Elsom wins appeal
By David Beniuk, 29 Aug 2008
David Beniuk is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Brisbane, Drew Mitchell, George Smith, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Dunning, Matt Giteau, Phil Waugh, robbie deans, Rocky Elsom, Rugby Union, Ryan Cross, Sam Cordingley, SANZAR, South Africa, Springboks, Stephen Moore, Stirling Mortlock, Super Rugby, The Springboks, Timana Tahu, Tri Nations, wallabies
The Wallabies have received a major boost ahead of their Tri Nations Test against South Africa in Johannesburg with rugged flanker Rocky Elsom successfully appealing his suspension for dangerous play.
Elsom will now be available for the Ellis Park match on Saturday after SANZAR officials ruled in favour of overturning a one-match ban for pulling down Springboks captain Victor Matfield in a lineout during last week’s win in Durban.
The loose forward trained with the side this morning before joining a telephone hook-up to hear his appeal.
The delay in the original decision by New Zealander Nick Davidson QC and a further wait for the transcript of the judgement forced coach Robbie Deans to delay the naming of the side to take on the Springboks until late today.
Contingencies had been put in place for the two possible outcomes of the Elsom hearing.
Now that he has been cleared, Elsom will start in the No.6 jersey with Hugh McMeniman, who has bounced back from a stomach bug, replacing the injured Dan Vickerman at lock.
Elsewhere, Deans made several changes to the team that successfully broke an eight-year South African drought with last week’s 27-15 victory.
Adam Ashley-Cooper has fully recovered from surgery on a fractured hand and returns to fullback with Drew Mitchell dropping back to the bench.
Timana Tahu will make his run-on Test debut replacing the injured Berrick Barnes at inside centre, while Phil Waugh will start at openside flanker and Tatafu Polota-Nau at hooker.
George Smith and Stephen Moore drop back to the bench.
The raft of changes reflects Deans’ philosophy of building an interchangeable squad rather than focusing on a set starting 15.
Deans is keen to make use of the fresh legs and hunger for football in the likes of Waugh and Polota-Nau while working up a number of possible combinations in the side as it heads towards a showdown for the Tri-Nations tile with the All Blacks in Brisbane next month.
Johannesburg’s 1,700m altitude and fatigue from last week’s rugged encounter with the Boks were not considered important factors as Australia try to post back-to-back victories in South Africa for the first time since 1963.
Ashley-Cooper, who is yet to play a Test on the highveld, said his Super 14 experience in Jo’burg would help him deal with the ball flying a lot further when kicked.
“You allow the ball to fly an extra 15, 20 metres because it does fly a lot more at altitude,” he said.
“And I suppose also just the running, the fitness aspect, it hurts the lungs a bit more.
“It’s just that first 20 (minutes) but once you push through that first 20 you find your second wind.”
Wallabies team: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill, Matt Dunning, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Stephen Moore, Al Baxter, Dean Mumm, George Smith, Brett Sheehan, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell
© AAP 2012
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mudskipper said | August 29th 2008 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Now that’s a more sensible decision…A catch 22 for Deans who is likely to play Rocky on the Highveld Saturday…Perhaps it should have been left to providence leaving Rocky with time week off and freshen up for the Tri-Nations playoff in Brisbane…
With Rocky in the Wallabies are a much better chance of winning back to back games in the Republic…
Peter K said | August 29th 2008 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Rocky does not need much freshening up, he had time off with his ankle injury, besides after the AB game he is off to Ireland so get the most out of him while we can!
mudskipper said | August 29th 2008 @ 10:48am | Report comment
He wont be easily replaced nexr year…
Peter K said | August 29th 2008 @ 10:59am | Report comment
Elsom may be back next year. We will miss him for the NH tour and the S14. I think he will be available for the TN’s next year, thats if we give him a decent offer and not a downgrade which was his first offer.
Rickety Knees said | August 29th 2008 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
Peter K – I agree. Elsom has been the heart and soul of the pack. He is the ultimate warrior and one that we can hardly afford to lose. I hope that Deans replaces him early in the second half to save him for the AB’s at Suncorp. If that does happen it will be interesting to see who Deans chooses at No6.
I have no doubt that JON and Deans now realise his true value and will provide him with the incentive to return to next years TN.
Finally, I don’t much agree with Campo but today he is on the money. The Sanzar judiciary system is a complete joke and needs to be scrapped and a new one built from from scratch.
Jerry said | August 29th 2008 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
“He is the ultimate warrior”
http://www.richardpalace.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/ultimatewarrior.jpg ?
ohtani's jacket said | August 29th 2008 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
HA, I was thinking the same thing.
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb353HShJKs&feature=related
ulysses said | August 29th 2008 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
And the best thing about Rocky playing….Notso Sharpe flies all the way there and doesn’t make the bench! Good call by Deans to keep Mumm on the bench, covers lock and #6 and all part of his development.
Waugh, Horwill, McMeniman, Elsom is about as combative a back 4 as we have. Same with TPN over Moore perhaps? Sure you can talk about fresh legs and building the squad. But I reckon Deans believes the red mist will be pretty heavy from the Boks on Saturday and wants our hardest heads out there.
Rickety Knees said | August 29th 2008 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Good call Ulysses – I note that you left Palu out the combatative mix – are you not a fan?
ulysses said | August 29th 2008 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Rickety – I am a big Palu fan when he is on. Remember against the Sharks in Sydney – he destroyed AJ Venter in a head-on tackle from a quick tap on the 22, AJ loses the ball, and two phases later Palu runs over 3 backs to score beside the post. AJ Venter later said it was the hardest tackle he had ever taken. So Palu has more physical talent and presence than just about any player today. But we see it pretty rarely in the tests. But I am sure Deans has it as a special project – if he stays fit, he will build slowly but surely over the next two years I reckon.
Also – in terms of Saturday – Palu was always going to play – there is no other real option at #8. I was more commenting on Dean’s choice of Waugh over Smith, and McMeniman over Sharpe.