Tune back in harmony to claim wing spot

SYDNEY - Injury-ravaged Australian wing Ben Tune was on the brink of abandoning his World Cup dream if his latest knee injury had required reconstructive surgery.

The Wallaby flyer, who was named in the Australian team yesterday for his first test of the season, against the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday night, had considered quitting the sport depending on the severity of a medial ligament tear in his right knee.

Tune suffered the latest of a lengthy list of injuries in a Brisbane club match five weeks ago, stalling his 41-test career yet again and casting doubt over whether he would be part of Australia's World Cup defence next year.

"Waiting for the scans, to see the specialist, all that kind of stuff - yeah - I thought about it [retiring]," he said. "It felt bad at the time when I did it. I heard the snap of the ligament and all that kind of stuff."

If the knee had required reconstruction, Tune knew his chances of playing in the World Cup would be in jeopardy.

However, the Queenslander overcame the latest setback and is primed for action after missing the Wallabies' series against France.

It will be 25-year-old Tune's first test in Australia since before the 1999 World Cup, after injuries intervened in 2000 and last year.

He missed the Super 12 two years ago with knee tendinitis, but returned for the Tri-Nations, only to retire injured in the opening minutes against the Springboks in Durban.

Last year an infected knee limited his Super 12 opportunities and although he regained fitness, a wing berth was blocked by Joe Roff, Andrew Walker and Chris Latham.

He made the disappointing end-of-season tour of Europe last November, scoring a try in the loss to France and enjoying the win over Wales.

Tune hopes the Bledisloe Cup clash and Tri-Nations opener will be the first of 15 consecutive appearances through to the defence of the World Cup.

It seems likely next season will be his last, but he will not chase a lucrative contract in Japan or Europe to boost his retirement fund.

"If I do go on it probably won't be in Australia - or Britain, or Europe either."

A low-key stint in the United States or Canada appealed, somewhere he and his wife, Gail, could experience a new lifestyle.

"If I was to play overseas it wouldn't be as a professional."

Considering his damaged knees and dodgy ankles, Tune said he could not be paid enough to play in Europe.

"I couldn't get through the grind of 40 games in England, and definitely not when my heart's not in it."

- NZPA