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CARDIFF - Hobbling Wallabies fly-half Stephen Larkham admitted on Sunday that highly-rated rookie Berrick Barnes is ready to inherit his mantle as the Australian World Cup decision-maker.
Barnes, just 21, made his first Wallabies start on Saturday in front of 74,000 people at the Millennium Stadium after the 102-Test veteran Larkham was ruled out through a recurrence of a knee injury which could bring the curtain down on his World Cup as well as his glittering career.
But he had no hesitation in anointing Barnes as his successor after the Brisbane-born fly-half put in a nerveless display in the 32-20 win over Wales where he set-up the first try for Matt Giteau with a lovely jink through two defenders and also kicked a drop goal.
"It's very comforting to know that we have him there. He is world class and there are very few of those around at his career's stage," said Larkham, 12 years Barnes's senior.
"He was getting a lot of help out there from George Gregan but he can boss the team around the park. He will get a lot out of today and he'll be taking over that role after a few more games."
Barnes, who was the last man to be called-up to the World Cup squad, scored two tries in the 91-3 win over Japan last week after coming on as a replacement.
But he relished the chance to impress from the start in a tense, bruising Millennium Stadium clash.
"I asked him before the game if he needed any help but he said he was in a pretty good frame of mind," said Larkham, who had his most memorable Wallabies moment at the same stadium when he was part of the team that won the 1999 World Cup final.
"He was a little nervous on his way to the stadium but he settled into it and was buzzing at half-time. He controlled the first half. He didn't get a lot of ball in the second half but he defended very well."
Australia coach John Connolly was also excited by Barnes.
"In that cauldron today, he was outstanding," said the coach.
"He's tough mentally and he showed a lot of composure out there. He nailed his first kick which was good for his confidence. He scored a good field goal and his defence was good."
Larkham, meanwhile, hasn't given up hope of returning to action.
"The best-case scenario is that I play against Canada (Sept 29)," he said.
"The knee was starting to feel better but I probably pushed it a little bit too far in practice kicking a field goal."
- AFP
