Rugby: Ioane - I'll sidestep trouble

Ioane may get the chance to show off his ground-breaking try celebrations. Photo / Getty Images

As the only Wallaby player of Samoan background, Digby Ioane knows exactly what he must avoid when he runs out against his country of heritage in Australia's key pre-Tri Nations test match today.

"I just hope I don't get any hospital passes," Ioane laughs.

There's a price to pay when a Samoan defender hits you sweetly and Ioane will be out to show the reasons why he learned how to sidestep in the Wallabies' opening test of the season at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, kicking off at 4pm (NZT).

"It's part of their DNA, they are really physical," Ioane said. "You just don't want to run straight at them."

Sounds scary, but eight days after Queensland won the Super Rugby title, Ioane will be the only Reds player to start in the mix-and-match Wallabies side after actually requesting to play.

"I am the only Samoan guy in the team and you don't often get opportunities like this, so I put my hand up for it," he said.

He may also get the chance to show off his ground-breaking try celebrations too - one favourite is his breakdancing-style whoopee and he pulled another move out of the dance bag when he scored that vital try against the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final.

Ioane has relatives in the Samoan squad - nephew Ole Avei and cousin Andrew Lulua - but neither are playing today.

The afternoon test is a chance for Ioane to bed down a Wallaby wing spot after he missed the bulk of the past two international seasons with injury. His form for the Reds was outstanding this season. And, with Drew Mitchell injured, Ioane will be a first-choice pick for Wallaby coach Robbie Deans.

"I have been out for basically two years and I am happy to be back in green and gold. I have to get some caps up," Ioane said.

Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has made the retention of Ioane top priority for the Super Rugby champions.

McKenzie is confident of retaining Ioane, despite strong competition from Japan.

"There are some cashed-up clubs chasing him but we are obviously highly motivated to retain him, as is the Australian Rugby Union," McKenzie said.

But even with a decision on whether to take up a contract offer in Japan to make, Ioane says his focus won't be lost.

Meanwhile winger James O'Connor has withdrawn from the Wallabies team with a hamstring injury. He will be replaced by Queensland Reds speedster Rod Davies, who will make his test debut against the Samoans.

Davies, 22, is one of three players in the Wallabies' starting line-up who will play his first test, along with Melbourne Rebels halfback Nick Phipps and New South Wales Waratahs lock Sitaleki Timani.

Two more players, Reds flanker Beau Robinson and hooker James Hanson, may also make their debuts off the reserves bench.

World Cup-winning coach Jake White has urged his battle-scarred Brumbies to bottle the pain of 2011 and use it as motivation to revive the Super Rugby glory days in Canberra.

White presided over his first training session on Friday and immediately instructed the survivors from this year's wreckage never to forget how shattering it felt to finish third-last in the competition.

With 13 players having moved on, including Wallabies stalwarts Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Mark Chisholm, only three members of Australia's current 40-man squad remain on the Brumbies' books - Pat McCabe, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander.

Despite the sweeping changes at the two-time Super Rugby winners, White is confident the Brumbies can be competitive in the first of his four seasons at the helm.

"I remember when George Gregan and all of those players came from Randwick in the first campaign [in 1996]. There was no international experience then," he said.

"They came down as renegades, basically leftovers from Sydney and Queensland and no one really wanted them and they ended up becoming the best franchise in the competition the next year.

"Ideally, I would have loved all the seasoned campaigners and test players to be here, but that's the hand I've been dealt."

The teams

Wallabies (15-1): Mark Gerrard; Rod Davies, Adam Ashley Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane; Matt Giteau, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, Rocky Elsom (capt); Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani; Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: James Hanson, Pekahou Cowan, Dan Vickerman, Scott Higginbotham, Beau Robinson, Will Genia, Kurtley Beale.

Samoa: Paul Williams, S. Tagicakibau, George Pisi, Seilala Mapusua, Alesana Tuilagi, Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali'i, George Stowers, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Taisina Tuifu'a, Daniel Leo, Kane Thompson, Anthony Perenise, Mahonri Schwalger, Sakaria Taulafo. Reserves: Ti'i Paulo, Census Johnston, Filipo Levi, Manaia Salavea, Brenton Helleur, Eliota Fuimaono, James So'oialo.

- Agencies