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Sunday, 30 June, 2002, 10:26 GMT 11:26 UK
Sailor expects to be dumped
Sailor (right) was unhappy with his display against France
High-profile winger Wendell Sailor says he expects to be dropped from Australia's side for the Tri Nations rugby series opener against New Zealand on 13 July.
The former rugby league star was not hopeful of holding on to his place after he suffered a couple of defensive lapses in the Wallabies' 31-25 win over France on Saturday.
Competition for the Wallaby wing positions is intense after Stirling Mortlock turned in a man-of-the-match effort with two tries. And Ben Tune is a certainty for selection on the right flank as he returns from a knee injury.
Sailor's fellow league convert, Mat Rogers, also impressed on the wing in the second half to press his claims after stints at full-back, inside-centre and fly-half this season. Sailor admitted he expected to miss out on the 22-man squad for the Test in Christchurch.
"I expect to be, if not on the bench, I'll probably struggle to stay in the side because Mat Rogers played really well," Sailor said on Sunday. "I dropped two balls which I think I should have caught." However Wallaby coach Eddie Jones indicated Australia's new backline versatility could yet save Sailor's immediate Wallaby future.
The adaptability of Mortlock, Rogers, Matthew Burke and Chris Latham means Australia could afford a specialist winger among their reserves. "With the versatility we've got in our side, having a specialist on the bench is a definite possibility," Jones said on Sunday. "It's still very much in the open ... we want to look at different combinations and see what clicks during the lead-up." Jones wants to keep Sailor in the Wallaby fold, believing he is improving and will reach his potential ahead of next year's World Cup in Australia. "He's going to be a very good rugby player. This season he'll have some ups and downs - it's a tough initiation, he's only played 16 games of rugby and he's doing pretty well," Jones said. He also suggested he would consider Mortlock at his favoured outside centre position after the Super 12 player of the year stepped in for the injured Burke in the second half with ease. "Stirling certainly played very well at outside centre and it's something we'll have to consider," he said. "He certainly ran some nice lines and made some good breaks." Australia squad:
Backs: George Gregan (capt), Chris Whitaker, Stephen Larkham,
Elton Flatley, Matthew Burke, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Daniel
Herbert, Ben Tune, Chris Latham, Andrew Walker, Stirling Mortlock.
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