Connolly Backs Away From Tahs Front Row

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday May 2, 2006

Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent

NSW's hope that their front row would become the Test combination has been severely dented after they were outclassed by the Highlanders pack in Dunedin last Friday night.

Wallabies coach John Connolly last night conceded that the Waratahs' inability to dominate a formidable Highlanders front row, which included All Blacks Carl Hayman and Anton Oliver, has prompted him to seriously consider other Australian props for the two-Test series against England next month.

Until the Highlanders match, there was a strong push for Waratahs props Benn Robinson, Al Baxter and NSW hooker Adam Freier to be the Test front-row combination. An excellent scrummaging effort at Carisbrook would have virtually sealed their Test elevation. That didn't occur.

Now Freier is the only front-row certainty as he has been the standout Australian hooker. As long as injury stays away, Freier will start as Test hooker, with ACT's Jeremy Paul his deputy.

While Baxter has enjoyed an improved season, Connolly is interested in the Queensland tight-head prop Rodney Blake. The loose-head position is still far from decided, with Connolly closely assessing the Western Force's Gareth Hardy, ACT's Guy Shepherdson and Queensland's Greg Holmes. Shepherdson is in line to be the Test reserve prop.

Connolly will also be able to compare NSW's performance against the Highlanders with that of ACT and Queensland, as they both play the NZ province over the final two rounds.

Connolly, well aware the rugby world laughs at rather than respects the Australian scrum, admits he has issues with the application, work rate and toughness of several Australian props, which is making the formulation of a pecking order so difficult.

"There are some concerns there, which will probably see us including quite a number of props in our training squad so that we can get a handle on it," Connolly said. "Getting the front row right is expected to be an evolving process."

Connolly is scheduled to include five props, three hookers and three halfbacks in his 33-man Wallabies training squad. But there is a strong possibility, if allowed to extend the squad numbers, that a sixth prop will be added.

No matter what, the make-up of the Test pack to play England in Sydney on June 11 will be vastly different to the previous Australian forward contingent which was involved in an embarrassing 24-22 defeat to Wales in Cardiff last November.

The only forward certain to hold on to his position is back-rower George Smith. The seven other Test positions may easily be filled by new personnel, with Connolly also interested in NSW second-rower Al Kanaar, Waratahs back-rower Rocky Elsom and ACT flanker Daniel Heenan. Australia could easily field a back row of Smith at No.8 accompanied by two tall breakaways - Elsom and Heenan.

Meanwhile, the Waratahs are hopeful of retaining four key NSW forwards - Kanaar, Freier, Stephen Hoiles and Wycliff Palu - who are involved in contract re-negotiations. Kanaar has been linked with the Force and Hoiles chased by the Reds.

Elsewhere, former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has put the pressure on Matt Giteau. Jones, speaking on radio station 2KY, said Giteau's multimillion-dollar deal with the Western Force made him international rugby's highest paid player and set a "very dangerous precedent".

"Giteau's a good player but he's certainly not the best player in the world," Jones said. "It just inflates every other salary in Australia, and it is unsustainable. He's got to win Western Australia a Super 14 on that money in the next two years."

Jones, who takes over as Queensland coach within a fortnight, has demanded a change in attitude at the Reds. "Only idiots repeat failure, and that's what's been happening there," Jones said.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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