Angry Campese switches his criticism to Tuqiri

SYDNEY - Wallaby legend David Campese, who has made a sport out of picking holes in Wendell Sailor since his high-profile switch from league, is now gunning for the Australian Rugby Union's latest recruit, Sailor's former team-mate Lote Tuqiri.

The 22-year-old Fijian-born wing ended weeks of speculation when he confirmed on Monday he was leaving the Brisbane Broncos at the end of the NRL season in a bid to play a part in the Wallabies World Cup defence next year.

His switch, while widely predicted, prompted Campese to fire a broadside at the ARU, claiming the organisation was "wasting money" by acquiring a player who had never taken the game seriously.

"Why buy the guy?" said Campese, the only Wallabies player to win 100 caps. "They'll have six months to turn him into a World Cup player and even [Mat] Rogers says he's struggling at times, and he played rugby as a schoolboy."

Tuqiri signed a two-year deal that will earn him an estimated A$375,000 ($437,000) annually, plus A$10,000 ($11,500) for each test appearance.

He is in negotiations with Australia's three Super 12 franchises.

Campese said he was mystified that the ARU needed Tuqiri after poaching Sailor and Rogers last year.

Campese has been highly critical of wing Sailor's swift passage into the Wallabies, saying his positional and defensive play was not up to international standard in matches against New Zealand Maori and France.

He was happier with utility Rogers, saying he was a great prospect in the midfield.

Tuqiri has been earmarked as a potential fullback or centre in the 15-man code.

- NZPA