THE RETURN of Berrick Barnes gave Australia coach Robbie Deans some cheer as he surveyed his injury list following the big victory over the United States in Wellington yesterday.
“It’s great to have Barnsey back out there. That was a big step for him with his recent history,” said Deans said after the Pool C match.
“He had some challenges through Super rugby. To get back into that sort of intensity . . . that’s good for him and it’s good for us.”
The 25-year-old Barnes, who was forced to take a break from Super Rugby after suffering migraines from a series of head knocks earlier this year, slotted effortlessly back into the Wallabies back line and provided an instant counterpoint to the mercurial Quade Cooper.
The 23-year-old Queensland Reds outhalf had a mixed game as the Wallabies ran in 11 tries, though Deans said he was pleased with Cooper’s performance after he was heavily criticised following the 15-6 defeat to Ireland.
“Quade managed the game in a way we are pleased with,” Deans said. “He produced some nice touches and he created a lot around him. No one is perfect and there was ball that we didn’t maintain that we will need to be better at.”
Deans said Barnes’s return would help to ease the injury crisis among his midfield backs, after Pat McCabe (shoulder), Anthony Faingaa (knocked out) and Rob Horne (broken cheek) were all injured in the US match.
“If you look at the circumstances through the midfield then it’s great to have him back on deck,” added Deans. “He can do both (play outhalf and inside centre) he provides choice for us.
“He offers us a lot in terms of organisation and his kicking game and he is an experienced player.”
Barnes said he was just pleased to be back in the international fold. “I suppose you still have the occasional doubt when you haven’t played at this level for a while – it’s near on a year . . . but it’s just good to play, to play a Test again,” he said.
“At the end of the day I’ve played both,” said Barnes said when asked if he preferred outhalf or inside centre.
USA head coach Eddie O’Sullivan expected Australia to flex their muscles, but was frustrated by the margin of the Wallabies’ victory.
“I was disappointed to lose the game but there were no real shocks. Australia had something to prove tonight as well, so they didn’t let up on us at any stage,” said O’Sullivan. “I thought the scoreline was a little bit harsh – we played some good rugby at times.”
AUSTRALIA: Beale; Ashley-Cooper, Faingaa, Horne, Mitchell; Cooper, Genia; Slipper, Polota-Nau, Alexander; Simmons, Sharpe; Elsom, McCalman, Palu. Replacements: Barnes for Beale (40 mins), Samo for Elsom (45 mins), McCabe for Horne (48 mins), Kepu for Alexander, Burgess for Genia (both 50 mins), Vickerman for Palu (54 mins), Moore for Polota-Nau (65 mins).
USA: Scully; Hawley, Enosa, Sifa, Swiryn; Malifa, Usasz; Pittman, Thiel, Fry; LaValla, Smith; Basauri, Danahy, Gagiano. Replacements: Stanfill for Smith (60 mins), Petri for Usasz (69 mins), McClenahan for Thiel (72 mins), Wyles for Enosa (73 mins), Johnson for Danahy (75 mins). Sin Bin: Scully (75). Attendance: 36,000
Referee : Nigel Owens (Wales).
