A new captain, a new halfback, and a new second row combination highlight the changes to coach Robbie Deans’ Wallabies side named on Tuesday morning for Saturday night’s Test against Argentina in The Rugby Championship.
Nathan Sharpe will play as captain for Australia at his home town of the Gold Coast, and will be partnered in the second row by NSW Waratah Kane Douglas who replaces the injured Sitaleki Timani.
“Kane has been with us a fair while now, has worked hard and provides us with a similar set-piece presence as Sita [Timani] does,” said coach Deans.
“He’s a big man so he will help anchor the scrum on the tight head side in a similar way to how Sita has.
Kane also has the benefit of plenty of recent match play under his belt in club rugby, which will help make his introduction to Test rugby a little easier.”
Veteran 34-year-old Sharpe has twice previously led the Wallabies in Tests in 2004 (versus New Zealand) and 2005 (versus Samoa).
On Saturday night he plays his 109th Test in front of his home town.
“It’s rare when you have played at this level for as long as I have to come across something totally new, but to play a Test in my home town is something I would never have imagined happening when I started,” said Sharpe.
“To have the privilege of leading Australia in the first ever Test to be played on the Gold Coast is an experience I will always treasure. But the memory is down the track.
“For now, it’s important we keep our focus as a team, build on what we achieved last weekend in Perth, and add to that momentum. No one else in the squad has played Argentina before but I have and they will be tough, incredibly passionate and uncompromising. You only have to look at what they have achieved to date in their tournament matches to see what a threat they will be.”
Nick Phipps has come into the side to replace the injured Will Genia at halfback.
“Nick’s had a good grounding, knows our method and has worked hard,” said Deans.
“He has a great work ethic, is a quality bloke to have in the group as his enthusiasm is infectious, and has handled everything that has been thrown at him as a Test player – including a run as a replacement wing during last year’s Rugby World Cup. He’s ready to go.”
The absence of Genia, and the pre-scheduled shoulder operation which removed Brumbies halfback Nic White from the squad late last month, sees the nuggety Western Force halfback Brett Sheehan return after a three-year absence from the Wallabies.
“I guess it’s an unusual circumstance for a call up but you’ve got to be ready when it comes and ‘Sheeno’ is,” said Deans.
“He’s worked hard this year, played some good rugby for the Force, and is well suited to the physical challenge that Argentina brings.
Brett and Nick are different types of players. Having them both involved gives us variety in terms of ways that we can play the game. “
In further changes, Berrick Barnes has moved from inside centre to fullback, to accommodate the return of regular inside centre Pat McCabe, which has pushed Kurtley Beale back to the bench.
“Berrick has good grounding at the back while his ability to take just about every point-scoring opportunity on offer [with his goal-kicking] was highlighted once again last weekend,” said Deans.
“His presence provides good balance to the backline, while giving us the opportunity to throw Kurtley in where he will be at his most dangerous, against a tiring defensive line as the game opens up and he can get out there with a license to play.
At hooker, Stephen Moore is again named, but he has been bracketed on the bench with Saia Fainga’a. Tatafu Polota Nau retains his starting position, having performed strongly after replacing Moore in Perth last weekend when the Brumbies hooker strained his hamstring at training.
A decision on whether Moore is fit to play will be made later.
Wallabies team to play Argentina on the Gold Coast at Skilled Park at 8pm AEST is:
15. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
14. Dominic Shipperley (Queensland Reds)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
8. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
7. Michael Hooper (Brumbies)
6. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force, captain)
4. Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run on Reserves:
16. Stephen Moore (Brumbies) or Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
19. Liam Gill (Queensland Reds)
20. Brett Sheehan (Western Force)
21. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
22. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
bmwwilliams
Roar Rookie
May happen naturally at the Brumbies RK - think Mccabe would fit naturally outside a fit Toomua and CL. Of course, that puts mccabe in competition with an improved Andrew Smith and up-and-coming Jo Tomane and Kuridrani at 13, so may be a case of being 'not even the best 13 at the Brumbies' for PM.
