Rugby: Deep impact for Wallabies

Macqueen's squad just gets better reports CHRIS RATTUE.


Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen rates the depth of players at his disposal as being better than ever in Australian rugby, and credits the Super 12 as playing a major part in that development.

Macqueen went into the 1999 season with a stack of top players on the injury list. But the re-assembling of the No. 1 squad took another step yesterday when the Wallaby coach assured Matthew Burke of the fullback spot in Saturday's Tri-Nations clash against injury-hit South Africa in Brisbane.

The brilliant New South Wales fullback, who seriously injured a shoulder last year, will replace Queensland's Chris Latham. Macqueen said Burke, who scored 23 points for the Australian Barbarians against New Zealand A on Saturday, had made a satisfactory return and the Wallabies needed his world-class goal kicking.

Macqueen said from Australia last night that star first-five eighth Stephen Larkham was an "outside chance" to play against the All Blacks in the final Tri-Nations and second Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney on August 28. Larkham is due to make his return from knee surgery with Canberra's Western Suburbs club in 11 days.

And the Wallaby coach is also confident that forwards John Eales and Owen Finegan will have recovered from shoulder injuries in time for the World Cup.

Not only are the Wallaby injury problems starting to ease, but the way their Barbarians beat New Zealand A indicated they also have strength in numbers.

"We had a bit of an advantage over New Zealand because we played all our test reserves in the match, but our depth is as good as it has ever been," said Macqueen.

"For the past three years we have had three provincial sides - whereas we only had two in the past - and that has been a major advantage. People like Stephen Larkham might never have emerged otherwise.

"We are still lacking the infrastructure that exists in South Africa and New Zealand. But the Super 12 has been very good for Australian rugby.

"Australia only had one major injury when it won the 1991 [World Cup] tournament ... but depth is obviously very important."

Meanwhile, New Zealand's selectors will today name the All Black squad to play the first Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park on July 24, and the New Zealand A side which will seek revenge against the Australian Barbarians in Whangarei the following day.

Test second five-eighth Daryl Gibson (knee ligament strain) is rated almost certain to be fit to play. The starting test side will be named on Monday.

Wallaby squad: Matt Burke, Chris Latham, Ben Tune, Joe Roff, Jason Little, Nathan Grey, Daniel Herbert, Tim Horan, Chris Whittaker, George Gregan; Tiaan Strauss, Toutai Kefu, David Wilson (captain), Matt Cockbain, Mark Connors, David Giffin, John Welborn, Glenn Panoho/Andrew Blades, Patricio Noriega, Phil Kearns, Jeremy Paul, Dan Crowley.