da_sharks
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Halves will be tested
By STEVE JANCETIC
October 14, 2005
AUSTRALIAN skipper Darren Lockyer says it could take until the late stages of the Tri-Nations tournament for his scrumbase combination with halfback Andrew Johns to reach its full potential, labelling their partnership "a work in progress".
On the surface, the dream pairing of the two best players in the game would appear to be a match made in heaven, but their combination is sure to be tested given their hasty preparation for tomorrow night's tournament opener against New Zealand at Telstra Stadium.
Johns and Lockyer only ran at half and five-eighth for the first time at training on Tuesday, with the Kiwi clash their first ever as a halves partnership.
"You can't just expect to put a couple of guys that haven't played before together and have it work the first game," Lockyer said.
"I think we'll both put the team (first) in our mind ... and I think after a couple of games we'll start to get things right.
"(Tuesday) was really the first day we really ran with the football together and we can't expect everything to be Mickey Mouse the first game.
"It's going to take a few games under our belt to get it exactly right, we may not see the best until the end of the tournament."
The last time Johns and Lockyer played in a game together was in a Test match against Great Britain in 2002, but that was in the days when Lockyer was a fullback.
Since then injury, namely Johns' run of knee, neck and back injuries, have kept the two from running onto the field on the same side.
"A lot of the guys have played before and we've played against each other so much we know how each other plays so it's not going to be an issue," added Johns. "The understanding's there and my job is to get my good kicking game in."
what does everyone think?
i reckon the tele is just trying to talk some sh*t up again...
By STEVE JANCETIC
October 14, 2005
AUSTRALIAN skipper Darren Lockyer says it could take until the late stages of the Tri-Nations tournament for his scrumbase combination with halfback Andrew Johns to reach its full potential, labelling their partnership "a work in progress".
On the surface, the dream pairing of the two best players in the game would appear to be a match made in heaven, but their combination is sure to be tested given their hasty preparation for tomorrow night's tournament opener against New Zealand at Telstra Stadium.
Johns and Lockyer only ran at half and five-eighth for the first time at training on Tuesday, with the Kiwi clash their first ever as a halves partnership.
"You can't just expect to put a couple of guys that haven't played before together and have it work the first game," Lockyer said.
"I think we'll both put the team (first) in our mind ... and I think after a couple of games we'll start to get things right.
"(Tuesday) was really the first day we really ran with the football together and we can't expect everything to be Mickey Mouse the first game.
"It's going to take a few games under our belt to get it exactly right, we may not see the best until the end of the tournament."
The last time Johns and Lockyer played in a game together was in a Test match against Great Britain in 2002, but that was in the days when Lockyer was a fullback.
Since then injury, namely Johns' run of knee, neck and back injuries, have kept the two from running onto the field on the same side.
"A lot of the guys have played before and we've played against each other so much we know how each other plays so it's not going to be an issue," added Johns. "The understanding's there and my job is to get my good kicking game in."
what does everyone think?
i reckon the tele is just trying to talk some sh*t up again...
