Barnes is back on track
Wallabies playmaker Berrick Barnes is expected to be declared fit for this weekend’s clash with Wales at the Millenium Stadium despite hurting his back in Australia’s thrashing of the Barbarians.
The Waratahs inside back claimed a stray knee to the back in the first half of his team’s comprehensive 60-11 victory over the invitational side at Twickenham, but the injury is not too serious and he should be able to take his place in what is expected to be an unchanged Wallaby backline this weekend.
Barnes delivered a man of the match performance in the World Cup third-place play-off match against Wales when he replaced mercurial flyhalf Quade Cooper who limped off early in the game, and coach Robbie Deans will be hopeful that the versatile Waratahs man can put another impressive display together against the Red Dragons.
The match in Cardiff on Saturday will be Welsh wing legend Shane Williams’ farewell match and presents a good opportunity for both sides to finish the year on a high note after their World Cup ambitions were dashed in their respective semifinals.
Deans is expected to make two changes to the forward pack that did duty against the Barbarians with captain James Horwill set to take his place in the second row and No.8 Ben McCalman ready to move into the starting line-up after he withdrew on the eve of the match at Twickenham with an eye irritation.
The Wallabies arrived in Cardiff on Sunday and will have a recovery session on Monday before they begin their preparations at the University of Glamorgan on Tuesday.
