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Fava and Giteau win starting spots for Qantas Wallabies
July 12, 2006 - 11:09am
Story by: ARU
Qantas Wallabies Coach John Connolly has made four changes to his starting fifteen for Saturday night's Tri Nations and Mandela Plate clash with South Africa in Brisbane.
The Wallabies will look to add to their unbeaten record at Suncorp Stadium, having not lost a Test in Brisbane since the Stadium's redevelopment in 2003.
Scott Fava will celebrate his first run-on appearance in Test rugby after being selected at Number 8.
Fava scored his first Test try during an impressive display from the bench in last week's 20-point loss to the All Blacks in Christchurch.
Matt Giteau will make his first appearance of the season at inside centre after making a successful return from injury on the reserves bench during last week's Bledisloe Cup loss in New Zealand.
Brumbies hooker Jeremy Paul will also make his first run-on start this year, replacing the injured Tai McIsaac at hooker.
Waratahs back-rower Rocky Elsom, who has started at Number 8 in each of the Wallabies' four Test matches this year, will start the match at blindside flanker.
Winger Clyde Rathbone will make his return from a hamstring injury on the reserves bench after missing last week's defeat in New Zealand, while Reds hooker Sean Hardman has been named in a Wallaby 22 for the first time since making his Test debut in 2002.
Connolly said that a number of selection decisions were close.
“I thought Mat Rogers had played extremely well during the first four Tests and is very unlucky to miss out, but we want to see what Giteau can bring to the team at inside centre,” he said.
“The back row was another difficult call but I thought Scott Fava deserved the opportunity to start after his performance against New Zealand and Rocky Elsom returns to blindside flanker where he has played the majority of his Test rugby.”
Saturday's Test between the Qantas Wallabies and South Africa will be the first of a three- match series for the Mandela Plate, as well as being the second match of the Tri Nations series.
Notes
In 60 Tests between Australia and South Africa, the Springboks hold the overall advantage of 38 wins to 21, with one drawn Test in 2001.
South Africa is the current holder of the Mandela Plate, winning a one-off Test for the Plate 33-20 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg last year. With the Tri Nations expanding this year, the ARU and SA Rugby have agreed to play for it over the three Tests.
The Wallabies have won their previous five matches against South Africa in Brisbane, the most recent a 29-9 victory at Suncorp Stadium in 2003.
Sean Hardman's one and only Test appearance to date was against France at Telstra Dome on June 22, 2002.
Matt Giteau's last Test appearance at inside centre for the Wallabies was against South Africa in Pretoria during last year's Tri-Nations.
Prior to 2006, Rocky Elsom had started eight of nine Tests at blindside flanker.
2006 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series
Tri Nations Match 2
Match: Australia v South Africa
Trophy: Tri Nations and Mandela Plate
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Date: Saturday 15 July 2006
Kick Off: 8.05pm
Referee: Paul Honiss (NZL)
Qantas Wallabies:
1. Greg Holmes
2. Jeremy Paul
3. Guy Shepherdson
4. Nathan Sharpe
5. Dan Vickerman (vc)
6. Rocky Elsom
7. George Smith
8. Scott Fava *S
9. George Gregan (c)
10. Stephen Larkham
11. Lote Tuqiri
12. Matt Giteau
13. Stirling Mortlock (vc)
14. Mark Gerrard
15. Chris Latham
16. Sean Hardman
17. Al Baxter
18. Mark Chisholm
19. Phil Waugh
20. Sam Cordingley
21. Mat Rogers
22. Clyde Rathbone
Coach: John Connolly
Key
*S First time in starting team
Unavailable for selection due to injury: Rodney Blake, Adam Freier, Daniel Heenan, Alex Kanaar, Tai McIsaac
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/wallabi.../section/21893
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