Staniforth to Start at 12 in Wallabies Clash against Fiji
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Wallabies Coach John Connolly today announced his team for Saturday’s third Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series Test, against Fiji at Subiaco Oval in Perth.
Connolly has made wholesale changes to his starting lineup in a bid to unearth depth in his squad, with only five players retaining their place in the starting XV after last week’s 31-0 victory over Wales in Brisbane.
Flyhalf Stephen Larkham, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper and fullback Julian Huxley remain in the backline, while lock Dan Vickerman is the only forward in this week’s starting pack to have started the match in Brisbane.
In the backline, Connolly has switched Adam Ashley-Cooper to outside centre, awarding Scott Staniforth his first Test cap on Australian soil at inside centre.
Fijian-born winger Lote Tuqiri will make his first appearance for the series, joining ‘local’ Perth favourite Mitchell to form a speedy combination on the edges for the Wallabies.
Tuqiri will play his first Test since last year’s Spring Tour after undertaking a four-week physical fitness and speed program at the completion of his Super 14 campaign with the Waratahs.
Tuqiri’s Waratahs teammate Adam Freier will make his first start in the Number 2 jersey since June last year and will pack down in an all-NSW front row with Matt Dunning and Al Baxter.
22 year old Queesland lock James Horwill is set to become the fourth Wallabies debutante this season and the twelfth rookie introduced to Test rugby in the space of twelve months by Connolly, when he runs out alongside 43-Test veteran Vickerman in the second row.
Mark Chisholm makes the switch to blindside flanker, where he started on three occasions for the Wallabies in 2006, while David Lyons has been awarded his first opportunity for the year at Number 8.
129-Test veteran George Gregan will run on at scrumhalf for the first time this year.
Backing him up on the reserves bench will be Sam Cordingley, who was called into the Wallabies squad on Monday after Matt Giteau was ruled out of the match with a knee injury.
The match will be the first meeting between the Wallabies and Fiji since 1998, while in sixteen meetings of the two nations, Fiji’s two Test victories over Australia have both come on Australian soil.
Connolly said the Wallabies were looking to turn their game up another notch on Saturday.
“We’re looking to improve our performances each week and that will be no different on Saturday,” said Connolly.
“This Test will be extremely important for the players involved and very important for the team as we look to establish some depth in positions in the build up to the World Cup,” he said.
“We’re expecting nothing less than a tough Test match on Saturday. The Fijians will throw everything at us and we intend to do the same in return.”
QANTAS WALLABIES v FIJI
Saturday 9 June 2007
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick off: 6.05pm WA time, 8.05pm EST
Wallabies
1. Matt Dunning
2. Adam Freier
3. Al Baxter
4. James Horwill #D
5. Dan Vickerman
6. Mark Chisholm
7. Phil Waugh (c)
8. David Lyons
9. George Gregan (vc)
10. Stephen Larkham
11. Lote Tuqiri
12. Scott Staniforth
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Drew Mitchell
15. Julian Huxley
16. Stephen Moore
17. Benn Robinson
18. Stephen Hoiles
19. George Smith
20. Sam Cordingley
21. Sam Norton-Knight
22. Stirling Mortlock (vc)
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CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!! 
Originally Posted by JediKnight
Staniforth is King!!
