Barnes primed for Jonny duel
Australia’s Berrick Barnes is young, blond and appears to have the demeanour of a man who has just stepped off Bondi Beach.
But get this, he practices his kicking on Christmas Day, just like Wilkinson.
And the 21-year-old aims to make it pay when England and Australia re-enact the World Cup final of 2003 at the quarter-final stage of this tournament.
Barnes watched that final at his granny’s house back in Brisbane, on account of the fact that he was still in 12th grade at school, which puts his rapid rise into perspective.
But he has studied Wilkinson’s game and, although he is not a goalkicking fly-half of the same ilk, there is no doubt he is as big a fan of England’s star player as he will be an adversary come the weekend.
He said: “Everybody’s got their unique way of playing but I’ve watched Wilkinson and you can take bits out of it.
“He’s a serious sort of character and he keeps a lot of stuff in and I’m similar.
“I’ve just got to learn to find that outlet leading into a game like this and make sure when you get that routine stick to it.
“The key to this sort of stuff is mental, getting your head on, getting right.
“I’m not that intense but I’m not Gits (Mat Giteau), I’m not the class clown, that’s for sure.
“I did have a kick Christmas Day actually. My dad and the blokes were round and we had a bit of a kick. But at Christmas it’s always cricket in the afternoon. Cricket in Essex Road, the street where I live.”
Barnes, who has played in three games in the current World Cup, scoring two tries and two drop goals, has been handed his chance because of the knee operation to Stephen Larkham, which looks likely to rule Australia’s first choice fly-half out of the rest of the competition.
It has left Barnes in a state hovering somewhere between shock and fantasy.
He added: “I could never have imagined this would have happened. It’s bloody unfortunate for Stephen Larkham but I’ve got the opportunity and I just have to step up and enjoy it.”
Apart from Australian RFU chief executive John O’Neill, whose observation “We all hate England” caused a stir, the Aussies and the English have been treading something of a softly-softly, respectful path to Saturday’s match.
The fixture inevitably brings out the best in both sides and Barnes, just like his kicking, has given it some studied analysis.
He said: “I was thinking about that in bed last night. I don’t say I hate them but it’s that Queensland/New South Wales thing. It’s that passion you want to win and I think you’ll see that next Saturday. I’ll be keyed up for it, that’s for sure.
“It’s the tradition going on so long. I hate it when we lose at cricket – but I loved it when we beat them 5-0 in the Ashes.”
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