Sixth-string hooker Saia Fainga’a will start his first Test match in four years as the Wallabies face a massive set-piece assignment against South Africa at Newlands.
Australia’s dreadlocked rake, Fainga’a becomes the fifth man to wear the jinxed No.2 jersey in eight games after gaining a shock recall ahead of Queensland teammate James Hanson.
The 27-year-old is one of three changes to the starting team which overcame Argentina 32-25 on the Gold Coast, with vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper returning from injury and Joe Tomane edging out Rob Horne on the other flank.
Hanson had appeared an automatic choice after the hooker’s curse claimed Tatafu Polota-Nau (ankle) for the second time this year but Fainga’a’s reliability in the scrums and lineouts was preferred against a Boks pack that unsettled the All Blacks in Wellington.
But the fact Bismarck du Plessis, seen as the best No.2 in the world, is on the South African bench, contrasts the rivals’ fortunes.
Fainga’a has lived a bench-warming existence since making his international debut in 2010, starting seven of his first 11 Tests, before sitting behind Stephen Moore and Polota-Nau for 18 straight.
And that doesn’t include several more when left a frustrated unused reserve by Robbie Deans.
But Ewen McKenzie views Fainga’a’s flexibility as a fast-striking scrummager under pressure as a key to Australia winning clean ball off their feed.
“We’ve been really impressed with the effort he has put in off the field recently, and he’ll be determined to make the most of this opportunity,” McKenzie said.
The set-piece is always an important area of focus for us, even more so when you play South Africa, and we know the outcome of the scrum and line-out will be crucial to the final result.”
Not since 2006, when John Connolly experimented leading into the 2007 World Cup, has Australia resorted to five different starting hookers in a calendar year.
McKenzie has also recalled veteran prop Benn Robinson, left out of the squad for the first seven Tests of 2014, on the bench ahead of Pek Cowan due to his experience and loose-head nous.
Benn is someone who we have always said wasn’t out of the selection picture, and we’ve been pleased with the improvements he has made,” the coach said.
Will Genia was overlooked for a bench spot with Nic White kept among three backs in a 5-3 split.
A match-winner in Perth, Horne has lost out with faster wing specialist Tomane now recovered from a hamstring injury.
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper. Res: James Hanson, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne.
Wallabies hooking crisis in 2014:
Stephen Moore (knee reconstruction) – lasted three minutes in year’s first Test in June
Tatafu Polota-Nau (knee and ankle) – started twice before busting his knee, then lasted 40 minutes in return
Nathan Charles (shoulder surgery) – ran on for both Bledisloe Tests before another injury struck
James Hanson – No.4 in the pecking order has been left on the bench against the Springboks
Tolu Latu (broken arm) – injured just days after joining the Wallabies camp in August
Saia Fainga’a – sixth choice a month ago, now starting on the weekend in Cape Town.
Bakkies
Guest
How about the SA public vote the clowns out. They bottled another chance recently.
trent
Guest
Agreed Harry. It's funny that both the Kiwi websites and the South African websites rated Hodgson over Hooper this year. And yet his own country barely has him out of a suit. The Force are fortunate that he loves Perth and the Force as the offers from OS must have been coming at him the last 5 or 6 years. He had been an incredible servant of Australian Rugby
Schuey
Guest
Anyone know that Aerosmith song 'Rag Doll' That song was written with Saia at test level in mind.
Timothy Schuster Email
Guest
Nah. Horne isnt fast enough to score in a long range footrace. Tomane has it all over him in that regard.
Harry Jones
Expert
That seems obvious from outside OZ. Don't know what Hodgson has to do. Eat nails? I'd go with a Hodgson-Higgers(c)-McCalman back row for a Bok test and "mongrel it up!" Hooper-Beale the late game brigade
Common Sense
Guest
I hope they get banned if they enforce a quota system. Teams that racially discriminate against a group of people or players has no business participating in global events. I really hope the IRB and the IOC really shove it up your sports minister's ass to show his 'simple' and backwards policies aren't acceptable in this day and age. He's already ruined the Super Rugby format with his non negotiable sixth Super Rugby team. How about the SA government and SARU throw some decent cash the way of grass roots and development programs within predominantly black communities and entice the kids with paid scholarships and / or higher education. If you actively develop significantly more black rugby players then that will have a massive flow on effect to the provincial and national teams.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Ehh? Please expand on this?
fredstone
Guest
The quota system won't neccesarily provide more depth in time. At the same instance there's already a move afoot from inside SA to have all SA teams banned from international competition. Which effectively means quotas are doomed before they've even started.
fredstone
Guest
Yep that's the other thing, but I don't think he's as bad as TPN when it comes to kneecapitation.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Oh dear!
Funk
Guest
Is this the same "very soft Reds pack" the scored the tight head push over try against the Brumbies this year??
Bakkies
Guest
Aus dominated the Pumas pack up front possession wise. The Pumas had the boks number in both tests.
Bakkies
Guest
Hanson plays for the same Super Rugby team
Markus
Guest
"Suggestions by roarers to remove Izzy of all people from full back" and replace him with Beale. Meanwhile Phipps, Foley and Robinson have all been promoted in recent weeks, and Hooper has the captaincy.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Rollaway7. Thanks for your kind offer. A few more Potgeiter's would be nice thanks. He is a Waratah fan favorite and a big reason for Tahs title. As for the quota system it will provide Boks more depth in time. Envious.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
But is it poaching rollaway when players seek overseas contracts? The way I see it is that it is a global issue that SA is facing where many south africans (Caucasians) just seek a better life elsewhere. These people are sometimes doctors, nurses, lawyers or play rugby. In many cases their country of birth is not offering them the life they deserve (safety, work options for themselves or their kids, quotas in rugby or other areas...) hence they look elsewhere. Its a global exodus you are facing, rugby being only one aspect of the problem. I have met those people who choose to leave SA for a better life and they are very grateful to be welcome in australia. If I am 18yo, saffa, white, student and good at rugby, its fair to say heading overseas makes a lot of sense. Thats not poaching to me.
Zero Gain
Guest
Saia is a very good player and an excellent scrummager. Yes, he knows how to give away a penalty too. Not too long ago he was ranked no 3 and I bet he can get back there after this game. I hope so, come on Saia, best of luck son. I think the other changes are also good. There are other changes still that I would like to see, like Hodgson running on, but it's Link's team, not mine, he lives and dies by the results (as coach).
Rollaway7
Roar Guru
Lostintokyo, if SA continue with the quota system, the NRC, Aussie super teams and ultimately the wallabies can benefit by poaching Saffa forwards.
jutsie
Guest
The counter argument is yes izzy is secure under the high ball but thats only if he is there to field the kick, often he seems to be nowhere near the ball. Agree that beale has had a few shockers at 15 for the wallabies but thats why I say try it, i dont think its a certainty I just want to see how this combo goes in one of the lesser tests (if there is such a thing nowadays) prior to the world cup. Not saying the argies are a lesser opposition rather that its the last game of the RC and we will probably be out of the running so may as well try a few different combos.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Yes, that is what I mean, I think the Slipper-Moore-Kepu front row is pretty well set. I doubt Sio can be cross-trained without the Brumbies' (and Palmer's) help next Super Rugby season. If he can be then I can see Kepu relegated to the bench tbh. More likely is that we have Slipper-Sio, Kepu-PAE and Holmes as the squad switch-hitting prop.