Deans still considering his scrumhalf options
August 20, 2008 - 2:08pm
Story by: ARU
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans could be just playing mind games with his Springbok counterpart but he seems to be leaning towards veteran Queensland Reds scrumhalf Sam Cordingley starting in the No.9 jersey against South Africa in Durban this Saturday.
But pugnacious Waratahs scrumhalf Brett Sheehan is not out of the mix, and in a surprise move Deans has even thrown in the possibility of Western Force flyhalf Matt Giteau starting at the scrumbase.
"We've got two halfbacks with us and there's other players as well with us this time who've played in that position before, the likes of Matt Giteau," Deans said Monday.
"I think in the first instance it probably wouldn't be a surprise to you that we'll look to experience.”
That would suggest Deans will go for Cordingley, who has played 18 Tests to Sheehan’s solitary Test appearance which, co-incidentally, came against the Springboks in Johannesburg in 20006.
The canny Kiwi then hinted that he had let slip more than he would’ve liked.
"So I'm giving you an insight there that we don't normally do,” said Deans quickly, “I've broken protocol there."
Sheehan's aggressive style has created speculation that he could be favoured against a very physical Springboks side desperate to bounce back after their caning by the All Blacks on Saturday.
As for Giteau, he was trialled at No.9 by former Wallabies coach John Connolly in several Tests in 2006 but the move was abandoned last year – and it would be a major surprise if Deans was to re-visit it.
Quizzed about experience, Deans said: "Experience is valuable but ... it comes down to how you use that. What previous experience in these sort of contests gives you is an insight but if you then don't use that to your best advantage then it's not much value."
The Wallabies continue to train in Cape Town ahead of Saturday's match at ABSA Stadium in Durban. They’ll re-locate to the Test city later in the week.
In other injury news Adam Ashley-Cooper (hand), Rocky Elsom (foot) and James Horwill (foot) have all trained lightly but Deans is hopeful at least the two forwards may be right for Saturday.
"They're (Elsom and Horwill) recovering well, their progress has been good," said Deans.
"They ran today and reported no ill effects on that so we just have to see how they go, see how they respond to that work, in particular tomorrow and just push on and take it as it comes."
The Force’s Drew Mitchell and the Waratahs’ Lachie Turner, who are both experienced on the wing and at fullback, are the contenders to replace Ashley-Cooper at fullback while the Reds’ Hugh McMeniman and the Tahs’ Dean Mumm could be in line for the backrow.
Deans wasn’t ruling out any forward options and may still use George Smith and Phil Waugh in combination again after the Springboks were out-fought and out-thought at the breakdown in the All Black’s 19-0 victory at Newlands last Saturday.
The All Blacks enjoyed a 65%-35% possession advantage in that Test.
"We'll consider our selection ... and that will pertain to the Springboks," said Deans guardedly.
"We'll look at what we believe will serve us best. We haven't made those decisions yet, believe it or not, so we'll have those discussions and we'll settle on a combination."
The Wallabies need to win just one of their two Tests in South Africa to ensure their final Tri Nations match, against the All Blacks in Brisbane on September 13th, becomes a virtual Grand Final.
But Deans is not buying suggestions that the Men of Gold will “target” a victory in Durban this weekend because that is considered more "winnable" than breaking a 45-year drought in Johannesburg, where they face the world champions the following weekend.
"The reality is you can only live in the moment and you can only deal with the challenges that you're presented with at any given point in time and we've got an opportunity coming this weekend and we are not thinking beyond that," Deans said.
The Wallabies will announce their line up for the crucial Test on Thursday.
