Wallabies overhaul pack for Springboks showdown
By AAP, 2 Sep 2010 AAP is a Roar Pro
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The Wallabies have overhauled their starting pack for Saturday’s (0100 Sunday AEST) Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.
Hot on the heels of last weekend’s implosion in Pretoria, hooker Saia Faingaa, lock Dean Mumm and No.8 Richard Brown have all been dropped to the bench.
The Australian selectors have instead opted for experience in Stephen Moore and Mark Chisholm, and raw energy in Ben McCalman.
Hooker Moore will play his 50th Test and his selection comes after Faingaa struggled with some of his throw-ins late in the 44-31 loss at Loftus Versfeld.
Brumbies team-mate Chisholm, who has 51 caps, will start his first Test of 2010 after Australia’s lineout fell apart when the side’s set-piece chief Nathan Sharpe suffered an ankle injury.
Western Force forward McCalman, 22, replaces Brown at No.8 after impressing when he came on from the bench for just his second Test in Pretoria.
Wallabies assistant coach Jim Williams said the side needed to stick to its lineout plan better.
“We went away from it there a little bit and obviously Victor (Matfield) and Juan Smith stole a couple of balls there so we’re just making sure we address those and keep nice and positive,” Williams said.
“For the majority of the game we were in that from set-piece as well.
“It was maybe just technique with throw-ins on a couple and the options that we took inside their 22.
“There are options there to take and we’ve just got to make sure that we take them next time and make sure we stick to our plan.”
Queenslander Rob Simmons, a late call-up when Scott Higginbotham injured his back during the warm-up last week, drops out of the 22.
The Wallabies are desperate for a win at Vodacom Park to be able to take something out of this Tri-Nations series.
A first victory at altitude in South Africa in 47 years would, as well as shaking that monkey off their backs, avoid the prospect of a second straight one-from-six series haul.
It would also provide some hope for Saturday week’s jet-lagged meeting with the rampant All Blacks at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
© AAP 2012Wallabies: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt), Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Salesi Ma’afu, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Res: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Faingaa.
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Cliff (Bishkek) said | September 2nd 2010 @ 1:54am | Report comment
I am becoming convinced that Wal Footrot has more Rugby Brains than Deans
McCalman – good move??
Mumm to the bench and Simmons – out – am I missing something here?
Brown on the bench – Higgenbottom injured – I knew injured but not sure if it was a week or two recovery – ?
Chisholm – I thought he was out of even consideration? Why?
I am no Deans – but yipeeeeees – where are Murphy’s Pigs – possibly in the All Black pack???
Cattledog – maybe I am too far away to know anymore???
GT75 said | September 2nd 2010 @ 7:00am | Report comment
I wouldve put Mumm on the bench months ago, the only time I notice him is when he makes a mistake.
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Parisien said | September 2nd 2010 @ 7:01am | Report comment
Glad to see a few changes.
Moore back in – yes, makes sense. Faingaa off the bench.
McCalman – yes, Brown has been underperforming and erratic, drop him to the bench. A good technical 8 will help a lot, and Mac didn’t seem to get stage fright. Looked good.
Mumm out, yes, at last!, although Chisolm not the ideal replacement, but who else is there? Simmons looked lost when he came on, but perhaps deserves more time off the bench in place of Mumm, who should drop out of the 22. This is inconsistent treatment of Simmons, why pick him at all to drop him a week later? talk about development!
Slipper- best off the bench, too raw to start, but developing well.
Give Burgess a run on in the last 10 -20 minutes.
However, still don’t understand why Barnes and the other Faingaa no.12 are both picked for the bench ?! Are they only there for injuries which would still involve a serious on-field shuffle around? Neither are impact players off the bench – and Deans won’t give them a run anyway… So what is the point? The bench could and should make a huge impact in the last 30 minutes, especially at altitude.
Aside from all that, I think the Wallabies will win this weekend if they continue to play attacking running rugby and reduce the stupid second half mistakes. I’ve been strangely rejuvenated by last week’s loss, and Beale running the ball out from behind the tryline among many other plays. Thoroughly enjoyable. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Ben S said | September 2nd 2010 @ 7:16am | Report comment
‘A good technical 8 will help a lot’
Are you referring to McAlman?
jameswm said | September 2nd 2010 @ 7:27am | Report comment
I’d have gone with Slipper too – he’s a better scrummager and is OK round the field from what I’ve seen.
formeropenside said | September 2nd 2010 @ 7:54am | Report comment
Tough on Simmons, and I can only assume Higgy was still injured. Brown and Mumm are lucky to be on the bench in front of those two. I’d have been tempted to run a 5-2 bench, and maybe start one of the real wingers ahead of JOC.
honeybader said | September 2nd 2010 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Agree with all re Mumm-what a waste of a bench spot. We can only pray Deans uses his bench this time rather than pushing those on the field to absolute exhaustion. What’s wrong with Simmons???? -give him a go for God’s sake. The Wallabies will lose this weekend for several reasons, the most important of which is desire to win and lack of game plan. Cooper over-rated-got to league, who cares. Deans drops to 50% win/loss ration if he loses the next 2 games-that says it all. I, like most other people, thought he was going to re-vitalise us…..unfortunately not and too late to change coach now before 2011 WC.
Coxinator said | September 2nd 2010 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Mumm must have some dirt on someone. His confidence though is way down since he’s been playing second row – let’s face it he’s a 6 really.
The biggest problem outside the pack is that we STILL don’t have any backs who look like they’d hurt you in defence.
formeropenside said | September 2nd 2010 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Well, we do in Hynes, Chambers and Digby Ioane, but they are all out injured. Luke Morahan too, running around at 13 for Qld Uni in the GF this weekend is also a huge defender on occasion.
stuff haapens said | September 2nd 2010 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Chisolm? When did he last play 80 mins of rugby – at any level? Well, good luck.
Big Steve said | September 2nd 2010 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Chisholm has played 51 tests and has done nothing. So much for building for the future, now we are going round in circles. I was excited when I read this article and thought the selectors might have finally grown a set. But back to the same old safe choices.
I expect McCalman and Moore to add a bit but Chisolm will be another passenger. Simmons would be shattered, how is he not picked over Chisolm who hasn’t even played in a TN game. How is this furthering his development. It will end up bieng another australian prospect destroyed byt lack of forsight. Its in glaring contrast to the AB’s development of Cruden.
Rockin Rod said | September 2nd 2010 @ 6:18pm | Report comment
Chiz is so lucky to be their, Benny Hand was ahead of him calling the lineout for the Brumbies
mudskipper said | September 2nd 2010 @ 9:39am | Report comment
Chisholm’s experience and leadership is much need in the pack alongside Sharpe… Chizs’ work load will be high and he is also a good ball runner.
Like Chiz, Moore’s experience and ball skills are much needed as well as his rugby smarts. As for McCalman he has earned the right to start as Brown isn’t playing a full role at No.8…
The wing is the only place for JOC in the Wallabies (at this time) however I worry about his red zone defence. Its. 50/50 at best… I have similar thoughts about Beale. Both good with ball in hand but cover defence is poor.