Jagman
Guest
Douglas also put in a massive hit on neville and turned the ball over, from memory
yahyah
Guest
yes he does my friend. you obviously have not seen him play in club rugby. with the Reds he has had limited oppurtunities and a disrupted season. but regardless of how much flare you and i think he has, is it not better to have someone who can at least put players into gaps over someone who wants to just run himself into the ground like McCabe? Ben is the best option at the moment.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
'Ben has great attacking flare' No he does not.
yahyah
Guest
its quite ironic how so many are arguing that Ben Taps has no kicking game yet sick of Berrick Barnes because he kicks ball away. Ben has great attacking flare. The kind that entertains. WBs have kicked enough ball to fill up the kicking stats for the next two years. time to bring in people you can make things happen with basic shifting of the ball through the hands.
yahyah
Guest
hey i have a super crazy idea. Beale for 10. why? oh i dont know maybe because he played his best rugby this whole year as a flyhalf for the rebels. nic white now in the starting line up so they have already developed some sort of combination. because seriously? why is quade cooper in the team right now? beale was out of form as FB but he did show glimpses that he was willing to make plays happen. throw him in at 10 that way he will not have to deal with high balls. ben taps has to come into the team. whoever claims he provides no kicking option has obviously not seen him at club level. yes you may argue that club level and test level is a large gap but it's not like australia have any other competitions in between. he is a natural play maker and as conrad smith shows, we do not need all-brawns-no-brains kinda players at 13 like the over-hyped pat mccabe. a few claims regarding his weak defence? unlike most others from australia ben tapuai shut down sbw on two different meetings last year. time in the wallabies jersey will really boost his skills. not sure what happened to timani but he must be converted to 6 or 8. more lineout options and very much needed loosely to make those tackles and ball carries. we need an aggressor of the liam messam type. dennis' name is hardly ever mentioned during a game. why is he in the team? for a bunch of "professionals" i am amazed that no one else has mastered the skill of goal-kicking. the only reason berrick barnes is in the team is for his goal kicking so what happens when the ball is in play? he may as well switch to nfl where his skills are required for one particular role. putting him in fb means we are gonna see no attack from the back. we may be in for some tennis action back and forth kicking. and his work under the high ball? has that even been analysed? he needs to go.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Jutsie, it is nice to see the guy actually performing in the role rather than just me saying it. However we should not get too excited. He was only up against the Beast on the weekend who is not a great scrummager, much sterner challenges await. I still only rate him our third best tighthead behind Ryan and Slipper (Kepu and Palmer not counted due to injury). If BA keeps up the form he showed on the weekend he'll overtake Slipper on the TH side.
Short Lineout
Guest
DW, well said and I agree with most of your commentary although I do like the idea of BBarnes at 15. I have been saying this for a while that at Test level I feel Barnes has a calmness and stability to offer guidance from 15. DDennis and KDouglas are Horrortah flops - why not Hugh Pyle? Why TPN starts ahead of Moore is beyond me (although granted Moore has injury question mark at the moment) and so far this year BRobinson is another lame Horrortah loitering around this squad. Memo to Greg Holmes - just walk out of the Reds, show up at the Waratahs, play one game for free and then you'll earn another 20+ Wallaby caps.
Jutsie
Guest
Jez I was just thinking you must be feeling vindicated about your assertions that BA is more suited to THP than LHP.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Harry, Douglas will support BA well. When Douglas and Timani pack together at the Tahs it tends to be Douglas packing on the TH side. The Tahs clearly believe Douglas is an even stronger scrummager. As far as Alexander's improved efforts it is both the stronger second row behind him and that he has been spending more time in the role. I'm always going on about his form at TH from the northern tour of 2009, he isn't there yet but is starting to build towards that form again. Hopefully everyone realises he isn't a LHP now.
jameswm
Guest
It is? By the way I agree with all your comments. Get about 5-10 of us on the Roar to pick the team and I genuinely believe we'd do a better job that Deans.
jameswm
Guest
Douglas completely outplayed Neville in a club game on the weekend. Neville did nothing whereas Douglas monstered the Manly pack.
jameswm
Guest
yeah mick he doesn't do it as much as he used to. His best form was an October tour a couple of years ago after he'd been playing extensively for Sydney Uni, mainly at fullback from memory. He's got it in him, and I won't be shocked if he pulls out a big one. I also won't be shocked if he plays a really conservative game and kicks it too much!
