Robbie Deans has made four changes to his starting lineup for the Wallabies’ finale against Wales with David Pocock making his long-awaited return in the run-on side.
Australia play at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) in what will be captain Nathan Sharpe’s 116th and final Test.
Second-rower Kane Douglas makes his comeback from a knee injury for the suspended Sitaleki Timani while hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau replaces Stephen Moore after sitting last weekend’s 22-19 win over Italy in Florence.
Halfback Nick Phipps returns to the starting team after going on as a replacement for No.9 Brett Sheehan who suffered a tour-ending ankle injury against Italy.
World class No.7 Pocock hasn’t played since he injured his knee against New Zealand in August.
He then strained a calf muscle at training in Paris in the first week of the tour.
Deans is thrilled to welcome back Pocock for such a big game for Australia as they look to send Sharpe out in style.
“David is one of the best in the world as a player, and is growing every day as a leader, so naturally we are delighted to have him back,” Deans said.
“While he has continued to contribute off the field, this tour has been one of frustration for him, but we were not prepared to take any risks and potentially compromise either the player or the team, in terms of his fitness.”
“The upside to the wait is that his return comes at a time where we need fresh energy, as was evident at times during our Test in Italy last weekend.”
Pocock’s deputy Michael Hooper, who has been outstanding on the tour, is expected to play a significant part in the game.
Hooper will start on the bench but Deans may look to play him and Pocock together as he did in the 3-0 series win over Wales in Australia in June.
“Michael (Hooper) has had a massive year and it was evident that for him, as well as some others, it was starting to take its toll last weekend,” Deans said.
“He’s earned the right to finish the year on the park. Having the option of working him alongside David at some point during the contest is a win-win for us.”
Douglas didn’t accompany the Wallabies to Italy.
He remained in London with his mother who is in hospital recovering from a stroke suffered on a flight to Europe to watch her son play.
“Kane is ready to go,” Deans said.
“It’s obviously been a trying time for his whole family recently, but his dedication both to his family and his career is clear, and a testament to the character of the man.”
Waratahs No.9 Brendan McKibbin, who only arrived in Cardiff on Tuesday to replace Sheehan, is on the bench and in line for a first Test cap.
Wallabies team (15-1): Berrick Barnes, Nick Cummins, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Tapuai, Drew Mitchell, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Scott Higginbotham, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper, Brendan McKibbin, Mike Harris, Digby Ioane.
Ra
Guest
thats pretty unAustralian of you nevawasaopenside, the old ozzie batter attitude, win lose or draw, give it a go, never say never, hat kind of a spud are ya??????
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Jeznez....reports from inside Brumbies training indicate that Pocock has already matched Hoopers sprint times at pre-season training. At 24 he is still a work in progress.....how good he will become is still an open question.
Ra
Guest
i gotta look at this guy Neville you guys are rattling on about in super rugby next year.
Ra
Guest
and the All Blacks are usually lots of points ahead when they blood the newbies,Justie, so they can go on without too much pressure, whereas the Aussie bench is not so lucky, so players have to stay out there
Ra
Guest
Its worked for the All Blacks. Mouri and Rutledge are one example. Who are some Aussie combo's? Simon Poidevon/David Wilson? or are they different eras?
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'd have started Hooper and had Neville and Samo on the bench instead of Dennis and Gill. Would leave all else the same.
Ra
Guest
the couch doesn't wonder at all rl, the couch knows because couch potatoes speak the same language mostly from experience of having played, coached and being involved in the game at some level over a lot of years, and who see the game from a wider view, rich mature variety of sweet potatoes who try to add value to dinner table Then there are the wannabees variety of potato,lying low between the rows, out of the nice soft embanked beds, narrow view, eyes still maturing,still a bit green, still a bit raw, sour to taste, and typically, hard skinned, but still react badly to a little bit of frost bite. Need to lay fallow for a while - which variety are you rl?
Ra
Guest
Yeah he was a tough little bugger. My old man told that story a few times about him chopping off his finger to go on that tour of South Africa. A tough little bugger who had Colin Meads on the other side of the scrum. Not a bad back up eh. i think Hooper has shown the same sort of ferreting guts.
