20 May 2010

More games the merrier for Dingo Deans

8:05 am on 20 May 2010

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has welcomed Australia's jam-packed 20-match programme in 2010 as an excellent build-up to next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

While the All Blacks and the Wallabies want to lighten the Test load in future to avoid player burnout, Deans says the more games the merrier this year as he tries to settle on a squad capable of bringing the Webb Ellis Cup back to Australia.

Deans is delighted to have a much larger range of options across the park to choose from, a far cry from previous years - and doesn't see playing more games as a risk, despite injury striking again.

He says they have essentially a full XV of players they can't pick due to injury, and it's not a bad XV either. Halfback Will Genia is the standout from that side - he'll miss Australia's entire June Test series against Fiji, England and Ireland with a knee injury.

First choice hooker Stephen Moore has a broken jaw and prop Benn Robinson a broken arm. They'll both be out until the Tri-Nations while lock James Horwill and number eight Wycliff Palu are already out for the season with knee injuries.