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MONTPELLIER - Australia's long search for a replacement for retiring first five-eighths Stephen Larkham took a new twist on Wednesday when the uncapped Berrick Barnes was selected for Saturday's World Cup opener against Japan.
Barnes was the last player picked in Australia's 30-man World Cup squad and was not expected to figure in the first two pool games after coach John Connolly vowed to pick his best 22.
But Connolly surprised everyone when he included Barnes on the reserves bench for the opening game against Japan, saying he had already planned to start the 21-year-old after the second pool match against Wales but wanted to involve him in the action as quickly as possible.
"We've included Barnes because we thought it was important to get him into the mix and playing, and we're comfortable with that," Connolly told a news conference on Wednesday.
"Obviously we'll take stock after we get to the Wales game and if we do have success in Wales we'll want to rest Stephen Larkham at some stage.
"We thought it was in Berrick's interest to involve him in the game early before we throw him in at the end, just for his own development and feeling comfortable in the team."
Barnes is one of Australia's brightest young talents and has enjoyed a meteoric rise since switching codes from rugby league two years ago.
He boasts a strong kicking game and is quickly developing into a world class playmaker. Few, though, expected him to be thrust into the test squad so quickly.
"I really didn't think it would happen so soon. I'm being thrown into the deep end but that's good for me," he said.
"I didn't think it'd get to this level so soon but it's a bonus and I'm just really excited."
Barnes earned his spot in the World Cup squad after a string of impressive performances for Queensland in this year's Super 14. But he did not have high hopes of playing in France after being told his main job was to look after the team's mascot, a stuffed toy Wallaby called Wally.
His prospects dimmed even further when he injured his groin at a training camp in Portugal last week and was ordered to take a break because he was not needed.
"I was told by the doctor last week that I wasn't going to be selected but I think it was a smart play from the doc," Barnes said. "I would've been running around like a Staffy (Staffordshire) dog if I'd been told that I was a chance at playing so I think the doc did me a favour there."
- AFP
