Aus A Team to play Junior All Blacks

[Thequeerone]

WALLABY STARS INJECTED INTO AUSTRALIA A LINE-UP FOR JUNIOR ALL BLACKS CLASH

Selectors have today named the Australia A team for this Saturday’s highly-anticipated iRB Pacific Nations Cup showdown with the Junior All Blacks at Carisbrook Park in Dunedin.

There are a total of nine changes to the starting line-up which defeated Japan 71-10 last Saturday in Townsville, including the introduction of Waratahs and Wallabies fly-half Sam Norton-Knight.

Reds utility back Clinton Schifcofske has been ruled out of this weekend’s Australia A line-up through injury.

“Clinton has been traveling with a calf strain and it has not improved,” said Laurie Fisher today.

“That means Lachie Turner (Waratahs) will come onto the bench,” he said.

The Australia A squad also welcomes into the starting line-up Reds and Wallabies prop Rodney Blake, who has recovered after ankle surgery and Reds and Wallabies lock/flanker Hugh McMeniman, also back from injury.

Try scorer for the Wallabies in his debut Test against Wales, Digby Ioane has been named on the wing.

He will be partnered on the wing by Western Force teammate, Cameron Shepherd who also returns from the Wallabies squad.

“With Digby and Cameron in the line-up we will have no shortage of pace out wide, and with Rodney and Hugh back on the paddock there is no shortage of grunt up front,” Laurie Fisher added.

Both Australia A and the Junior All Blacks are unbeaten in the Pacific Nations Cup Series to date.

The Australia A team is:

1. Nic Henderson
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Rodney Blake
4. Alister Campbell (c)
5. James Horwill
6. Hugh McMeniman
7. Julian Salvi
8. David Lyons
9. Josh Holmes
10. Sam Norton-Knight
11. Digby Ioane
12. Ryan Cross
13. Junior Pelesasa
14. Cameron Shepherd
15. Peter Hewat



Reserves:

16. Sean Hardman
17. Troy Takiari
18. Dean Mumm
19. Jone Tawake
20. Josh Valentine
21. Gene Fairbanks
22. Lachlan Turner



Head Coach: Laurie Fisher



Kick-off for the match is 2.30pm Local Time.

The Match will be televised on ABC2 from 5.30pm AEST.
With a set top box can see the game on ABC2 at 5:30pm in Perth
With Foxtel can see the game at 3:30pm in Perth

[Darren]

I still can't believe Henjak didn't make either squad...

[Skiza]

I still can't believe Henjak didn't make either squad...

Me neither and its not the bias talking here
Goodluck to the Force boys, pity Hardy and Pocock aren't in there too...they've played awesome this year...oh well!!

[Nick]

Junior AB's to will take a big win in the House of Pain!

[Jess]

I would love to see the Aus A squad flog the pants off the All Black Junior folk just so it makes the Wallabies look better.

Just in relation to the comments the Fijians made about the Juniors being more physical and confrontational (and better) than the wallabies.

Show them that even our second rate team can beat them.

Though in saying that I don't overly fancy our chances.

Oh and I thought we'd figured out why Henjak wasn't called up... he didn't whinge enough! Let's all bombard the ARU with complaint emails and whinge for him! Might stand a chance then. :p

[felixnelson]

sheps should be playing 15, turner to 14 nd hewat to the bench...
why arnt they playing the players who ar actually going to play for the wallabies haha. what happened to schifcoske also?
pocock should be playing aswell

[allsaints]

And on a church bench at that (Hewat)

[Nick]

With The team yet to be named for the Aust A clash this is the Squad for the Junior All Balcks with * players having been called into the AB's

The Junior All black Squad

Forwards
Campbell Johnstone
Clarke Dermody
Corey Flynn
Daniel Braid
Derren Witcombe
Greg Rawlinson*
Hoani MacDonald
Jerome Kaino
John Afoa
Kieran Read
Marty Holah
Mose Tuiali'i
Ross Filipo*
Wyatt Crockett


Backs
Andrew Ellis
Anthony Tuitavake
Casey Laulala
Cory Jane
Jimmy Cowan
Ma'a Nonu
Rico Gear
Rudi Wulf
Sam Tuitupou
Scott Hamilton
Stephen Brett
Stephen Donald
Tane Tu’ipulotu

[hopep]

what happened to schifcoske also?
pocock should be playing aswell

I think hes just been rotated to get some playing depth ready for RWC.
I still think he'll go, might even see him on the bench for a 3N game.

[shasta]

I think hes just been rotated to get some playing depth ready for RWC.
I still think he'll go, might even see him on the bench for a 3N game.

I take it you mean Bam-Bam. He was just back from an injury last week so maybe he's been rotated or maybe a slight re-occurrence? No way he was dropped. He played an absolute blinder. He showed some awesome ball-running potential too. This bloke will be putting real pressure on Smith and Waugh before too much time goes by.

Berrick Barnes showed he's far more advanced than Beale too by running the team around effectively, taking on the line at the right time and being able to steer players like Pocock and Cross into the correct channels.

Shifcofske was injured but is playing pretty effectively for a 31yo mungo.

Hewat can count himself very lucky to be still there. Shifcoske's injury and Sheps still sporting some heavy strapping in his comeback match for Norths may have saved him for this week. His pathetic effort on the Japanese try-scorer should have seen the end of him for mine.

This match also showed that Henjak is still the third best 9 after Gregan and Cordingly too.

[Nick]

I think this will be a really exciting game! Does anyone know if this is being played on ABC like the other pacific nations games or becuase of the teams will it be on one of the main Channels? Even better is it on at a Pub?

[shasta]

Does anyone know if this is being played on ABC

Yep. ABC2 @ 1:30PM Perth time

[Nick]

Thanks mate!

[Burgs]

Will be on at I believe Nick.

[Jess]

I think ABC2 is replaying it at about 5pm too. Just in case 1:30 doesn't suit.