Pek Cowan is hoping he can belatedly press his World Cup claims in Australia's Test encounter with Samoa on Sunday.
At ANZ Stadium, Sunday July 17, kick-off 4am
Pek Cowan is hoping he can belatedly press his World Cup claims in Australia's Test encounter with Samoa on Sunday. When Wallabies boss Robbie Deans left the 25-year-old prop out of his 40-man squad for the Tri-Nations, the RWC looked a distant dream. But after Benn Robinson suffered a knee injury in training that will end his season, loosehead prop Sekope Kepu was promoted to the first XV and the four-cap Cowan has been handed a place on the replacements' bench. Given the options at Deans' disposal, Cowan still faces a huge fight, particularly as 10 must be trimmed from the Tri-Nations squad when the World Cup squad is officially announced on August 18. Injured Reds loosehead Ben Daley (shoulder) and Kepu are both ahead of Cowan in the pecking order, while tightheads Ben Alexander and James Slipper could easily be used on either side of the scrum. But Kiwi-born Cowan has every intention of returning to his homeland.Opportunity
He said: "With the way that all the front-rowers are looking at the moment everyone's got an opportunity, especially myself, so I'm really looking forward to the next couple of weeks and then looking forward to the World Cup...fingers crossed. "Unfortunately I hadn't made the 40-man squad initially so I was preparing to play for the Warringah Rats this week. Obviously circumstances have changed and here I am. "The Western Force didn't perform that great this year and I think that kind of hindered opportunities for a lot of the guys to make this 40-man squad - but here I am and it's a rollercoaster ride and I'm riding it. "Everyone strives to make that World Cup squad and that was always my intention."Confident
Cowan made the last of his Test appearances against Fiji 13 months ago and is on the comeback trail from a fractured cheekbone but he's feeling confident. "Thankfully I got a game last week for Warringah and that helped with my match fitness and it's got me back in the fray," he said. Alexander says the Wallabies are expecting a torrid encounter against a near full-strength Samoa at ANZ Stadium. "Obviously they're big blokes...they love the contact side of the game, they love belting people, they love running with the ball and they're very skilful," Alexander said. "They've got some massive backs like (Alesana) Tuilagi on the wing and they've got some very skilful guys there too. "They'll look to play an expansive game but also very physical so we need to be bang up for it otherwise we're going to be in trouble." Australia: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Dan Vickerman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Will Genia, 22 Kurtley Beale. Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 George Pisi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 George Stowers, 7 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 6 Taisina Tuifu'a, 5 Daniel Leo, 4 Kane Thompson, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (c), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Census Johnston, 18 Filipo Lavea Levi, 19 Manaia Salavea, 20 Brenton Helleur, 21 Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, 22 James So'oialo.