WELLINGTON: Despite the Wallabies turning their World Cup campaign into a cutthroat affair several weeks early, they are still expected to rest several of their usual starting players for Friday night's pool match against the United States.
Waratahs outside-centre Rob Horne is in line to move into the Wallabies midfield, especially with Anthony Faingaa feeling out of sorts following the 15-9 loss to Ireland. Faingaa was unable to travel from Auckland to Wellington with the team on Sunday due to a stomach virus, and while he arrived at the team hotel yesterday, it would not be a surprise if he is rested for the third pool match.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has for some time been eager to give Horne more game time, and this match appears the ideal opportunity. Horne stressed yesterday he was ready, following a long absence from representative football due to an elbow injury. ''If the opportunity comes, I am going to take it with both hands,'' he said.
And Horne has complete confidence in the back-up players who are expected to make the team the next two weeks, knowing that they have to defeat the US and Russia to ensure the Wallabies qualify for the quarter-finals. Horne said all members of the squad were well aware of the consequences if they falter against either team.
''We can't afford another slip up,'' Horne said. ''Being a young side this is a genuine reality check. There is a lot of doubters out there at the moment. A lot of countries would have seen that [Ireland] game and been very pleased with that result. The only people who can change that is us - on Friday night.
''The so-called second-tier nations are all playing very well, so we have to be on top of that. A lot of their players are now involved in Europe or the United Kingdom at some level. It is not like they are playing park footy. We do have a pretty strong 30-man squad. We're pretty lucky to have the talent that has been sitting in the stands the last couple of weeks. If those guys get the opportunity, you'd like to think there would not be a drop off in standards.''
Another likely to be promoted is Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell, who made his international return after a long absence when he played the final four minutes at Eden Park. He is expecting the US to be as rugged as Ireland.
''USA play a similar game to the Canadians, and we had an insight on them a few weeks ago when we played for the Barbarians against them on the Gold Coast,'' Mitchell said. ''Although they are not involved in the top-tier competitions, they still do have some strong physical guys who run the ball hard and are willing.
''Due to that we have to go into the game with the mindset that it is going to be a dogfight, and we have to be up for it.''
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