Dexter William
Roar Guru
15. Barnes - This is a bad choice. If we need a kicker, Harris should have been picked. I know a few mentioned Morahan, but until he toughens up, he should not be considered. 14. Shipperley - Great pick RD. He showed last week that picking Mitchell is really a dumb idea. 13. Ashley-Cooper - Please RD, keep him at 13 from now on. You took too long to realise that your Rob Horne experiment was a complete failure. Similar to picking Leon MacDonald at 13. Stop playing favourites from now on. 12. McCabe - Please give him instructions not to be upright running into the Argie pack. He will be held up and mauled 20m everytime for a turnover. Ok choice but we will see. 11. Loane - if he stops having a laugh after 10 successive hammering by the Kiwis, he is the best that we got. 10. Cooper - I just love watching him play (form permitting). Just wish that RD uses him correctly. 9. Phipps - his passing can be atrocious - may need to be hooked after 20 minutes. Brett Sheehan may not have the x-factor, but he is tough and uncompromising which is an important trait to have in the current WB team. 8. Samo - showing good form - keep it up Samo!!! 7. Hooper - Like some posters here, I believe he is better than Popcock who I suspect has done too much Gym work that makes him slow and hulking. 6. Dennis - did very little in the last three tests. RD you are again creating a "new Dean Mumm." 5. Sharpe - for his many years of experience, Boy he gave away many silly penalties last week. 4. Douglas - he hardly showed any hardness or workload during S15. As with every other Tah, he may not be fit enough. Why not Neville who have showed promise??? Why so many undeserving Tahs??? Some mentioned Rob Simmons, but good call RD for not picking him. He was another "Dean Mumm" in the making. 3. Alexander - was glad that he held up his side of the scrum last week. RD please tell him to do the hard yakka in the middle and not to play winger. Deserve his pick - just. 2. Polota Nau - Not sure why he is allowed to play. he looked like he was knocked out cold last week. RD, pull him aside and tell him to not lead with his head into all his tackles. 1. Benn Robinson - A bloody disgrace - too fat for even a prop. His work rate is well below par. Until he gets fitter, put Holmes in.
Parisien
Guest
I've learnt two things: I never knew Gold Coast was a town. I always thought it was a coastal strip or region known as the the Gold Coast for touristic reasons, grouping a bunch of towns and beaches together. I always thought Sharpe was from country Queensland, not the beach. No seagull jokes.
Bono
Guest
Really? I think us kiwis tend to underestimate the Aussies too much. They are a good team, and only fail against us generally speaking. Should be way too strong for a very limited Argie team.
PeterK
Roar Guru
thanks I will try harder next time, English is my second language after all!
glacier
Guest
Peter K '.... I would of much preferred Taps to McCabe' '.....McCabe and Harris should of been on the bench reserves.' '.... then Neville should of been picked on the bench'. It's 'would've' meaning 'would have' not 'would of', and 'should've' meaning 'should have'. The use of 'would of/should of' is incorrect and totally meaningless and would flumox the Roar's Argentinian and French readers who would wonder why their hard-earned English grammar studies had never introduced them to such strange and illogical constructions. You continue to destroy your very cogent argumemts on rugby by not correcting this regular and jarring fault in your usage. It can't be that hard to rectify.
Jutsie
Guest
Harris played a number of games in 2011 at FB for the reds. From memory he either plaayed against the stormers or lions at 15 and dropped a few bombs. Your right its a must that we winn all games in nov especially with the WC seedings being dercided soon after but im just worried JOC may go down the same path as rocky, battling chronic hamstring issues for the rest of his career.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I agree he should not play in the Bledisloe. However I would play him in the northern tour. The rwc rankings will be decided on Dec4. We have hard games against France, England and Wales. We could lose all 3 without Beale (who wont be back in form IMO) and JoC. Can Harris play F/B? If so I would look at him taking over from Barnes if he does not cut it next game.