Ra
Guest
Yep jez and a you know you old cronie, when all things are equal, the one who puts his hand up first is the one picked. Hooper got seen first at Test level, and has done a great job, pushing Gill to the bench and keeping him there. Now the king is back. Question time - give the kid a go, or play the MAN. No fence sitting jez, this is no holds barred, Sharpies send off match against the old foe from the hills Test matcvh rugby, last game of a long long season - you are the coach - you choose !!!
rl
Guest
PeterK, pretty hard to find fault with you. I like the look of your team. Barnes becoming a regular fullback next year may be a blessing for the Tahs, as I'm inclined to think Foley offers more at 10 anyway. And I agree that Beale is less effective at 10 than he is at 15. I think Hooper and Pocock could alternate playing openside during a match depending on the situation within the game - for example, I'm inclined to play Pocock as openside for scrums on opposition feed, with a view to him creating turnovers at the next breakdown. On our feed, Hooper might play openside for what I see is his superios ability to attack from phase ball. As first man to the breakdown, his abiltity to pick and go with speed might take advantage of defences that are either slow to the breakdown or don't commit sufficient numbers.
Dan
Guest
He is a self fulfilling prophecy ; )
Ra
Guest
its Test rugby with a capital T. The best of one country vs the best of another.Its not about giving a guy a go. Pocock, has signalled he's fit and ready. Hey Gll, sorry boy, keep up the good work, your time will come - welcome to coaching Just
Jiggles
Roar Guru
ooooooh Dear....
peterlala
Guest
Gold
jeznez
Roar Guru
Ra - Gill had a very good Super Season but hasn't had a look in this tour - I'd have had no issue with him getting some minutes to see how he competes. Is more of a fetcher than Hooper as well so he brings something different.
PeterK
Guest
Poor old Rugby will be getting Folou! Not many players (probably none) have played AFL, NRL and now Super Rugby. Hope he goes really well next year, well enough to be picked against the Lions. Also hope he signs with the Tahs!
PeterK
Guest
Deans as usual got more wrong than right. Pocock starting is right. Pocock is a proven match winner. Hooper is not (yet). Against Italy we need the ruck slowed or turnovers. Hooper was blown off the park. IMO Hooper with his attack and cover defence plays more like a genuine 6 and should of started at 6. We can sacrifice the lineouts for the improvement all round over Higgs who just does not do enough when he starts, Higgs a better bench player. Another myth about Palu is he cant take lineouts, he took them against Italy and other teams and catches a lot for the Tahs. Since Sharpe RARELY contests lineouts it does not matter as much weakening our lineout, just throw to no 1 and 2 sometimes NEVER long. Note Moore threw not straight against Italy. In the backs I would have Ioane ahead of Mitchell who has done nothing with the game time he has been given. Also Beale is even worse at 10 than Barnes so I would have Barnes at 10 and Beale 15. The bench is really wrong but that matters little since Deans make so poor use of it. But I would have Samo (with Neville starting) on the bench and dump Dennis and Gill. The TEAM I would of chosen Robinson Moore (but close between TPN Moore did not have that good a game against Italy) (acceptable choice by Deans to have TPN) Alexander Sharpe Neville (much prefer him over Douglas who has not done much) Hooper Pocock Palu Phipps (not much choice really) Barnes Ioane Taps Cummins (a better choice at 13 than AAC who has lost his attacking mojo) AAC Beale TPN Slipper Kepu Samo (can cover lock as well as backrow) Higginbotham (over Gill since we have 2 opensiders starting) McKibbin Harris Faingaa (Mitchell has not sparked at all) (I think Faingaa is on tour if not Mitchell then)
Ra
Guest
A 90 per cent fit Pocock on tour with the potential to "get up" is more value on tour than a 100% fit dodo bird for Ozzie super rugby. Deans has to run whatever core players he has at his disposal into the ground because, as we all know, the bulk are on the injured list and his best fringe players are on the job now. I'm not convinced that Hooper does have his full No7 ticket, and i think he would be the first to admit that he is still learning his trade and has much to learn. Even after scoring umpteen double centuries, and taking over captaincy of the cricket team Clarke still found room for advice from Ponting. McCaw wasn't 100 for RWC but Kiwis didn't scream to have him taken off the roster, and he only really came back for the finals, and like a true rugby league player, drugged up with pain killers to get him through the games and boy did we need him - likewise Pocock.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
Someone out there must be able to do a simple analysis of turnovers versus penalties given away for both Hooper and Pocock????
rl
Guest
My son would love a "Where's Samo" book - I can imagine him scanning the pages for the fro!!