Desperate Deans rings in changes

Bret Harris | August 27, 2009

Article from: The Australian

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans is set to make four changes to the starting line-up for the last chance Tri-Nations Test against the Springboks in Perth on Saturday, as the winless Australians desperately try to stay alive in the tournament.

Second-rower Mark Chisholm and outside centre Ryan Cross are expected to replace injured lock Nathan Sharpe (shoulder) and inside centre Berrick Barnes (concussion) respectively, while winger Peter Hynes and tighthead prop Ben Alexander are likely to be promoted to the run-on team.

There will be further changes if blindside flanker Rocky Elsom (ankle) and fullback James O'Connor (corked leg) are ruled out at training today, but they are expected to play.

Chisholm has only played a few club games for Randwick since recovering from a broken wrist, which he sustained while playing for the Brumbies in the Super 14 series.
But Chisholm's 40-Test experience and the fact he is a specialist second-rower will probably give him the nod over Dean Mumm, who will most likely cover backrow and second-row on the bench.

In a strong sign that Chisholm would start, he called the lineouts at training in Perth yesterday.

Cross replaced Barnes at halftime last Saturday, with Adam Ashley-Cooper moving from outside centre to inside centre and the pair is expected to start in that new-look midfield combination.

Inside back Quade Cooper is likely to be called up to the 22-man squad to warm the reserves bench.

Hynes was the only back other than five-eighth Matt Giteau to start in all nine domestic Tests last year and then appeared in four of the five internationals on the northern hemisphere tour.

But Hynes, who was hampered by a knee injury towards the end of the Super 14 series, has been restricted to a start against Italy in Melbourne in June and a spot on the bench for the Tests against the Springboks in Cape Town and the All Blacks in Sydney.

In his 35 minutes of game time against the All Blacks last Saturday, Hynes showed he was close to recapturing his best form, while both Mitchell and Turner have made costly mistakes in the last two Tests.

Mitchell will probably retain his place in the starting line-up if only for his greater experience. There has been strong speculation Alexander would replace Baxter ever since the veteran prop was replaced early in the All Blacks Test.

While the Springbok scrum is not as dominant as the All Blacks, Alexander will still have his hands full with Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira.

Mathematically, the Wallabies can still win the Tri-Nations tournament after losing their first three games, but they will have to beat the world champion Springboks twice, in Perth and Brisbane, and defeat the All Blacks on New Zealand soil, which is something they have not done since 2001.

The Springboks do not have a good record in Australia since 1992 with three wins and a draw from 19 Tests, but two of those wins and the draw were in Perth where they enjoy strong South African support.

Hynes is anticipating the Springboks will employ the same conservative tactics they used to beat the All Blacks and Wallabies on South African soil, kicking for field position and pressuring the opposition into making mistakes.

"They will play exactly the same style," Hynes said. "They have three wins, so it is obviously working for them.
"They have big, aggressive forwards and great kickers. We'll see much the same. Kick for territory and put up high balls.

"They will try to frustrate us and force turnovers and penalties.
"They have good enough players in the backs if they want to run the ball. From a spectators' point of view I'd like to see them use Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers. They are great players who don't get the ball.
"I'd be surprised if they did that. I expect a fair bit of kicking from them."

Likely Wallabies team: James O'Connor, Drew Mitchell, Ryan Cross, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith (c), Rocky Elsom, James Horwill, Mark Chisholm, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Al Baxter, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Lachie Turner.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html