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There are five personnel changes to the Australian Barbarians team named today for Tuesday night’s Tour match against England at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.
Peter Hynes, Kurtley Beale, Pat McCutcheon, Rob Simmons and Tatafu Polota-Nau are all new inclusions to the starting line-up, from the combination that drew with England 28-28 in Perth last week.
Hynes and McCutcheon both featured off the bench during the opening tour match at ME Bank Stadium, while Beale was an un-used substitute on that occasion.
Waratahs and Test hooker Polota-Nau returns to active service after missing the first three matches of the international programme as he rehabilitated an ankle injury, while Queensland Reds second rower Rob Simmons also re-enters, after missing the last two weeks of the Investec Bank Super 14 programme due to a fractured cheekbone.
Another change from last week’s run on line-up sees Beale step in at flyhalf, after scoring two tries from fullback during the Qantas Wallabies’ 49-3 Test win over Fiji earlier in the month. Beale will also handle the goal-kicking duties for the Australian side.
Brumbies skipper Stephen Hoiles will again lead the side, this time in a sole capacity, after sharing the reins with Berrick Barnes last week.
Barnes, who featured in last night’s 27-17 Test win over England in Perth, has been named on the bench.
Tuesday night’s match is the decider of a two-match series between the Australian Barbarians and England, with the honours even after last week’s thrilling drawn contest.
Both sides scored three tries in the game, with James O’Connor scoring all three of the Barbarians’ tries on a night where he contributed 25 of his team’s points.
The 19-year-old is listed on the Baabaas’ bench for the return game, after having featured from fullback in last night’s opening Cook Cup Test in the Bundaberg Red Series.
O’Connor is one of eight players who featured in last night’s match squad that again appear in the Australian squad. The others are Beale, Hynes, James Slipper, Mark Chisholm, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess and Barnes.
All but Beale and Hynes have been listed amongst the Barbarians’ reserves.
The game will be refereed by Steve Walsh.
The Australian Barbarians team to play England at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, on Tuesday 16 June (kick-off 7.35pm, AEST) is:
1. Pekahou Cowan (Western Force)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
3. Laurie Weeks (Queensland Reds)
4. Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies)
5. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
6. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
7. Pat McCutcheon (NSW Waratahs)
8. Stephen Hoiles (Brumbies, captain)
9. Josh Valentine (Brumbies)
10. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
11. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)
12. Anthony Faingaa (Queensland Reds)
13. Will Chambers (Queensland Reds)
14. Nick Cummins (Western Force)
15. Peter Hynes (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. James O’Connor (Western Force)