The Wallabies have announced their team to take on the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne, bringing Kurtley Beale into fullback while Robbie Deans sticking with James O’Connor in the fly-half position.
In one of his biggest selection calls in his six-season tenure as Australia’s coach, Robbie Deans on Thursday kept faith with O’Connor despite a disappointing playmaking game in just his second Test at No.10 last weekend.
Deans made two injury-forced changes to the starting side which lost 23-21 at Suncorp Stadium with Kurtley Beale and Joe Tomane replacing fullback Berrick Barnes and winger Digby Ioane respectively.
There’s also two changes on the bench with NSW Waratahs centre Rob Horne coming in for Pat McCabe (neck) and lanky Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg named to potentially make his Test debut as a reserve.
But there was no place for 110-Test great Smith, who was recalled to the 31-man squad after the thrilling first Test loss.
Queensland youngster Liam Gill, who was influential at the breakdown for the last 32 minutes off the bench, remains as the openside back-up to Michael Hooper.
In a major relief for Deans, centres Christian Lealiifano (concussion) and Adam Ashley-Cooper (shoulder) have overcome heavy knocks to line up.
Deans admitted O’Connor endured a difficult night in the series opener and could have moved Beale into five-eighth where he impressed for the last seven Tests of 2012.
But the Melbourne Rebels utility, and Australia’s attacking plans, were undermined by the first-minute knockout of Lealiifano, who was to take plenty of the playmaking duties.
For the first time in the Wallabies’ 114-year Test history, Australia will boast a front row who all sport 50 caps as tighthead Ben Alexander will notch his half-century of Tests.
Alexanader is the fourth prop to make the milestone, joining Al Baxter (69), current loosehead Benn Robinson (57) and Ewen McKenzie (51).
Hooker Stephen Moore is already the most capped Australian hooker with 77 caps.
The Wallabies team to play the British and Irish Lions in the second Test on Saturday at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne (kick-off: 8.05pm AEST, 11.05am UKST):
15. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
14. Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
12. Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies)
11. Joe Tomane (Brumbies)
10. James O’Connor (Melbourne Rebels)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
7. Michael Hooper (Brumbies)
6. Ben Mowen (Brumbies)
5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds, captain)
4. Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run on Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
19. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
20. Liam Gill (Queensland Reds)
21. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
22. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
23. Jesse Mogg (Brumbies)
-with AAP
niwdeyaj
Guest
if Genia went off in the first minute we'd be screwed either way!
Taya
Guest
Quite shocked at some of the attacks above on James and KB and others - had the result moved ever so slightly the other way I am guessing the comments above could be redundant - we are so non forgiving for errors as I am guessing you are all so good at what you do. Give them some faith and stop being so pathetically mean to some players - direct more of your insults directly to the ARU Really disappointing
s.t.rine
Guest
Oh boy.....another confirmation of Dean's ineptitude. single-mindedness, & inflexibility We cannot & must-not suffer him any more, S T
Anthony Hird
Roar Guru
I agree Jiggs. It has to be one of the worst plays I've seen him do! Just wish Cheiks was on the sideline screaming at him. But overall he is quite consistent.
Worlds biggest
Guest
Big Kev and the Wallabies need to not let this be a distraction. Given the enormity of the game I don't think it will.Hopefully win the game and bring in MMM or Kimlin in if required for Sydney.
PeterK
Roar Guru
No, he embarressed the powers that be by publicly supporting his players against Deans, also showed Deans up in his lack of tactical nous, this makes the ARU / Pulver / Hawker look bad bad for hanging onto him for so long. You do not air your dirty laundry publicly, you have to toe the official line, be a nice lap dog.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Talk about Deans risking it all just read an article saying Deans was on the shortlist for Rebels Coach so sounds like he's already been told
borneo_bug
Guest
"The IRB have confirmed that they will appeal the James Horwill disciplinary decision following an extensive review of the case. With player welfare a key priority for the IRB, they have decided to appeal after Horwill was cleared of stamping on Alun-Wyn Jones in the first Test. He is free to play pending the outcome of the appeal."
Breakaway
Guest
Agree 100 per cent, CL or KB could easily cover fly half and would know all the moves. I would expect them to lay there at vaious times of the games, after all isn't that the reason d'etre of muliple playmakers.
IronAwe
Guest
Why is Ewen in the bad books? Qldr?
hoqni
Guest
The real reason for Deans to select Simmons on the bench is because he is from Queensland Reds. These people will bring heart to the game, and make it a narrow loss. It made WBs look decent in a loss, just like last week. Ah well, go Wallabies.
expathack
Guest
Just saw the Lions bench, Croft and O'Brien. Makes Robbies decison to stick with a one-dimensional lineout jumping lock Simmons even more ridiculous.
expathack
Guest
When did being willfully stubborn become an admirable attribute???
Daveski
Guest
God that's a tiresome bogus comment
Jagman
Guest
Of the ten Waratahs in the wallabies squad how many had their international début under Deans as a Waratah (meaning not a brumbie or a Red in the year they were first selected, discounting Hooper for example)? Douglas, Kepu, Dennis, Horne. Other current Waratahs who've had their début under Deans? Ryan, Timani, Turner. Seven all together. Current Reds who've had their début under Deans: Daley, Faingaa, Slipper, Simmons, Gill, Robinson, Genia, Cooper, Harris, Tapuai, Faingaa, Morahan, Shipperley, Davies. Fourteen all together. Thats double. I'd say the perception of bias might be a little exaggerated.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Would love to see Godwin get a go. He is just a good no fuss, class player by the looks. Just down to business in attack and defense.
Hoy
Roar Guru
You are right Dsat24, you can't have people missing tack... hang on? Beale, arguably a worse defender than Cooper is allowed in the team... JOC seems pretty ineffective in the front line as well... Hmm... I figure we might as well have the attack that Cooper offers as well...
Stin
Guest
You're right. There are enough options in the 1st IV. But, yes you may have undone your good work with your jinx. I've just paid good money for a ticket to 3rd test, so I hope your jinx unjinxes.
Jagman
Guest
If he picked Taps ahead of Horne he would not be picking on 2013 form. Actually the form 12 this year is Godwin, can't wait till he gets selected. Regarding Cummins he is a defensive liability at 13. Not saying he can't tackle well and hard but he is often found out of position. It's very easy for the opposition to get outside him and that's not good for the last guy in the defensive line. The force have often (in the past, not sure what they do now) used umbrella defense and I bet if you go back to some of the last times Cummins played 13 you'd see someone score a try on his outside. It was apparent that this is his weakness even in shute shield last year with him (copying the umbrella defence from the force) turning his shoulder in too quickly and being beaten on the outside with a loop play or an offload to the flyhalf.
Dsat24
Guest
and then theres the second half...!