Tough battle at six
Southside ‘own biggest threat’
UNCAPPED Brumbies captain Ben Mowen and the reactivated Hugh McMeniman are battling for the contentious No.6 jersey in the Wallabies pack after Dave Dennis was s e n t back t o the NSW Waratahs yesterday.
Dennis, who played in 14 of Australia’s 15 Tests last year, will front up against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night after an Australian Rugby Union policy backflip but now looks out of the race to start in the first Test.
Despite the ARU originally controversially ruling the Wallabies’ initial 25- man squad would be quarantined from playing Lions tour games, the NSW skipper and teammate Rob Horne have been released to line up for the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.
Fringe forwards Scott Sio and Peter Kimlin were also released from Camp Wallaby at the Sunshine Coast yesterday to prepare with the Brumbies for Tuesday night’s clash with the tourists at Canberra Stadium.
Although the Wallabies say Dennis and Horne remain in Test selection contention, the signs aren’t positive.
Deans has long said that he didn’t want to deny any fringe Wallabies the once-in-a-career opportunity to play the best of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and this will give them that chance plus some match practice.
Horne was always looking like a midfield back-up once Pat McCabe, a favourite of coach Robbie Deans, proved his fitness for the Brumbies last Friday to be a preferred inside centre starter.
Dennis, though, was thought to be in the thick of a fight with Mowen for the blindside flanker position for the June 22 series- opener, while rugged Western Force forward McMeniman, also a lock candidate who returned from Japan this season, is a selection wildcard.
As lineout callers for their provinces, Mowen and Dennis perform similar roles.
The taller McMeniman, standing at 200cm, gives more mongrel and physicality in a back-row expected to contain No. 8 Wycliff Palu and openside Michael Hooper. SOUTHSIDE coach John Robinson has laid down a challenge to his top ranked side ahead of tomorrow’s showdown with thirdplaced Brothers.
The Crusaders coach believes his team is untouchable in the FNQ Rugby premiership when his players perform to their potential.
‘‘It’s all up to them,’’ Robinson said yesterday.
‘‘We don’t have to worry about what other teams are going to do. They have to worry about us.
‘‘ And all we’ve got to worry about is ourselves, because we are our own biggest threat.’’
After walking out of last year’s competition in dramatic fashion Southside have returned with a vengeance in 2013.
With only two losses from 11 appearances the Crusaders are two wins ahead of their closest rivals, Barron Trinity Bulls.
‘‘The boys have been very committed and they have been training very hard this year,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘You are starting to see that on the field.’’
Centre pairing Sonny Rea and Esera Fa’aofo return to the team after representing Queensland Country in Newcastle on Tuesday night.
But Robinson warned that his team is anything but a two-man army.
‘‘We’ve got a lot of experience and that’s what we have been thriving on at the moment,’’ he said.
‘‘ Everyone just knows their job.
‘‘I think we are a little bit more blessed than other clubs in that regard.’’
Mariners host the Bulls tonight at 8.15pm.
In fifth position, JCU can keep in touch with the top four with an upset over last year’s premiers.
In the weekend’s other match, fourth- placed Port Douglas and sixthplaced Wanderers meet in Atherton.