"I'm Back" - Will Genia | Thebigtip

Genia a certainty for Tri Nations opener - you can shake on it, by Glen Jackson at Sydney Morning Herald

A FEW days in Port Moresby and a simple handshake at a corporate lunch have given Will Genia the impetus to depose Luke Burgess from the Wallabies halfback position for the opening Tri Nations clash against South Africa later this month.

''I'm back,'' Genia said yesterday.

The fact Genia was able to temporarily take off his splint and shake hands with guests at the annual Rugby Long Lunch in Sydney was seen by the halfback as a sure sign his broken thumb would be ready for the tournament opener at Suncorp Stadium on July 24.

After spending some time in his birthplace of Port Moresby last week, Genia, who broke his thumb against England 10 minutes into his return from a knee injury, is eager to displace Burgess, who took the halfback spot for the final June Test, against Ireland.

''It's [the thumb] not as bad as I thought,'' Genia said yesterday. ''I've been able to shake people's hands today. That first game is definitely an achievable goal.

''I've got a splint on but I'm able to run and pass with the splint - once the pins come out on the 12th of July, I'll be able to get back into full training.

''If I do get picked, I've just got to go and do as much training as I can. One thing I can say is I really think that I'm as fit as I've ever been.''

Genia has received strong endorsement from his specialist that he can pencil in the Tri Nations opener as a return date, provided he is selected.

The tournament is likely to give the Wallabies, who have been forced to blood a number of players in recent matches, a good idea how the squad is coming together before next year's World Cup. But Genia said the group would be taking a more short-term view against the South Africans and New Zealand.

''To be honest, our focus isn't on the World Cup,'' Genia said. ''There are a lot of games between now and then. We've just got to stay grounded. That's what the coaching staff have instilled in the group. The Tri Nations will be a massive challenge. It will be a pressure situation against the best two teams in the world.''

His thoughts were echoed by Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom, who said the coming tournament was crucial given the likelihood the squad will be without prop Ben Alexander (knee) and Tatafu Polota-Nau (ankle) for the series.

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