ARU chief Bill Pulver (right) says players must put the Wallabies before their clubs when the Lions tour later this year. Picture: James Croucher Source: The Australian
THE firepower of Quade Cooper, Will Genia and James Horwill is certain to be stripped from the Reds side to tackle the British and Irish Lions in June to serve the Wallaby cause.
Australian rugby's new supremo Bill Pulver yesterday gave a clear pointer that the Reds should expect to field a watered-down side in the June 8 tour clash.
It will be a tick from the top for Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who has already indicated his desire for a long camp build-up before the first Test of a titanic series that launches at Suncorp Stadium on June 22.
"No decision has been made but I will tell you the sort of principles that would guide me," Pulver said in Brisbane yesterday.
"I would love the Reds to beat the Lions, but the performance of the Wallabies against the Lions is the absolute priority and we need them to be successful.
"Robbie has clearly been in discussion with the states about having a decent runway into the series with his squad, and I think in all probability you are going to see a lot of support for the requests of the Australian coach.
"Lions players are being battle-hardened right now in the Six Nations, and they'll have the benefit of a six-game lead-up to the first Test."
It follows that the Brumbies-Rebels and Waratahs-Force clashes on the same June 7-9 weekend will also be watered down by the planned withdrawal of Wallabies.
Pulver, 53, met Queensland rugby powerbrokers Jim Carmichael, Rod McCall and Ewen McKenzie yesterday on his second day in the job as chief executive of the Australian Rugby Union.
His clear relish for big issues and a unified approach, his passion for the game at grassroots as well as the elite level and his articulate delivery were all promising signs that the ARU had signed the right man.
Lock Horwill had a full role in Reds training at Ballymore yesterday when director of coaching McKenzie gave the all-clear for his return in Friday night's trial against the champion Chiefs at Kawana.
Jono Lance is set to start at flyhalf and share those duties with Mike Harris in the absence of Cooper, who will be making his boxing debut at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
"Last year we were caught out having to replace No.10s and goalkickers, so we are keen to see our options in match conditions before the season gets started," McKenzie said.
Centre Anthony Faingaa (hand ligament) will likely miss just one match.
Lance split his 40-minute Reds comeback between flyhalf and fullback in Toowoomba last weekend to put behind him the badly broken ankle that ruined his 2012.
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