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The Wallabies resume their run into the 2011 Rugby World Cup tonight with the Tri-Nations opener against the Springboks at ANZ Stadium. Join us from 7pm for live scores and blog of the Wallabies v Springboks.
The Wallabies are coming off last Saturday’s wake-up call from Samoa who shocked the team 32-24 and will be desperate for a win tonight.
Doubt has been cast over the fitness of playmaker Quade Cooper after he missed the team run on Friday, with James O’Connor slotting into five-eight for the run.
Cooper is reportedly battling flu and gastro, though Wallabies team doctor doesn’t believe his condition is serious enough to prevent him from playing his first Test of the year.
Seven front-line Wallabies selections missed either most, or all, of the Samoan debacle, but will be in the team tonight: David Pocock, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Will Genia, Quade Cooper (hopefully), James O’Connor, and Kurtley Beale.
The Springboks have been widely criticised for the strength of their squad, with over half of the Springboks run-on side tonight still wet behind the ears.
Making their debuts are props Werner Kruger and Dean Greyling, as is No 8 Ashley Johnson.
Centre Juan de Jongh (6 caps), wing Bjorn Basson (4), flanker Deon Stegmann (4), wing Lwazi Mvovo (2), and lock Alistair Hargreaves (2) gives the Springboks just 18 caps between eight of the side.
However, also on the paddock will be world rugby’s most capped captain, John Smit (102), flanker Danie Rossouw (54), half-back Ruan Pienaar (32), and one of rugby’s all-time great goal-kickers in Morne Steyn (25), along with the exciting pocket-rocket full-back Gio Aplon, with his 13 caps.
This game could go either way, with the winner likely to be the team which is hungriest.
The Wallabies team to play the Springboks at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night in the first of the Tri Nations matches in 2011, is:
15. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain)
5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
4. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
Run on Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
17. Pekahou Cowan (Western Force)
18. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
19. Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
20. Scott Higginbotham (Western Force)
21. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
22. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
The Springboks team to play the Wallabies at ANZ Stadium tonight
15. Gio Aplon, 14. Bjorn Basson, 13. Juan De Jongh, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Ruan Pienaar, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Danie Rossouw, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. John Smit (c), 1. Dean Greyling. Reserves: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Ryan Kankowski, 19. Jean Deysel, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Adrian Jacobs, 22. Pat Lambie.
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZ)
Assistant Referees: Keith Brown (NZ), Vinny Munro (NZ)
Television Match Official: Matt Goddard (Aus)
Kick off time: 7.30pm AEST
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.