Burke Pushed Back In Dwyer Redesign
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday April 29, 2003
NSW captain Matthew Burke will return to his customary fullback spot for the first time this season as part of a backline reshuffle devised for the game against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday night .
With the Waratahs among seven teams still able to make the Super 12 finals, coach Bob Dwyer has opted for a new-look attack for a match they must win to keep alive their finals chances.
Although announcing a 22-man squad, there were enough hints at NSW training yesterday that Morgan Turinui was back in the starting XV at outside-centre, with Burke being moved from the centres to fullback.
While Burke is best recognised as a Test fullback, he has been restricted to outside-centre for NSW this season, with Mat Rogers and Milton Thaiday appearing at No.15.
Burke ran the whole training session at fullback yesterday, with the only uncertainty being whether Thaiday or Scott Staniforth will be on the right wing.
Staniforth missed training because of a virus that prompted him to have blood tests yesterday, and it would not surprise if NSW opted for outright speed by playing Thaiday on the wing.
NSW breakaway Rocky Elsom did not train because of a sore shoulder, with the Waratahs to make a decision today on whether he will play.
The other interesting developments in the squad were the promotion of Elia Tuqiri , a cousin of Lote, as the back-up halfback, while Test prop Patricio Noriega returns after an extended lay-off with a damaged back.
After starting against the ACT Brumbies, Paul Sheedy has been left out of the squad, as has Wallaby prop Rod Moore .
Dwyer said he was swayed into picking Noriega and Tuqiri after they performed well for Sydney against Queensland A at Concord Oval on Sunday.
``Patricio's urgency in the close-in stuff was very good, as was his reaction to such things as the clean-out, the tackle and the pick and drive," Dwyer said. ``It's a bit tough on Rod but them's the breaks."
Dwyer said that he had been keen on Tuqiri for some time but that his progress was held back when he was injured during the off-season.
``When we got an opportunity to play him for Sydney against Japan we were quite surprised by the speed of his service," Dwyer said. ``And we were then quite happy with how he went against the Brumbies and against Queensland A, so we think there are possibilities."
There is a slight chance Tuqiri may start against the Highlanders but NSW's No.1 halfback, Chris Whitaker, is adamant he will be available to play despite damaging his ankle several weeks ago.
Whitaker did not train with the team but believes he will be involved in full training when the Waratahs have their first practice in New Zealand tomorrow. He also revealed how close he was to missing the whole season.
``I saw a specialist first about my ankle and they thought I may have needed a screw inserted," Whitaker said. ``That got ruled out, thank god, because it would have meant being sidelined for three to five months. But now it has just meant physiotherapy from the early hours of the morning till late at night, and it has come along well."
Noriega was also relieved, as he was also anticipating a longer lay-off than six weeks.
``I was starting to get worried because I was out for so long," Noriega said. ``It was a tough journey, so it's great to be back."
ACT will give Matt Giteau until Friday to prove his fitness for Saturday's match against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
LIKELY NSW TEAM
Matthew Burke; Lote Tuqiri, Morgan Turinui , Nathan Grey, Milton Thaiday or Scott Staniforth; Shaun Berne, Chris Whitaker; David Lyons, Rocky Elsom or Simon Kasprowicz, Phil Waugh, Tom Bowman, Jono West, Al Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Matt Dunning. Res: Elia Tuqiri , Duncan McRae, Adam Freier, Van Humphries, Patricio Noriega.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald
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