Injured Aussie star Barnes relishing Giteau clash with Cipriani
Barnes, who suffered a knee ligament injury in the 30-20 defeat of Italy last weekend which has ruled him out of the rest of the Wallabies’ European tour, acknowledges Cipriani is one of England’s exciting prospects — but he is intrigued to see how he will cope with the pressure of facing one of the world’s best sides on Saturday.
“He is obviously a talent,” said Barnes, himself a regular at fly-half.
“He is a young guy with a lot of weight on his shoulders but he has an opportunity now to set himself up for the next 10 years.
“I think it is amazing how he has come back off his broken leg as well. It will be interesting to see him go up against ‘Gits’ this weekend.
“One of his hardest things is that he has a lot of pressure on him. Everyone is looking to him as the next big thing. He carries himself pretty confidently.
“He will come up against some really good 10s in the next couple of weeks — Matt Giteau and (New Zealand’s) Dan Carter. They will give him an indication, and everyone else, of where he is.”
Cipriani, 21, has started just two Tests — on Saturday against the Pacific Islanders and against Ireland in the final match of the RBS Six Nations earlier this year — although it seems as though he has been around for longer.
He was on the cusp of his first start in March against Scotland but was dropped from the squad for being photographed leaving a nightclub after midnight on the day England were due to travel to Edinburgh, and then suffered a career-threatening ankle injury playing for Wasps.
Media attention is something Barnes knows all about.
“I do get my photo taken,” he said.
“Public expectation has got to the extent now where you do worry about going out for a beer with your mates, and you can’t be yourself at some places at home.”
Meanwhile England have been boosted by the news Matthew Tait is in contention for a place in the squad for Saturday’s Test after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Tait, 22, has been sidelined for the last three weeks and missed England’s 39-13 win over the Pacific Islanders.
But with England manager Martin Johnson set to name his squad to play the Wallabies lunchtime today, Tait has made a timely return to training.
Luke Narraway has still not recovered from his own hamstring injury and he will stay in Gloucester to continue receiving treatment.
All 22 members of the England squad that opened the new Johnson era with victory passed medical reviews and are available for selection.
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