The Wallabies coach, Robbie Deans, named an unchanged side to face the All Blacks on Saturday, in the last Tri-Nations match of 2009.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and winger Lachie Turner have both been passed fit and will play in an unchanged Wallabies 22 for Saturday night’s Tri-Nations finale against the All Blacks in Wellington.
The New South Wales pair were named in the squad that will travel to New Zealand on Wednesday, although their Waratahs team-mate, utility back Kurtley Beale, will travel also as cover.
Both Polota-Nau and Turner, who suffered rib injuries during the 21-6 win over South Africa in Brisbane, have responded well to treatment and proved their fitness for selection.
Polota-Nau trained with no discomfort during today’s full contact session, while Turner has also made good progress, although coach Robbie Deans said the presence of Beale in Wellington was precautionary if the winger didn’t continue to improve.
“At this stage, we feel Lachie will be right, but we’re taking Kurtley along with us just in case,” Deans says.
“As well as being precautionary, it is good experience for Kurtley being with the squad through the entire test preparation.”
Travelling with an extra man is nothing new for the Wallabies. Timana Tahu joined the team in Auckland last year as the 23rd man, while Queensland Reds winger Peter Hynes filled the role in the same city in July.
Deans has named the same lineup which opened Australia ‘s account in the 2009 Tri-Nations with a gritty win over the tournament winners, South Africa.
The Wellington test, Deans said, was all about consolidating the Brisbane performance.
“We stepped up to a new level, in terms of our performance, last time and that was pleasing,” said Deans.
“But life goes on. We can’t live in that moment and rest our laurels on it. History, both in terms of Australia ‘s overall record in New Zealand, and our recent experience there, shows how difficult this weekend’s assignment will be.
“That’s not a negative; it’s a great opportunity for us. It is important that we kick on and build on what was achieved during our match against South Africa.”
As has been the case in the two teams’ most recent meetings, the All Blacks enter this match on the back of a disappointing result, where they were edged out at home by South Africa to concede the Tri-Nations title.
“They won’t have enjoyed that experience,” noted Deans, “and will be determined to make up for it. We have seen, in our most recent experiences, how setbacks galvanise the All Blacks, especially when they are playing at home. We know what their response will be… we have to be ready to meet it.”
Selle ou Janne…
As ‘n span wen is geen veranderings nodig nie
Dead rubber game !!
Wie worry oor die AB/Aus game as die Bulle en Boland kragte meet??
@dWeePer – behalwe as daar `n seerJan is 🙂
O Ja — mirrag almal
6@trupisero – Hellooooooooooooo
4 @Supa Die Bloubul – al die oë is saterdag gefokus op wellington … in die boland. hehe
Middag.
As die Wobbalies die Black Out’s wen, dan eindig die AB’s laaste. Dan is dit seker Henry se einde ? Kan nou nog nie glo dat NZ nie destyds Deans aangestel het nie.
@bdb – Yip, cant believe that NZ let Deans go.
@bdb – 9
Saying that the ABs have beaten Wallabies twice this year so far.
2@dWeePer –
Even when a side is winning changes may be necessary. Not changing a winning side who stagnates in a certain weekend is inviting the opposition to give you a hammering.
who stagnates in a certain area… is what I meant.
13@vanStraaten – hoekom is Francis so wisselvallig, en veral stadig as hy skop. Ek het daardie afstorm drie van saterdag al ‘n paar jaar sien kom.
@bdb –
Why is Burton Francis complacent? He didn’t get enough game time this year. Did you see him play in last year’s Vodacom Cup? He was brilliant, also in last year’s Currie Cup. With Morne Steyn the nr.1 fly-half for the Bulls who will not get rotated for someone else we need our second choice fly-halves to be rotated on the bench! Let Brummer sit on the bench for some games and Francis in other games. Game time is important.
On that drop goal. A few weeks under more pressure he hit a drop goal against the Leopards in quick time. That said however Heini’s passing is erratic, he took that pass above his head. His own positioning also wasn’t optimal, same kind of mistake Daniel Carter makes. I don’t think it’s a problem with being slow, its just positioning and awareness. Most fly-halves with that poor above head high pass hitting the drop goal will be charged down, McCleod followed the ball really well.
15@vanStraaten – met Pottie wat ook terugkom, is daar nog meer ‘losskakels’ om te rotate !
16@bdb –
Ag nee fok hy is net useless.
17@vanStraaten – nee man, hy is nie te sleg nie. Toe hy by die Bulle gespeel het, het hy goed gedoen, by Ctahs het hy bietjie gesukkel. Wonder net hoekom kom hy terug, as hy juis weg is om meer ‘game time’ te kry ?
17@bdb –
Lionel Cronje? Sias Ebersohn? (Alhoewel hy dalk bietjie te klein is).
18@bdb –
Kom JL Potgieter weer Bulle toe? Waar hoor julle dit? Dis dalk goed. Francis is nog nie reg vir s14 nie.
20 @Supa Die Bloubul – supa, gaan kyk by rugby365.com
15@vanStraaten –
Ja Adams se paas was swak, maar Francis het n eeu gevat om te drop! Gaan kyk bietjie daai clip en vergelyk dit met Morne Steyn se droppe teen die Crusaders.
Verder, kyk hoe maklik het Hernandez deur Francis gehol vir sy drie. Dis regtig swak verdediging gewees.
Francis sal sy sokkies moet optrek.
21@bdb –
Dankie, kan ons nie Wian Du PReez saam kry nie? Of WP Nel?!
Dit laat my beter voel. Minstens het JL Potgieter nou twee s14 seisoene agter die rug. Ek was bekommerd die jaar as Morne sou seer kry.
22@Supa Die Bloubul –
Supa he had a mixed bag on defense the weekend (He made some important tackles at times, and missed ones). That said he’s still stronger on defense than that Argentine who is also a weak defender. Ok looked at it again, it was somewhat slower than I remembered. The fact is he can do better. He’s only making it harder for himself by not stepping up. He had his moments this year, but he needs to string together matches full of moments, he’s not doing that right now.
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