Discarded Giteau gets BaaBaas chance
Discarded utility back Matt Giteau has been named in a powerful Australian Barbarians combination, boasting a combined 407 Test caps, for their encounter with the World Cup-bound Canadian side at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Friday.
The Barbarians, who played two midweek matches against the touring England side last year returning a draw as well as a narrow loss, will be led by the most experienced current Wallaby, second row forward Nathan Sharpe.
Every member of the starting XV boasts Wallaby experience, with seven members of the recently named 30-man national squad included as the Wallabies continue with preparations for the Great Crusade across the Tasman.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans says Friday’s contest is an important stepping stone for all of the players involved, with five of the BaaBaas starting line-up returning to the international fold after breaks forced by injury.
This includes the local product, Test prop James Slipper, who is one of two Gold Coasters in the run on combination, alongside the 96-cap international, Sharpe.
“This is a great opportunity to re-introduce these players to the international scene, while also allowing others to press their claims as back up to the 30-man squad that we have named,” Deans says.
“History suggests that we will sustain injuries during a schedule as demanding as that which we face in New Zealand. We have to have alternatives who are ready to go if that proves to be the case. Friday night allows a wider group of players, outside of the Test squad, to gain international exposure while also keeping them all connected to the overall campaign.”
The BaaBaas, who go into camp at the Gold Coast on Wednesday, will be prepared by Wallabies coaching coordinator David Nucifora.
He has no illusions as to the significance of the task his team faces.
“This is the Canadians last hit out before they head to [the World Cup in] New Zealand so they will be raring to go,” Nucifora said.
“They’ve had a lot of time together as a squad and have been building through their other warm up matches. As the finale to their preparations for New Zealand, they will have placed a great deal of emphasis on getting a good performance Friday.
“It’s never easy bringing together a group with just a couple of days of prep, but all but two of the players in our squad have been involved in the national programme earlier in the year so they all have a good background as to how we operate.”
The two ‘newcomers’ are Waratahs flank Pat McCutcheon, who has returned to action in Sydney club rugby after working his way back from injury, and the impressive Reds midfielder Ben Tapuai.
McCutcheon is familiar to the national team environment after involvement last year.
The 22-year-old Tapuai starred during his state’s run to a maiden Super Rugby title last month, helping to shut down the glamour Crusaders midfield of Sonny Bill Williams and Robbie Fruean during the Reds 18-13 win over the Kiwi side in the tournament final.
Canada, which is coached by a former All Black team-mate of Deans’ in the ex-New Zealand selector Kieran Crowley, is concluding preparations for a schedule across the Tasman which will see the side face the All Blacks, France, Tonga and Japan.
Australian Barbarians: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Pat McCutcheon, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 James Slipper, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Pekahou Cowan, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Ben Tapuai, 21 Luke Morahan, 22 Mark Gerrard.
Date: Friday, August 26
Venue: Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Kick-off: 20.05 AEST (10.05 GMT)
Referee: TBC
