Australia v Scotland, Newcastle, June 5
Deans wary of wounded Scots
ESPN Staff
May 17, 2012
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans surverys his side ahead of kick off, Australia v Samoa, Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia, July 17, 2011
Robbie Deans' Wallabies tackle Scotland and Wales next month © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Tournaments/Tours: Scotland tour
Teams: Australia | Scotland

Australia coach Robbie Deans is refusing to take the challenge of Scotland lightly despite a disappointing Six Nations campaign that saw them collect the Wooden Spoon.

The Wallabies play host to Scottish counterparts in Newcastle on June 5, and Deans is not under-estimating a Scotland team who are riding a run of seven straight Test defeats and who notched just four tries in this year's battle for northern hemisphere supremacy.

"While Scotland is coming off a disappointing Six Nations, they are a team that has traditionally punched above their weight internationally, especially when under-rated," Deans said. "We experienced that three years ago in Edinburgh (Australia lost 9-8) and will not be taking for granted the threat that they pose."

Deans will name his starting XV and replacements on June 3, to allow selectors to weigh up any injury concerns out of the Super Rugby action that weekend. He was handed a timely boost earlier this week with the news that fly-half Quade Cooper is poised to return to action for the Reds on Saturday for the first time since he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Wales in the 2011 World Cup bronze final.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices