Former Wallabies coach John Connolly backs Wallabies debutants

By Jim Morton

November 07, 2008 02:00pm


FORMER Australia coach John Connolly believes Robbie Deans' experimental line-up will have less problems than in their last Italian meeting.
Deans has rolled the dice by including four debutants in one of the most inexperienced Wallabies outfits of the modern era to play Italy in Padova.

Two years ago, Connolly's far more experienced side suffered a major scare at the hands of the Azzurri, who led 15-13 at halftime in Rome, before a barnstorming Wycliff Palu got them out of jail for a 25-18 win.

But while Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, Quade Cooper and James O'Connor are set to debut and five others are playing their second or third Test, the former Queensland and Bath mentor said Australia would still be too classy.

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