2009-06-05 06:50:03 -
SYDNEY (AP) - Barbarians flanker Rocky Elsom is in doubt for the match against Australia due to a sore knee, disrupting the tourists' preparations for Saturday's clash.
The Barbarians, a British-based invitational club, has asked former Wallaby No. 8 David Lyons to be on standby.
Australian Elsom, who has just returned home from playing in Ireland to take a Super 14 contract in pursuit of a spot at the 2011 World Cup, was part of a Barbarians backrow that also features fellow Australian flanker Phil Waugh as captain.
Elsom has a knee strain and has been given until Saturday morning to prove his fitness for his first match at the Sydney Football Stadium since he quit the New South Wales Waratahs in 2008.
Barbarians this week, both Elsom and Waugh will be vying for spots in Australia's squad for the first test against Italy the following weekend.
Lyons was on vacation in Sydney, taking a break after a season with Welsh club Ospreys when he got a call to join the Barbarians.
«It's good to be involved,» Lyons said Friday. «I'm looking forward to, if I do get the opportunity, to play.
«It's only been two-and-a half weeks since I've played after a a long season ... it's not too long between drinks.
The Wallabies are using Saturday's game _ a first for the Barbarians in Australia _ as a warmup for an international season involving tests against Italy, France and the Tri-Nations series against World Cup champion South Africa and No. 1-ranked New Zealand.
Former All Blacks lock Chris Jack is also in the Barbarians lineup. He too is pushing his chances of a return to his national team for the 2011 World Cup. Jack has just completed two seasons with English club Saracens and plans to return to the Canterbury Crusaders in 2010 after a short stint in South Africa.
«I want to come back and I want to play well,» Jack said. «If I wanted to play easy rugby I would have stayed in the northern hemisphere.
Fellow New Zealander Luke McAlister, playing his first match in three months, will play flyhalf for the Barbarians.
«The All Blacks coaches want me to start getting in the 10 role just to get a bit of a head start on things,» McAlister said of the push to make him backup for All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter.
«I'm pretty nervous to be honest, I haven't played much 10.
Former New Zealand rugby league international Sonny Bill Williams will play in the centers. Williams, one of two non-capped players in the Barbarians starting lineup, is returning to Sydney for the first time since he walked out mid-contract on the Bulldogs NRL club to join French rugby club Toulon.
Lineups
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Al Baxter, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Matt Hodgson, George Smith, Richard Brown. Substitutes: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Josh Valentine, Quade Cooper, James O'Connor.
Barbarians: Geordan Murphy (Ireland), Iain Balshaw (England), Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand), Seilala Mapusua (Samoa), Josh Lewsey (England), Luke McAlister (New Zealand), Chris Whitaker (Australia); Clarke Dermody (New Zealand), Sebastien Bruno (France), B.J. Botha (South Africa), Chris Jack (New Zealand), Paul Tito (New Zealand), Jerry Collins (New Zealands), Phil Waugh (Australia, captain), Rocky Elsom or David Lyons (Australia). Substitutes: Schalk Brits (South Africa), Greg Somerville (New Zealand), Martin Corry (England), Serge Betsen (France), Justin Marshall (New Zealand), Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Ben Blair (New Zealand).
