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McCaw and Mortlock back
BOTH Richie McCaw and Stirling Mortlock have been recalled to meet in Saturday's second Bledisole Cup rugby Test between New Zealand and Australia.
Mortlock and flanker Phil Waugh were named in the Wallabies starting 15 to travel to Auckland for the clash. Mortlock returns at outside centre in place of Ryan Cross after recovering from concussion which ruled him out of the Wallabies' 34-19 win over the All Blacks in Sydney last Saturday.
Waugh was elevated from the bench to the No 6 jersey in place of Rocky Elsom, who was ruled out with a ligament strain in his foot. He will combine with George Smith to form an imposing flanker combination against returning All Blacks captain McCaw.
"They're two quality players, it's good to get both of them on the ground,'' coach Robbie Deans said. Mortlock and Waugh are the only changes to Deans' run-on side, chasing their first win in Auckland in 22 years.
Hugh McMeniman, who missed last week's squad altogether, takes Waugh's place on the reserves bench, while utility back Timana Tahu drops out after making his Test debut on Saturday.
Tahu will still travel to Auckland as the team's 23rd man.
Meanwhile the Kiwis will be delighted to see the return of McCaw, sidelined since injuring an ankle in the June 21st Test against England in Christchurch. He has watched the All Blacks win one and lose two Tri-Nations series matches since being injured, but was today named to return to the openside flanker position in place of Daniel Braid who is bracketed with Adam Thomson in the reserves.
After a 19-34 defeat to Australia in Sydney last Saturday, coach Graham Henry has three other changes to his side and two positional swaps in the loose forwards.
Stand-in skipper Rodney So'oialo returns to No 8 in a switch with Jerome Kaino who moves to No 6. Leon MacDonald comes in at fullback with Mils Muliaina shifting to wing in place of Anthony Tuitavake.
Conrad Smith returns at centre with Richard Kahui dropping to the reserves. At halfback, recalled Hurricane Piri Weepu is bracketed alongside the injured Jimmy Cowan (knee) and Andrew Ellis (ribs).
Andrew Hore, who has a bruised hip, and Keven Mealamu are bracketed at hooker. A decision on the starting halfback and hooker will be made on Thursday.
New Zealand: Leon MacDonald, Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan/Piri Weepu/Andrew Ellis, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore/Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Res: Hore/Mealumu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson/Daniel Braid, Cowan/Weepu/Ellis, Stephen Donald, Richard Kahui.
Wallabies team named today: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Phil Waugh, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Daniel Vickerman, Hugh McMeniman, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.
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