Australia coach Robbie Deans is happy to be able to give the Giteau-Barnes 10-12 axis a go after having the experiment stopped last November.

The two have lined up together 15 times in Deans' 33 matches at the helm, but after the emergence of Quade Cooper and an untimely ankle injury to Barnes last year, the Waratahs centre has struggled to break in.

"It's a combination that we were looking at at the end of last year prior to the end of year tour but Barnesy picked up an (ankle) injury and we didn't really get the opportunity (to see it)," Deans said to Sportal of his dual playmakers.

"Obviously Quade (got an opportunity on the November Tour) and he's made the most of that but these two blokes have been re-united and we're expecting them to thrive."

Asked if Barnes and Giteau will swap positions throughout the match, Deans replied: "You'll see them in both roles throughout the game. We will use them in both roles."

Deans is not banking on Cooper having his two-match ban for a dangerous tackle quashed, although he remains hopeful that Cooper might have the ban reduced to one Tri-Nations match, which is what both of the South African player punished for the same offence will miss.

"We've prepared on the basis that Quade won't be available to us so we won't contemplate anything other than that until such time as it became a reality and we'd deal with it if it did," he said.

A rejuvenated Giteau welcomed the chance to renew his combination with Barnes and played down the significance of his own positional switch.

"I've played there (fly-half) a fair bit over the last couple seasons so it's not a huge adjustment for me," he said.

"The way I've been playing at twelve will change a little bit, I'll get my hands on the ball a lot more but it's not a worry."

"I'm very excited just to be in the team but also to be playing with Berrick. Quade's been playing some great rugby but it gives Berrick a good opportunity and I've played with Berrick the past two seasons so combinations aren't a worry and I really enjoy playing with him."

planetrugby.com

27/07/2010