Back-rower Wycliff Palu returns in the only change to the Wallabies starting XV for Saturday night’s Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup series opener against New Zealand in Auckland.
Palu has been included after recovering from a broken hand and will be playing his 29th Test.
He replaces Dean Mumm, with the Western Force loose forward Richard Brown switching from the back of the scrum to the blindside flank position, from where he will start a Test match for the first time.
Mumm is on a bench that features a five-two split, with Queensland Reds halfback Will Genia and 19-year-old James O’Connor the only backline replacements.
The forward-orientated make-up on the bench allows for the inclusion of two openside flankers, David Pocock and Phil Waugh.
The 21-year-old Genia, who is a newcomer to the Wallabies squad for the Tri Nations, will become the 835th player to have appeared for Australia in Test matches should he be required to take the field at Eden Park.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says the selection represents the strongest combination available for what is shaping as the stiffest Test Australia has faced to date in 2009.
“We have made good progress, and the relative consistency of our selection reflects that, but no-one is getting ahead of themselves,” Deans said.
“Playing New Zealand at Eden Park is going to be a major step up on what we have faced so far.
“You only have to look at the history in terms of the All Blacks’ outstanding record at Eden Park and their current circumstance to appreciate the size of the task that is in front of us.”
The Wallabies haven’t won at Eden Park since 1986 and the All Blacks have won their last 10 trans-Tasman Tests in Auckland and have not lost at the ground to anyone since France prevailed 23-20 in 1994, 20-matches ago.
The Wallabies team to play New Zealand in the Tri Nations Series at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday 18 July, 7.35pm kick off, (5.35pm, AEST), is:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
14. Lachie Turner (Waratahs)
13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, captain)
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
10. Matt Giteau (Western Force)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
7. George Smith (Brumbies)
6. Richard Brown (Western Force)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run on reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
19. Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs)
20. David Pocock (Western Force)
21. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
22. James O’Connor (Western Force)
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July 14th 2009 @ 3:56pm
Matt said | July 14th 2009 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
Only two back reserves. Man, I hope we don’t get any injuries or George Smith may find himself standing a bit wider.
July 14th 2009 @ 4:04pm
Brett McKay said | July 14th 2009 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
yep, have to agree Matt. I fully expected Palu back, but 6 loose forwards?? Come one, surely we’re taking this “hard at the ball” thing a little far…
July 14th 2009 @ 4:24pm
Ben C said | July 14th 2009 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
As a Tahs supporter I want Phil to be there but (as Brown started at No. 7) playing four fetchers? Palu gives some hard running but the backrow weakens the lineout and doesn’t give us a lot of ability to clean out at the breakdown (as opposed to pilfering). France showed the importance of bulk and power in the backrow to ruck and counter-ruck. Kaino is a big lad and Solialo provides cleaning out and energy at the breakdown to free up McCaw to pilfer. I am afraid our selection has gone astray due to fascination with the new rule allowing a player to hang onto the ball if he is the tackler. All well and good but he won’t secure the ball if he doesn’t have a bit of bulk beside him to protect him and clear out the opposition fetcher.
I think we could be in for a rough night.
July 14th 2009 @ 4:25pm
Worlds Biggest said | July 14th 2009 @ 4:25pm | Report comment
I am not convinced about having 2 opensides on the bench. Is it a case of countering the breakdown ( McCaw ) or we are very short on quality 2nd Rowers for bench cover ?. Apart from Kimlin who else is earmaked for 2 Row. Mumm is not a Test player in my view.
BTW – nice debut article Brett.
July 14th 2009 @ 4:54pm
Bill said | July 14th 2009 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
Have to agree the backrow & forward bench looks unbalanced with Smith, Brown, Waugh & Pocock all in the 22… Does anyone know when Rocky Elsom is going to be back from injury? The sooner the better!
July 14th 2009 @ 5:48pm
TommyM said | July 14th 2009 @ 5:48pm | Report comment
Ben C- who would you have at 6 in place of Brown? Mumm? He may a few kgs heavier than Brown but I’d disupte that he (or Kimlin) offermore power or aggression at the breakdown. Brown Dog’s got the mongrel!!! Elsom will most likely slot back in at 6 when ready, but in his stead Brown’s a damn good option. The fact that he can pilfer does not mean taht he CAN’t hit up or clean out.
July 14th 2009 @ 5:58pm
TommyM said | July 14th 2009 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
Just following on from that., I’ve noticed a common theme in many posts on this site calling for more ‘specialists’ in certain positions i.e ‘a tight head who is big and fat and can’t pass but can hold up a scrum all day’ or ‘a lock who just wins lineouts and pushes’.
The fact that a player does one thing superbly does not mean that he need necessarily do other things poorly. Indeed, in today’s professional game there is surely no room for a player who can hold up a scrum put can’t run or pass i.e Andrew Sheridan. People have ago at Ben Alexander because he can run and scores tries and is a prop. His skill and athleticism does not mean that he is somehow weaker than some fatty, or that he CAN’T scrummage- certainly he needs some work in that department at tight head, but having not played there for years, he held his own against some fo the best front rows in the world recently.
I suspect that people who post comments like that are driven by the fact that the type of player they are/were is what they advocate should be reintroduced (a fat, slow prop, a fast winger who couldn’t tackle etc etc.)
Anyway, rant over
Carn the Force!
Carn the Wallabies!!!
July 14th 2009 @ 5:59pm
TommyM said | July 14th 2009 @ 5:59pm | Report comment
BTW – Ben C- I’m not implying that that was the gist of your post, it just reminded me of the theme
July 14th 2009 @ 7:37pm
Spencer said | July 14th 2009 @ 7:37pm | Report comment
Overall the selection looks right. Obvioulsy there are some concerns over some of the young guns, however they need their chance, and have earned their chance.
I think it is a backward step to have Waugh on the bench. Kimlin would have been a much better option. Brown at 6 is a good call as he can play both a physical role and a fetcher role. I also think Brown can match Kaino for bulk (not as tall but the same weight).
Can some one provide the average age of the 22? Must be one of the youngest ever: Pocock, O’Connor, Genia, Barnes, etc. Also an interting split of the age ranges: half of the Guys 25-30+, and Half 18-24. A lot of U21 reps from 2005 also.
July 14th 2009 @ 8:20pm
Marty said | July 14th 2009 @ 8:20pm | Report comment
Hope they keep their game straight, young guns can be a loose canons in most cases. Palu on the on other can really pull off an interesting game, just keeping the crowds off their feet.