Wallaby Team to Play All Blacks this Saturday

[Thequeerone]

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.

[inactive]

go spanner gp spanner bout time that mitchell was gone

[WF2006]

The love child "Adam Ashley-Cooper-Connolly" obviously has to be found a spot in the 15. They've finally realised he can't play in the centres, so here we go with another spot!

[inactive]

i hear ya pathetic hopefully has shocker so connelly has no excuse to keep trialling

[hopep]

I didn't see the last Aust A game. Did AAC(C) play briliant or something?
Mitchell was going to get rested, but why ACC?

[Thequeerone]

No - just been reminded he didn't play

[JediKnight]

See, I was right.....he is JC's love child!!! For Spanner's sake, I hope AAC has a shocker (although I hate to say that about any Wallaby player) in the first half & then Spanner comes on in the 2nd & scores a hat-trick!!

[kelv]

AAC isn't as bad as you say he is a tackle busting machine when given quality ball.

[frontrow]

Hope he proves it then, 'cause so far he has been pretty mediocre....

[chook]

He's had limited opportunities. Hard to impress if no-one passes the ball to you. Playing at the Brumbies should help his cause with Gregan, Mortlock, Giteau (old Brumby), AAC combo.

[The EnForcer]

Huxley is a bit of a mystery to me, cause he was obviously out of his league in SA and now to throw him into a Bledisloe at the MCG....well I don't wish him any ill will but I don't believe he's up to it. What about Mitchel in there?

[allsaints]

Whilst I do share your concern about Huxley, I think he is a better option than Mitchell. GREAT to see Spanner get a "real cap" at last. Lets hope he gets some game time, I don't think there has ever been a more deserving sportsman or a more ignored one (by selectors) than poor old SS.
Incidentally who remembers the fullback role at the MCG last time we played the Blacks - wasn't the score Burke 24 All Blacks 15 - now there's a challenge Mr Huxley!

[shasta]

go spanner gp spanner bout time that mitchell was gone

Don't really see what you mean there. I reckon Mitchell has been much better since Connolly has played him in his best position - wing. He had the whole S14 to try to play 15 and couldn't cut it.

[Shaun]

Drew has been playing well on the wing and where is my Sheps!

[gotheforce]

Sheps isn't match fit yet - at least match fit to play an international test. He had a really average game vs the JAB and apparently, didn't stand out against Japan as well.

I think huxley is prob the best option at the moment. I reckon Drew has improved a lot thoughat 15 - even though Sheps should still be the rightful owner of that number.