While the Quade Cooper brouhaha continues to swirl, at least the Wallabies have received encouraging news about their end-of-season northern hemisphere tour. It looks as if they won't have to look for another Test captain. With Nathan Sharpe unavailable for the November-December Tests, and James Horwill, David Pocock and Will Genia all sidelined, the Wallabies were looking for someone, anyone, to put up their hand for the jinxed captaincy position. However, it now appears that both Pocock and Horwill could be available for the European tour. Each have advised Wallabies team officials they expect to be fit in time. Others on the long injured list who are chances of making the tour are Wycliff Palu, Sekope Kepu and James O'Connor. Robbie Deans's biggest dilemma could be determining who out of Pocock and Horwill will be tour captain. That will be a tough decision. Both have strong claims.
Northern ambition
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Queensland officials were quick to deny there is a concerted campaign north of the border for Ewen McKenzie to replace Deans as Wallabies coach. No matter what, R&M has had it confirmed from several officials in the know that there has for some time been a push from up north for the Reds' chief executive officer, Jim Carmichael, to be the man to take over from John O'Neill when he leaves the Australian Rugby Union at the end of next year. Several influential figures are involved in leading the ''Carmichael for the ARU'' push.
Hanson on hand
It all revolves around timing, and Wallabies team manager Rob Egerton certainly picked the right moment to track down Reds hooker James Hanson to tell him he was required in South Africa. After Stephen Moore was forced home after failing to overcome his hamstring problem, Egerton hit the phone in search of Hanson. He found him just in the nick of time as three hours later Hanson was about to leave home with his wife for a holiday in the United States. Then again, Hanson will find himself in a holiday setting with his teammates in Johannesburg. The Wallabies are staying at a casino complex, which has been built to resemble a Tuscan village. It even includes a fake sky that goes from light to dark.
On the scent
Wallabies prop Benn Robinson performs a special ritual before every Test appearance, and that will not change for his 50th international this weekend. He smells the green and gold. Robinson explained to R@M: ''Coming back from the warm-up, grabbing the jersey for the first time and putting it on is a very special moment. I know it sounds a bit weird. But I like to grab the jersey, look at it, and then there's the smell of the jersey. It has a distinctive smell. So, every Test, you want to smell that new jersey again. It is like the smell of a new car. It is different. It reminds me of how important the Wallabies jersey is.''
Bob saves News
Pleasing to hear that Rugby News, the Sydney club program, has been saved. Numerous people have been praised for their efforts in ensuring the program continues after an announcement it would fold following the recent premiership grand final. But one important figure who has been forgotten but deserves credit for his involvement in the ''Save Rugby News'' campaign is Bob Wilson. Wilson was the person who first told the Sydney rugby community the program was under serious threat, and without him ''rattling the tin'' it could have easily disappeared.
Rumours of the week
It was bound to happen, but uncertainty over whether Deans remains Wallabies coach, especially after the Cooper outburst, has led to British whispers that Wales could be interested in his services now that Warren Gatland has hooked up with the British and Irish Lions.
Notable Wallabies have made it known they are unimpressed with Cooper implying all is not well within the team group. Some of the remarks about the injured Test pivot have been ''toxic''. Several text messages have also been pointed.
