Qantas Wallabies named to play England ANZ STADIUM SYDNEY
The return of inside centre Matt Giteau and halfback Will Genia to the starting line-up, and fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper to the match night squad, represent the only changes to the Qantas Wallabies side named today for Saturday night’s second Cook Cup Test in the Bundaberg Red Rugby Series.
All three players were forced to miss last weekend’s 27-17 win over England at Perth, with Giteau originally named for the match before being withdrawn on the eve of the game due to a minor hip injury.
Giteau and Ashley-Cooper, who strained ligaments in his ankle during the 49-3 win over Fiji at Canberra two weeks ago, have both run freely at training in Sydney this week to confirm their availability for Saturday’s return clash against England at ANZ Stadium. (Kick off: 8:05pm AEST)
They have been joined on the training track by Genia, who strained his medial ligament during the final round of the Investec Bank Super 14 last month, but has since worked his way back to full fitness, and a starting spot, after being un-used from the run on reserves bench in Perth.
While he watched last week’s match from the sidelines, Genia is already well known to Saturday night’s opponents after scoring his maiden Test try and also winning the man of the match award during Australia’s 18-9 win over England in London last November.
The importance of Giteau to the Australian side is underlined by his performance during the Qantas Wallabies’ two appearances at ANZ Stadium last year.
On those occasions, the experienced 27-year-old was the team’s sole point-scorer, contributing 22 points in the June Test against France, and a further 18 against New Zealand two months later.
Giteau will resume as Australia’s first choice goal-kicker, taking over from fullback James O’Connor, who kicked four goals from five attempts last Saturday in Perth.
While Ashley-Cooper has returned to full fitness, his return comes via the bench due to the superb form shown by the teenage O’Connor in his two international appearances to date this year.
The 19-year-old scored three tries during the Australian Barbarians’ 28-28 draw with England in Perth last week, before contributing 10 points with the boot on his first experience as the Wallabies goal-kicker in a Test match, during last Saturday’s win in the opening game of the Cook Cup series.
Deans has kept the tight five in tact after the opening game of the series, with youngster James Slipper again covering prop off the bench due to his ability to function on both the loose and tighthead sides.
Slipper, who became the 843rd player to represent Australia when he featured off the bench in the second half at Perth, got through 32 minutes of work for the Australian Barbarians against England at Gosford on Tuesday night.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was also involved in that contest, but continues to be troubled by an injury to his ankle, which will now be operated on.
The Qantas Wallabies team to play England in the second Cook Cup Test at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday 19 June, 8.05pm kick off [AEST] is:
15. James O’Connor (Western Force)
14. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs)
13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Matt Giteau (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Richard Brown (Western Force)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
3. Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies)
2. Saia Faingaa (Queensland Reds)
1. Ben Daley (Queensland Reds)
Run On Reserves:
16. Huia Edmonds (Brumbies)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Mark Chisholm (Brumbies)
19. Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
20. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
21. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
22. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
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In winning his 82nd cap, lock Nathan Sharpe will become the seventh most capped Australian player in his own right, moving ahead of Matthew Burke (81).
England Squad Announced To Clash With Qantas Wallabies
England Squad Announced To Clash With Qantas Wallabies
June 17, 2010 - 4:42pm
Story by: ARU
England will be looking to dominate the scrums again this weekend against the Qantas Wallabies
England will be looking to dominate the scrums again this weekend against the Qantas Wallabies
England manager Martin Johnson has resisted the considerable allure to recall the Wallabies Rugby World Cup nemesis Jonny Wilkinson to the starting XV for the second Cook Cup Test in the Bundaberg Red Rugby Series this Saturday night at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, deciding to keep faith with the under-performing Toby Flood at No.10 with Wilkinson still on the bench.
The England mentor has made just two changes to his starting XV, elevating from the reserves bench young Leicester Tigers scrumhalf Ben Youngs to replace Danny Care, who drops to the reserves, and Northampton lock Courtney Lawes, similarly swapping with veteran Simon Shaw in the second row. Surprisingly there is just one change to the 22 - fullback Delon Armitage, impressive in the win over the Australian Barbarians on Tuesday night, coming in for Mathew Tait amongst the reserves.
1 Tim Payne (London Wasps)
2 Steve Thompson (CA Brive)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers) CAPTAIN
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
11 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
12 Shontayne Hape (Bath Rugby)
13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby)
14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Replacements
16 George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)
17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
18 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
19 James Haskell (Stade Francais)
20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
21 Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
22 Delon Armitage (London Irish)
http://aru.rugby.com.au/news/wallabi.../section/21893
