Saturday will be a special occasion for Waratahs wing Peter Betham, as he makes his Test debut for Australia against New Zealand.
His inclusion in the No.11 jersey is one of the four changes made to the starting line-up for this dead rubber – the third in the three-Test Bledisloe Cup series, with the All Blacks holding an unassailable 2-0 lead.
rugby365
Betham was called up on Tuesday and was the only fit specialist wing available in the squad, after injuries to Joe Tomane, Chris Feauai-Sautia (hamstring strains) and Nick Cummins (hand).
James O’Connor was unavailable for disciplinary reasons.
His selection caps of a stellar year for the 24-year-old flyer.
Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua has also earned his third starting appearance for Australia and will replace injured teammate Christian Leali’ifano (ankle) in the No.12 jersey.
The unavailability of Scott Fardy (eye) has resulted in a re-shuffle of the team’s back row – with Ben McCalman earning a promotion from the bench to No.8, meaning vice-captain Ben Mowen will shift to the side of the scrum at blindside flank.
Quade Cooper will start at flyhalf against the country of his birth for the first time this year and is also expected to assume kicking duties.
Meanwhile Wallaby scrumhalf Will Genia will become just the 39th player to reach the prestigious 50-game milestone for Australia.
It’s a deserving honour for the talented Reds playmaker as he joins Wallabies greats George Gregan (139) and Nick Farr Jones (63) as only the third Australian scrumhalf to accomplish the milestone.
On the bench, NSW Waratahs back rower Dave Dennis and versatile Reds back Mike Harris are both in line to receive their first opportunities in the green and gold jersey for 2013.
Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie congratulated Genia and Betham on their respective milestones.
“Will has been an amazing servant of Australia for a long time now so it’s extremely pleasing for him to reach 50 games, a huge career milestone in any player’s career,” McKenzie said.
“He has an incredible drive to see Australia succeed at this level and you’ll no doubt see that in his performance against the All Blacks on Saturday.
“I think I speak for everyone when I congratulate Will on reaching the prestigious 50-game honour.
“It will also be a hugely memorable occasion for Peter, who gets the opportunity to experience his first taste of Test rugby in what will be a very hostile environment against a talented New Zealand team.
“The reality of rugby is that most players get an opportunity at the misfortune of one of their teammates, but it’s about what each individual does with that opportunity that counts the most.
“That doesn’t just apply to Peter but to a number of guys who are receiving a chance this week. There is no better way to make your mark than by playing well against the All Blacks.”
Betham will become the 12th player to debut for Australia in 2013, joining: Scott Fardy, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Jesse Mogg, Ben Mowen, Scott Sio, Matt Toomua, and Nic White.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Peter Betham, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ben Mowen, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Dave Dennis, 21 Nic White, 22 Mike Harris, 23 Bernard Foley.
Date: Saturday 6 October 2013
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 06:35 GMT, 17:35 AEST)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Jeez, this year the Wallabies look so vulnerable on paper… average backline players in Toomua, Betham, Cooper… and almost a whole average forward pack… average coach, kak game plan.
Guess the All Blacks will still rip them a new oriface, even if the All Blacks had to be a little complacent and believe some of their own hype…
Hello is hier iemand?
2 @ superBul:
Jy BlommieBul… die tuinboudeskundige…ek is hier.
2 @ superBul:
Lyk hierdie Wallabies span nie maar vir jou ook vol foute nie… Toomua op senter, hulle goal kicker uit.. swak stutte… ‘n newbie op vleuel.
Anybody think the Golden Lions or Free State Cheetahs will pull a surprise on the weekend?
Ja ou Grootblou, ek wens ek het vroeer in my lewe gedoen wat my pasie is, dis lekker man. Maar dis harde werk
6 @ superBul:
Jy het so paar passie dinge… fotografie, die tuine ding..
Ag jong, mens kan niks verander aan die verlede nie, mens kan net bou aan die toekoms, so moenie jouself verwyt vir die feit dat jy gewag het nie. By Helkom het jy job security gehad, kans gehad om kinders groot te kry… in ‘n mooi deel van die wêreld.
@ grootblousmile:
5
i see it this way…
WP is always due for a big Klap. Their defensive orientated game plan leaves them with a low score. So any try will beat the 2 penalties they milked.
Sharks look ominous, but then again two big C,s come to mind. Choke and Cheetahs????
6 @ superBul:
Ek kom by baie dinge waarvoor ek ‘n passie het nie uit nie… houtwerk en meubels maak, golf, Suiwer Programmering van nuwe IT programme, verdere ontwikkeling van my een patent… so gaan dit maar.
grootblousmile wrote:
Ja jy is reg en ek besef dit, daardie sekuriteit en Medies maak hierdie volgende paar onseker weke heel goed lyk.
Ek sou nooit in hierdie posisie gewees het sonder daardie opoffering nie.
Dankie
Boots & All is on… Tiaan Liebenberg one of the Studio guests…
Net so laaste woordtjie.
Ek slaap deesdae lekker vroeg na n harde dag, maklik om 7 of 8 uur om te dop. Watch me i will disappear soon.
Jeeez, imagine WP (undefeated in the Currie Cup in 2013) has to play a semi against the Golden Lions (who have only won 4 out of 10).
The semis are a bit of a farce in a 6-team competition… they should only have had a final between the top 2 sides…
12 @ superBul:
Ek sukkel deesdae om te slaap… het moer baie dinge om aan te dink… eish, het nooit met slapeloosheid gesukkel nie
@ grootblousmile:
13
Agree
Good night all , this old back want to lay straight now. Maybe next time, but tonight is over and out
@ grootblousmile:
@ superBul:
Julle twee ou ‘moan gatte’ drink te stadig, dis julle probleem…ek het daai ding al laaaankal gesien kom!
En julle gooi te min mielies bruvvas!
17 @ Pietman:
Hahaha
Ek moan flokkol nie…
Wat mielies gooi aanbetref, hel ek het selfs ‘n Gooi Mielies gholf hemp, ek skeep nie af in daaaai departement nie!
@ grootblousmile:
Jou gemail met my nuwe addie, my pc het ge-crash, al my kontakte weg!
Stuur asb jou legaleazy en BlommieBul se adres,asb broer.
19 @ Pietman:
Jy weet natuurlik mens kan al daai info (insluitend mail account en mail account password) en al jou data / files / folders / fotos ensovoorts retrieve as jy dit reg doen… behalwe as jou Hard Drive fisies beskadig is en direk vervang moes word sonder dat die ou een leesbaar is. Indien iemand jou Hard Drive geformat het sonder om daai Data en Info te retrieve, kort hy ‘n flokken ernstige PK!
Maar ek maak so, ek stuur vir jou en BlommieBul ‘n mail van my mail account af!
My oorle Pa, GBS Maksimus het altyd gesê, as jy sukkel, word jy ‘n sukkelaar… so moenie sukkel nie!
Mens kan selfs ‘n gebreekte Hard Drive se goed laat recover (kos ‘n arm en ‘n been, hang af hoeveel dit vir jou werd is). Kos so naby R 6 000.00.
19 @ Pietman:
Ek het nog geen mail ontvang nie.. so weet nie waarheen om die besonderhede te stuur nie.
Ek sit my Skype aan, dalk kan jy daar net vir my ‘n boodskap met E-Mail Adres los.
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