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Polota-Nau flown in to boost Wallabies' pack

Roar Guru
7th November, 2010
8

Standby hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is expected to meet up with the Wallabies squad in London on Monday after being flown in as cover for injured hooker Stephen Moore.

Moore’s back twinge is being monitored following his late withdrawal from the 25-16 Test win over Wales.

The Wallabies have relocated from Cardiff to London, where they are expecting to be bombarded with pressure over their scrum meltdown at the Millennium Stadium ahead of this weekend’s Test against England.

“Certainly it was a step back for us there,” Moore said.

“Just from talking to the boys today, they’re not happy with the way things went there, so it is obviously a huge test this weekend.”

The Australians face a disrupted preparation for Twickenham with more than half the squad involved in a match against fifth-placed English Premiership club Leicester on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning AEDT).

The Berrick Barnes-captained side will give the fringe players a chance to press for a Test spot.

“If you look at last year, a number of players emerged out of the midweek fixtures,” coach Robbie Deans said.

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“Kurtley Beale played his first game at fullback and Quade Cooper played flyhalf and have both have since established themselves in the Test side.

“Sometimes until you provide an opportunity, you don’t know how players will respond.”

Wallabies team to play Leicester: Peter Hynes, Rod Davies, Pat McCabe, Anthony Fainga’a, Lachie Turner, Berrick Barnes (capt), Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson, Scott Higginbotham, Rob Simmons, Van Humphries, Salesi Ma’afu, Huia Edmonds, James Slipper. Res: Saia Fainga’a, Ben Daley, Dean Mumm, Pat McCutcheon, Nick Phipps, Matt Giteau, Luke Morahan.

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