson.
But a stint with Wellington helped the 60-Test veteran rediscover his appetite for the game and he has been rewarded with a chance to prove his class again against Australia in Tokyo.
“It helped me get excited again,” So’oialo said of his time playing Air New Zealand Cup rugby.
“The love for the game nearly went away. But going back to the ANZC and realising what the black jersey really means to me, it really opened up my eyes. Hence the reason I really want to play this weekend.”
So’oialo admitted it hadn’t been easy watching from the bench in the last three Tri-Nations games.
“It was tough but it was good for the mind and to get you back up to where you should be,” he said.
“Reado has played really well and it’s healthy that there’s competition there. It only makes you want to get better at what you do. I encourage the younger guys coming through to keep pushing the guys that are ahead of them.”
Having got the nod ahead of Read for this weekend’s match, Henry has laid down the challenge to his veteran loose forward to prove he is not a spent force at international level.
“He’s played well for Wellington between the Tri-Nations and this tour, but, really, there’s a big step between Air NZ Cup and international standard,” the coach said.
“He’s led from the front for the All Blacks for a long time. He brings a unique physicality at the tackle and the breakdown. He plays fully for 80 minutes so his work ethic is huge.
“He hasn’t played a lot of Test match rugby in recent times, starting games, so I’m sure he’ll be on edge and show that he’s the man.”
NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, S Sivivatu; D Carter, J Cowan; T Woodcock, A Hore, N Tialata; B Thorn, D Donnelly; A Thomson, R McCaw (Capt), R So’oialo. Replacements: C Flynn, J Afoa, J Eaton, K Read, B Leonard, S Donald, T Ellison.
AUSTRALIA: J O’Connor; P Hynes, R Cross, A Ashley-Cooper, D Ioane; M Giteau, W Genia, B Robinson, T Polota-Nau, B Alexander; J Horwill, M Chisholm; R Elstrom (Capt), D Pocock, W Palu. Replacements: S Moore, M Dunning, D Mumm, G Smith, L Burgess, D Mitchell, J OConnor.
