By Darren Walton
November 28th 2009 @ 1:34am
Related coverage
Mumm’s daunting challenge
Wallabies lock Dean Mumm faces a daunting lineout challenge after being called up for Saturday’s spring tour-ending showdown with Wales at Millennium Stadium.
Mumm demanded selection for his first Test start of the tour after producing a fine captain’s display in the mid-week side’s hoodoo-busting win over Cardiff on Tuesday night.
Replacing Mark Chisholm as James Horwill’s second row partner, 25-year-old Mumm will oppose Welsh man mountain Luke Charteris.
The 1.96cm behemoth helped Wales secure 100 per cent of their lineout throws in last Saturday’s 33-16 dispatch of World Cup semi-finalists Argentina.
“Obviously their lineout is very, very good. Any time you can go 100 per cent in a Test, in any game for that fact, is pretty impressive,” Mumm said after winning his eighth Test starting cap on Thursday.
“So obviously we’ve studied them quite closely and they’re very effective at what they do.
“They’re also quite a good driving team and that will also be a job of ourselves to nullify that as a weapon for them.
“If we can get a good result at lineout time, obviously that will pan out well for us for the rest of the game.”
In the only other two changes to the starting side, coach Robbie Deans has recalled openside flanker David Pocock for George Smith and Digby Ioane returns at outside centre after being a late withdrawal from last Saturday’s shock 9-8 loss to Scotland with a shoulder injury.
Ioane replaces Murrayfield tryscorer Ryan Cross.
Deans has also rewarded Mumm’s NSW Waratahs teammate Kurtley Beale for his dazzling two-try effort against Cardiff with a promotion to the bench.
Beale, 20, played out of position on the wing but grabbed his opportunity with an eye-catching display and is now in line for his long-awaited maiden Test cap.
The former Australian schoolboys star has replaced Waratahs teammate Lachie Turner in the 22-man squad.
Veteran Matt Dunning replaces Sekope Kepu as Australia’s reserve prop.
Halfback Will Genia (knee), powerhouse No.8 Wycliff Palu (neck) and star loosehead Benn Robinson (shoulder) were all confirmed starters after completing Thursday’s contact session in Cardiff.
“It’s always good to be able to select from a full muster and it’s great for those blokes because they’re very keen to make the most of the opportunity that we have on the weekend,” Deans said.
“We’re going to have to sit for the next stretch so they’re keen to finish on a good note.”
Centre Quade Cooper says the Wallabies have plenty to play for, despite their hopes of an unbeaten grand slam tour being shattered in Edinburgh.
“If we can finish this game on a high, we can take a lot of positives out of the tour,” Cooper said.
“A lot of guys got opportunities with these mid-week games, so I reckon if we go out there with the right frame of mind and play what we’re supposed to, we’ll end this tour on a high.”
Super 14 Tipping now live on The Roar. Join now.
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
