0
Wallabies will have familiar look for battle with the Boks
Greg Growden
August 25, 2010
CAPE TOWN: The Wallabies may have lost their last Test, but the selectors will make minimal changes for the Tri Nations match against the Springboks in Pretoria on Saturday night.
They are expected to stick to the same team that lost 20-10 to the All Blacks in Christchurch, with the only alteration involving Quade Cooper moving into five-eighth and Matt Giteau shifting to inside-centre in place of Anthony Faingaa.
Faingaa performed creditably in his first starting Test, but he may struggle to make the reserves as the selectors consider fielding five forwards and just two backs on the bench. Berrick Barnes and Luke Burgess are most likely to take those backs reserves spots.
Australia will likely field the same pack which helped down the Springboks 30-13 in Brisbane last month.
In their first training session in Cape Town on Monday, the Wallabies spent most of the time ensuring that the new midfield combination was familiar with each other. However, it can only be hoped that the training standards soon pick up, because it was a flawed affair. While the back line made their usual handling fumbles, the lineout work was also far from impressive.
There seemed to be more purpose in the forwards' work, as the Wallabies know that as it is Victor Matfield's 100th Test, his teammates will lift their standards.
As far as Wallabies second-rower Dean Mumm is concerned, Matfield, at 33, remains one of the Springboks's biggest threats.
''It's been an unbelievable career, and it's certainly not finished yet,'' Mumm said. ''He's picked up most, if not all of the treasures you can get along the way, and he's done that with distinction and form. His form of late has been very good, and we don't expect anything less on Saturday.''
Likely Wallabies starting team: Kurtley Beale; James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...824-13qe8.html
Reply With Quote
