KEY POINTS:
World Cup winners have one thing in common - top-notch first five-eighths.
Consider the roll of honour: Grant Fox (1987), Michael Lynagh (1991), Joel Stransky (1995), Stephen Larkham (1999) and Jonny Wilkinson (2003).
So consider the Wallabies' worries when the great Larkham went down with a knee injury
shortly before their second pool game against Wales last month.
But 21-year-old Berrick Barnes has taken his chance impressively. The former Brisbane Bronco made his Australian rugby debut off the bench against Japan in their cup opener, scoring the first of three tries with his first touch in the 91-3 romp.
Then, when Larkham withdrew shortly before the kickoff against Wales, Barnes got his big chance in the starting XV, and left a deeply favourable impression.
And with Larkham rated no better than a chance to make the semifinal - if Australia get past England early on Sunday - Barnes' ascent to the big time could take a giant leap up.
But Wallaby coach John Connolly seems comfortable with the situation. He likes what he's seen in Barnes.
"He's a different No 10 to Stephen," Connolly said yesterday.
"He's great in that he does attempt to source knowledge from senior players.
"When we sat down to select this side, we considered a number of guys. We just thought he had the skill set and mentality - after bringing a number of guys into training with us - to be up to handling the pressure of the World Cup."
Barnes often looked ordinary during the Super 14 this year, a point Connolly acknowledged. However, at various times he had teenagers either side of him, whereas against England he will have the world's most-capped player, George Gregan, inside him and Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock, no slouches in either skill or experience, on his outside.
"There's no doubt Stirling is a great talker, but at the end of the day, No 10 has to make decisions on the spot," Connolly said. "They have to be immediate. You can have things planned, be able to decide what you want to do and have the skills to follow that through, and he's got all that."
One man who might privately be miffed at Barnes' rapid success, in purely professional terms, is Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.
Barnes played 2005 for the NRL powerhouses.
A Queenslander raised in country Kingaroy, he played nine games before switching codes.
Better that than switching clubs, Bennett reckoned.
"He wouldn't have gone to another club," Bennett said
"He would have stayed with us but he went to rugby to get it out of his system. He'll be back."
Bennett's smugness might be misplaced.
Larkham, injury or not, will be gone at the end of the World Cup. So, too, Gregan.
Fullback Chris Latham won't be round much longer, and Wallaby physios will rejoice soon when they have more bandages to spread around after Mortlock packs it in.
The tyros will soon be storming the decks. Barnes - health, desire and form permitting - could be a Wallaby for the next 10 years. Bennett's loss will be Australian rugby's gain.
