By Nick Mulvenney
SYDNEY, June 1 (Reuters) – Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is
faced with a flyhalf dilemma ahead of a crowded international
window for the Tri-Nations champions after injury ravaged his
stock of options in the playmaker role.
Australia meet Scotland next Tuesday in Newcastle to open
their season before taking on Six Nations champions Wales in a
three-match series – a total of four tests in just three weeks.
Deans looks likely to choose between gambling on Quade
Cooper, the incumbent in the role who is returning from serious
injury, or handing a test debut to another New Zealand-born
number 10 in Mike Harris, a solid if uninspired playmaker.
Berrick Barnes is a more experienced option but he has had
an average season with the ailing New South Wales Waratahs and
still has to negotiate another Super Rugby match on Saturday
before rejoining the squad.
Australia’s stock of flyhalves looked reasonably healthy at
the start of the season despite the knee injury that Cooper
sustained at the World Cup, which kept him out of action until
last month.
James O’Connor, one of Australia’s brightest rugby talents,
had taken up the role at the Melbourne Rebels, while Christian
Lealiifano was making a strong claim for an international
call-up with some fine displays for the resurgent ACT Brumbies.
But then O’Connor, who many believe is being groomed for the
role by Deans, damaged his liver in late April before Lealiifano
was ruled out for the season when he broke his ankle in early
May.
The loss of O’Connor looked like it was only going to be a
temporary setback as Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale moved into
the role with the Rebels and produced a series of outstanding
displays.
Continued…
