Roberts ‘player of the World Cup’ states Barnes
DAVID LONG
Wallabies back Berrick Barnes states Jamie Roberts deserves the honour of being named the ideal player of this World Cup.
Barnes gets a rare begin for Australia tomorrow night against Wales in the bronze final, he will go head to head with Roberts and he believes the Welshman has had an incredible tournament,
“Jamie Roberts will be unlucky if he doesn’t get the player of the tournament, he is been that good for them I reckon,” Barnes said.
“So it’s going to be up to us to shut him down.”
Roberts was a surprise omission from the IRB Player of the Year shortlist that was announced last night.
The only second-five on the six-man list was New Zealand’s Ma’a Nonu. Although they are huge ball runners, Barnes states their games are different.
“Jamie probably hits the line even harder than Ma’a, but Ma’a has got a bit of subtlety with his passing game and his skill set in that respect too,” Barnes said.
“Adjusting to both centres takes some doing. I have not played against Jamie before, so it’s a test for me and I’ve gone up against Ma’a a lot of times now.
“They’re always good challenges and I’m excited about this one. You shouldn’t forget about Jonathan Davies too, he is stepped up in the key games in this tournament.
“They’re both guys who cart the ball up well and they have got enough subtlety around them as well.”
With Barnes playing at 12 against Wales, some Australian media are calling this the Wallabies’ ideal backline and the one that should have started against the All Blacks in last Sunday’s semifinal.
Barnes will not get involved in that debate, but is obviously looking forward to a chance to begin a test.
“That’s other people’s opinion (about being the ideal backline) and obviously that was not that of the coaching staff.
“That’s fair enough and I’ve got to get out there and show it. I do not think whoever they put in the backs last weekend would have made any difference.
“I think I’ll be nervous and excited I suppose,” he added.
“When you are starting there is a different sort of nervousness as there is when you are on the bench. You get a chance to have a look at it on the bench and you do not get butterflies until a bit later.”
Tomorrow’s clash is the first of five tests against Wales for the Wallabies over the next seven months.
Shortly after the World Cup the Wallabies will be on a plane to Cardiff to play Wales in a money-making test.
After a long Super Rugby season and then a World Cup, it would be understandable if some of the Australian players were hardly thrilled about this test, but Barnes states he is up for the trip that also includes a game against the Barbarians.
“We’ve got a tour after this and that is alright. I do not feel too bad,” he said.
“I had a bit of time off in the middle of the year to get my head sorted out so I’m lucky I had that break.
“But there are other guys here who’ve been trucking on for a long time now and if you look at the schedule next year it’s worse.
“We’ve got to get used to it, adjust and not complain. It’s our job, we are paid to do it.
“The ideal part about it is that the Welsh have had such a bloody good tournament,” he added.
“You’ve only got to see their supporters and how many turned up to the stadium over there to see how much it means to them.
“Their country is going to be buzzing, so to get the opportunity to play the first test match of their season, that is great for us.
“Playing against a Baabaas side is always a good occasion. I’m looking forward to it.”
source : www.stuff.co.nz
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Submited at Thursday, October 20th, 2011 at 1:01 am on Sports by jessica
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