Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has labelled the British and Irish Lions’ tour-opening win over the Barbarians ‘a junket’, saying it has little relevance ahead of the upcoming series against Australia.
The tourists belted the invitational Baa Baas 59-8 in steamy conditions in Hong Kong on Saturday night, scoring eight tries to one.
But Deans is refusing to read too much into the performance, preferring to run a closer eye over the Lions when they take on the Western Force in Perth on Wednesday night.
“I wouldn’t take too much out of last night’s fixture. It was a junket, to be fair, for the Baa Baas,” he said on Sunday.
“(But) there was ample evidence there that they (the Lions) are coming here with a purpose.
“They’re going to be formidable. They’re experienced on and off the field and they’ll really dot their I’s and cross their T’s and give it a fair crack.
“We’re pretty clear on how they’ll approach it (but) hopefully they’ll get a bit of attitude coming the other way (on Wednesday night).”
Deans also revealed:
*Kurtley Beale would re-enter the Wallabies camp on Tuesday after a successful return to club rugby;
*Israel Folau has not, to his knowledge, signed a contract with NRL club Canterbury;
*Quade Cooper remains in the mix for a Wallaby call-up
*Injuries have forced Scott Higginbotham, Sitaleki Timani out of the Wallabies’ preliminary 25-man squad
*Melbourne halfback Nick Phipps, Waratahs lock Kane Douglas and Western Force forward Ben McCalman have been drafted into the squad.
Deans still has six players to add to his 25-man squad and X-factor players Beale and Cooper still loom large in his thinking.
Beale played for Randwick on Saturday in his first outing since taking time away from the game to deal with a number of off-field issues.
“It’s good to see Kurtley back out on the ground. He’s had a pretty hectic month so it’s good to see him back out there doing what he enjoys,” Deans said.
“The reports have been pretty positive. We’ll get to see him move this week and that will give us a good indication of where he is at.
“He’s coming in to work with our staff. He needs some topping up. He’ll get some hands on work.
“It’s about what’s in his best interest right now.”
On Cooper’s performance for the Reds against the Rebels on Saturday night, Deans said: “He did some very good things and things he wouldn’t have been so pleased about.
“We know Quade well.”
And Deans remains unconcerned over fresh reports Folau is returning to league with the Bulldogs next year, preferring to concentrate on the present.
“He is here now and committed to the game and is playing it well enough to warrant inclusion,” the Wallabies boss said.
“That’s the only thing that concerns us. What happens in the future, who knows?
“Any of us could be anywhere.
“If he enjoys what he does here with us now (and) succeeds, then we’ve got a better chance of him wanting to repeat that experience.
“The game offers a lot but they’re his choices to make and he’ll make them in due course.”
Article source: http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/lions/story/0,25883,3551_8753539,00.html
Deans dismisses Lions scalp
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