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QANTAS WALLABIES TAKE FAMILIAR SHAPE FOR BLOCKBUSTER BLEDISLOE CUP CLASH AT THE MCG
Qantas Wallabies Coach John Connolly has today announced his team to take on New Zealand in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash at the MCG in Melbourne this Saturday night (8.05pm EST kick off).
Connolly has made just one change to his starting XV following the Wallabies’ narrow 22-19 defeat to South Africa in Cape Town in their opening Tri Nations match a fortnight ago.
Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will start in his third different position for the Wallabies this season, winning a place on the wing.
Ashley-Cooper has already started matches in the number 12 and 13 jerseys for the Wallabies in four Test appearances this year.
Stirling Mortlock will again captain the side with George Smith being retained in the starting lineup as vice captain for the first of two Bledisloe Cup Tests this year.
Western Force back Scott Staniforth has won a berth on the reserves bench, where Connolly has again opted to carry just two reserve backs.
Connolly said the Wallabies need to produce a complete performance to topple the All Blacks.
“New Zealand’s strength is in their depth,” said Connolly.
“We saw the impact their (reserves) bench made against South Africa last week and they are just so strong from (jersey) 1 to 22.”
“To beat them we will need to play our best rugby and do the little things well. You can’t afford to give the All Blacks any opportunities because they have incredible talent across the field and have the ability to hurt you from any position.”
Connolly said his team was looking forward to playing in front of a near-capacity MCG for the first time since 1998.
“It will be a tremendous occasion for the players and a great spectacle for the fans,” said the second-year Wallabies Coach.
“I think the fans will see a typically tough Test between Australia and New Zealand. Bledisloe Cups are battles first and foremost,” he said.
“It will be a great event and New Zealand as always will be up for the occasion and so will we.”
The match will be the final Bledisloe Cup match in Australia for veteran halves pairing George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.
Larkham will play his 99th Test for the Wallabies, while he and Gregan are the only players in the lineup to have previously experienced Test rugby at the MCG (v New Zealand, 1998).
QANTAS WALLABIES v NEW ZEALAND
Saturday 30 June 2007
MCG, Melbourne
Kick off: 8.05pm EST
Qantas Wallabies
1. Matt Dunning
2. Stephen Moore
3. Guy Shepherdson
4. Nathan Sharpe
5. Dan Vickerman
6. Rocky Elsom
7. George Smith (vc)
8. Wycliff Palu
9. George Gregan
10. Stephen Larkham
11. Lote Tuqiri
12. Matt Giteau
13. Stirling Mortlock (c)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Julian Huxley
16. Adam Freier
17. Al Baxter
18. Mark Chisholm
19. Stephen Hoiles
20. Phil Waugh (vc)
21. Scott Staniforth
22. Mark Gerrard
Match notes
* New Zealand is the current holder of the Bledisloe Cup after winning all three Tests against Australia in 2006.
* Last meeting: New Zealand 34 Australia 27, Eden Park, Auckland (19/8/2006).
* Overall: Played 148, New Zealand 100, Australia 43, Drawn 5.
* Last meeting at MCG: Australia 24 New Zealand 16 (1998). (This was also the Wallabies most recent Test at the MCG).
* Australia has not defeated New Zealand since 2004 (23-18 Telstra Stadium, Sydney).
* Australia last held the Bledisloe Cup in 2002.
Tri Nations notes
* Australia last won the Tri Nations in 2001.
* New Zealand has owned the Tri Nations title for the last two years (2005, 2006).
* The trophy has been won seven times by New Zealand and twice each by Australia and South Africa.
* New Zealand won the inaugural Tri Nations title in 1996.