Berrick Barnes

One half of a backline axis that promises to offer the Wallabies direction for many years to come, in partnership with flyhalf Matt Giteau, BERRICK BARNES made huge strides during his second season in international rugby. First capped at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where he wound up featuring at flyhalf in Australia’s final four Tests, Barnes found himself slotted in at inside centre under new Test coach Robbie Deans and quickly made himself at home in the new position. As well as scoring the first try of the ‘Deans era’ in just the fifth minute of Australia’s opening international of the year at Melbourne, Barnes also supplied the dropped goal which finally killed off South Africa, when Australia beat the reigning World Cup holders 16-9 in its opening game of the 2008 Tri-Nations.

A useful back up goal-kicker, with 55 Super rugby points to his name, Barnes featured in all but one of the 13 matches played by the Queensland Reds in what was his third Super rugby season. Although his campaign with the Qantas Wallabies ended early, when he was forced to return home from the Spring Tour due to a shoulder injury, Barnes reaffirmed his versatility on the tour by appearing at both flyhalf and inside centre.

2005   Joined the Brisbane Broncos rugby league club as an 18-year old and played nine First Grade matches in his only season in the NRL.

2006   Switched to rugby to join the Queensland Reds where he made his debut in the opening match of the season against the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium. In 11 matches he scored three tries as well as two conversions and two penalties he provided as a back up goal kicker.

2007   Played in all but one of the Reds Super 14 matches after recovering from an off-season shoulder reconstruction.  Was selected in the Rugby World Cup squad where he made his debut off the bench against Japan, scoring two tries.

2008   A regular starter in the midfield for Robbie Deans until injury intervened during the Wallabies’ historic Tri-Nations win over South Africa at Durban, Barnes nonetheless established himself as an influential figure in Australia’s new look backline formation. He started in all seven Tests played by the Wallabies before sustaining an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder which led to a pre-mature end to his maiden Tri-Nations series. He then added a further two caps – against New Zealand and Italy – on the Spring Tour before being forced to return home due to further shoulder trouble.