Wallabies have what it takes insists Dean Mumm

Dean Mumm became the first Australian to take on the Lions in 2013 last Saturday when he ran out for the Barbarians – and despite the three international novices in Robbie Deans’ 25-man squad he believes the Wallabies have the experience needed to defeat Warren Gatland‘s men.
Gatland’s 37-man squad features 13 players who have travelled with the Lions in the past, while the most inexperienced member of the party in terms of international caps, Sean Maitland, has four years of Super Rugby under his belt.
But while the Wallabies are likely to be heavily outnumbered in terms of caps, especially after the retirement of Nathan Sharpe, Mumm is confident the experience is there, in the key positions.
“Looking at the Lions team, the majority have a large amount of Test experience, but there is enough in key positions for Australia,” said Mumm, who won the last of his 33 caps in 2010.
“It will be interesting to see what they go with at fly-half but to have Will Genia inside, who is world class and experienced, takes a lot of pressure off.
“I don’t know which way they will go at ten. Berrick (Barnes) is pretty stable and fits in well with the way the Wallabies play.
“But then you have the unpredictability with James O’Connor, and whether Quade (Cooper) will be there in the final squad.
“When you look at Steve Moore, James Horwill, Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander, it gives you a bit of experience up front, then Genia, maybe George Smith if his injury isn’t as bad as we thought.
“Wycliff Palu as well, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick has 50 Tests, so there is enough there. I think it’s a reasonably balanced Wallaby side. With the six players still to come there is no finality about it.
“The Lions are huge in Europe, but the excitement in Australia is just as big because we get it every 12 years.
“To think that someone has played 116 Tests like Nathan Sharpe, and not faced a Lions tour, shows how unique it is in the spectrum of Australian rugby. If George Smith can play two, it would show what an incredible player he is, even if he had a couple of years away from Test rugby.
“I think you would want to have him there, a lot of people think like that as well. Once class always class and he continues to show that.”
At the other end of the spectrum to Smith lie the trio of novices, who could yet be joined by Jesse Mogg as one of the six extra players due to be announced on June 11.
A lot has already been made of the inclusion of Israel Folau, the former League star who arrived in Union this season by way of Aussie Rules, while Christian Leali’ifano offers an intriguing option as a second playmaker at 12.
But it’s the other uncapped player in the squad, Brumbies skipper Ben Mowen, whom Mumm is desperate to see succeed.
Exeter Chief Mumm added: “I played U21s and Australian Schoolboys with Ben Mowen (left), and then with the Tahs for a number of years as well.
“He’s one who’s been playing particularly well and leading the Brumbies really well. So hopefully he can get the opportunity to represent Australia at the age of 28.
“I hope he gets a run because he’s been around a long time now.
“He’s an excitable character so he’ll be pretty pumped. What a Test debut, you’d be happy to get one cap, but imagine making your debut against the Lions.
“He’s extremely reliable, he’s excellent in the lineout. For a six or eight to be controlling the lineout is pretty rare but he does it with a fair bit of aplomb.
“He brings excitement as well. Not many people love Australia more than Benny does, so for him to pull on the Wallaby jumper would be really special.
“Having seen the 25 names, there are some really exciting ones in there.  Deans has put a number of uncapped players into a Lions series, which is a big thing, but also a bit sad to see someone like Tatafu Polota-Nau, who has been a staple of that team for the last five years, to break his arm on the eve of a Lions tour.
“It’s an exciting Wallaby squad, maybe not the one you expected on the eve of Super Rugby but there’s a lot of quality there.
“It’s good to see form getting rewarded, everyone wants to see that. But in the back of your mind, you also need to know this is a Lions series. Experience will play a factor.”
PAUL EDDISON