Barnes racing to Brisbane
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:19
Wallaby centre Berrick Barnes, in a race against time to be fit for the Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks in Brisbane on September 13, is pulling out all the stops to speed up his recovery.
The Reds star has been called an "unlikely starter", after damaging his AC joint in the 27-15 win over the Springboks in Durban on August 23.
However, the man renowned for his never-say-die attitude isn't giving up just yet.
The 22-year-old has been undergoing intense physiotherapy in the hope of speeding up his recovery period, which was initially three to four weeks.
Barnes was sorely missed in the Wallabies' heavy 8-53 defeat at the hands of the Springboks in Johannesburg last Saturday, the side missing his sturdy defence in the midfield as well as his potent kicking game in the No.12 jersey.
"I'm doing all the physio at the moment and things are looking okay," Barnes told AAP.
"We'll make a decision on Sunday or Monday.
"If I'm right, I'm right. But I don't want to be a dead wood out there, especially in the last 20 minutes."
If Barnes doesn't make it, coach Robbie Deans has the option of again starting Timana Tahu, who admitted he was "looking for a rope to hang himself" after his shocker against the Boks, or the Wallaby coach could shift captain Stirling Mortlock in one position and name Ryan Cross at outside centre.
