0
The reinstatement of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Luke Burgess, in the places of the injured Digby Ioane and Will Genia, represent the only changes to the Qantas Wallabies starting line-up ahead of Saturday night’s one off Lansdowne Cup Test match against Ireland in Brisbane.
Ashley-Cooper returns on the left wing, after featuring from that position in the opening Bundaberg Red Rugby Series Test of the season against Fiji, and then last weekend when he returned from an ankle injury during the second Cook Cup match against England.
Burgess, who won the Australian team’s internal Player of the Day award during his most recent Test outing against England at Perth two weeks ago, resumes in the number nine jersey after Genia broke his thumb in Sydney last weekend.
NSW Waratahs utility back Kurtley Beale and Brumbies halfback Josh Valentine have both returned to the match night squad, taking the places of Ashley-Cooper and Burgess respectively from last week’s bench.
While Australia’s 20-21 loss to England did not prevent the retention of the Cook Cup, which had been secured by the gutsy 27-17 win from the opening Test in Perth the previous week; Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says the side took no solace from collecting the trophy at ANZ Stadium.
“We let ourselves down. There were reasons why we came up short and it is critical that we rectify them,” Deans says.
“Certainly anyone who watched the two Tests against England would appreciate that the urgency that was shown by our players during the match in Perth wasn’t replicated to the same level last weekend.”
Nor is Deans reading too much into Ireland’s two recent defeats in New Zealand against the All Blacks and the New Zealand Maori.
“They had a man sent off early on against the All Blacks, which is not something any side can afford, and suffered accordingly,” Deans says.
“They did score four tries in that match, and got them all while playing with 14 men, which is a fair indicator of their willingness, in terms of having a go. It also says a lot about their capabilities.”
Australia’s recent history against Ireland also provides a reference point indicating the Wallabies must raise their game.
Last year’s Test match at Croke Park finished 20-20, with a late converted try by Irish skipper Brian O’Driscoll denying the tourists their shot at a Grand Slam of Great Britain and Ireland.
Just five players from the starting line-up on that occasion will reappear for the Wallabies this weekend.
Two years ago, Australia was forced to work hard to snuff out Ireland 18-12 in Melbourne on their most recent visit to this country.
“They are a seasoned unit, with proven performers in the key positions,” Deans says.
“Our recent matches will also have given them plenty of confidence that they can succeed, while their players will be hungry. This is their last match before a summer break, and a win on Saturday night will make this tour a success from their perspective.
“As we saw last weekend with England, that combination can be a powerful motivator so anything less than a significant improvement from where we left off in Sydney will not be good enough.”
The Qantas Wallabies team to play Ireland in the Lansdowne Cup Test at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Saturday 26 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. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
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. Josh Valentine (Brumbies)
21. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
22. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
Reply With Quote
Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 