Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made two changes to the starting side that beat England in Perth last week, bringing back centre Matt Giteau and halfback Will Genia for Saturday’s second test in Sydney.
Giteau and Genia were both injured for the first test, won 27-17 by the Wallabies, although Genia sat on the bench as an unused reserve.
Their replacements, Berrick Barnes and Luke Burgess, both had excellent games but now find themselves on the bench for the second test alongside utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper, who has recovered from an ankle injury.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has also named an unchanged forward pack including the inexperienced front row of Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa and Ben Daley.
The English pack dominated Australia in Perth and were awarded two penalty tries following scrum collapses near the Wallabies’ line, leading to speculation that Deans may make some changes.
But after 18-cap hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was injured during Tuesday’s Barbarians match against the English, Deans has opted to give the young front row another chance.
Australia (15-1) – James O’Connor; Digby Ioane, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (captain), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley.
Replacements – Huia Edmonds, James Slipper, Mark Chisholm, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper.
If you think England targeted the scrums last week… watch this week, they’ll go full out in the scrums from the whistle.
I made the mistake of going to the midweek match at Gosford Barbarians v England. While the night was cold and the field very damp, making handling and running with the ball difficult, the match was a shocker. At one point, during a midfield scrum, the steam that emanated from the players while they were pushing made the scene reminiscent of a special effects part of a movie – all 16 forwards plus Steve Walsh, disappeared in a haze. I was impressed by England’s winger, David Strettle. He is a true ‘fast twitch’ muscle winger who can really motor, while Banaghan on the other wing, is unbelievably a big man.
Both teams struggled with the conditions, with not one try scored or even looking likely. England will obviously rely on the scrums again on the weekend, but the Wallabies backline is going to blossum and take the emphasis away from forward-play. Hoping for a good game, with a solid win to the Wallas expected.
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