Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has promoted Reds lock James Horwill to the starting line-up for the end of year Test match against France in the only change to the starting team.
Horwill will start the match ahead of Sam Carter, who has been a stalwart in the starting team so far this year under both Cheika and McKenzie. It’s unclear whether Carter is on the reserves bench, with 16-23 not being named by the Wallabies yet.
Horwill has slowly been regaining the form that saw him ascend to the rank of Wallabies captain under Robbie Deans, and has been given the opportunity to start under new coach Cheika.
Sekope Kepu will play his 50th game for Australia, capping off a powerhouse season for the loosehead prop. He has been one of the most damaging ball runners for the men in gold so far in 2014.
Sean McMahon also retains his starting position at blindside flanker
The backline from the Wallabies’ victory over Wales remains intact, with no change at scrum half, as expressed by many rugby judges.
Cheika was glowing in his praise for Kepu who will knock up the half century against France.
“Sekope has been a great player for Australian Rugby over a long period of time and I speak for everyone when I congratulate him on this very special milestone,” Cheika said.
“He has proudly represented the Wallabies for seven years and the experience he now brings to this team is invaluable. He still has plenty of improvement in his game and I’m confident his best years of Rugby are ahead of him.”
Cheika said he was expecting a very different French team to the one that toured Australia earlier this year.
“The French have a completely different mindset when they are playing at home, as well as some exciting new players in their squad, and we are under no illusions as to the intensity they are going to bring to the game,” he said.
“For us, it is still early days and we are getting used to a new system in attack and defence. I was happy with the first steps we took against Wales.
“The challenge for us this week was to ensure that we raised the bar much higher in terms of our accuracy and intensity at training.
“We really want to do Australia proud against France this weekend.”
Full Wallabies team to play France
1. James Slipper
2. Saia Faingaa
3. Sekope Kepu
4. James Horwill
5. Rob Simmons
6. Sean McMahon
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Ben McCalman
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Joe Tomane
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley Cooper
15. Israel Folau
44bottles
Roar Guru
Oh, and don't forget arrogance!
nothing if not critical
Roar Rookie
Agreed. AAC is a journeymen. He's been consistently picked bc Australian teams have been either very short on quality inside centres and wingers at various stages since he's been playing. Though a gritty defender, he is at best a super rugby player. Aside from being a mummy's boy (how he lived that down i don't know), he has gone missing in too many close test matches. Just when you need your best players to stand up, AAC chokes under the pressure, spilling high balls, and misreading tough bounces. And, too often we haven't scored bc two dads can only pass the ball in one direction. Also, just doesn't have the physical impact or pace to play winger at the top level. If Cheika is the man he's cracked up to be - and he seems to be - I don't see AAC in the run on team come the rwc, but riding the pine.
grapeseed
Guest
And something about sheep something something. 3/10!
Magic Sponge
Guest
Last chance
44bottles
Roar Guru
Setanta Sports is the big Rugby channel. Pretty sure it has rights to all test/super/aviva/top14/etc matches (apart from the World Cup because reasons :( ) Think you need Starhub to get it though. It's in the early 200s in channels.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Didn't even slip a sheep joke in. 2/10. Would not read again.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Are you sure that it isn't a tactic and that Foley watches the flow of play and calls for it when he is ready and the defence isn't, rather than having 20 men rushing to charge him down.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Is this meant to be satire? Genuine question
Hertryk
Guest
Ditto bring on Hodgson! I think he should be selected over McMahon in my very humble opinion! He's a mongrel and a pest to the opposition!
Hertryk
Guest
I agree! Totally for what it's worth! Hodgo is better in defence and pilfering .....he can be a real menace to the opposition!
Mike
Guest
Well apart from sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, not much. Oh, and saving that try in the Wales match - a certain 7 points and the game lost if he hadn't. And tries against France and South Africa. And playing consistently well when many others don't. But apart from that, nothing at all! :)
Mike
Guest
I'm surprised McMahon kept the starting spot, not because he is a bad player - he has loads of talent. But the pressure did seem to get to him. Anyway, the opportunity is there for him to shine. Very glad to see Horwill on the improve. We need him at his best. Carter will be back, but you can't cough up the pill twice in one-on-one tackles and not expect repercussions. He's still a good player.
DMac
Guest
Should I point out now that Foley was in the pocket waiting for that drop for about 10 phases before Genia managed to get it to him?
Coach Walldog
Guest
AAC is a warrior. Playing at a high level for so many seasons is a hell of an accomplishment. Sure these other wingers are pushing for playing time, but how often are Speight and Tomane hurt, inconsistent, or unavailable? I'm sure Col., Jessop would say about ACC the winger, that "while his existence my be grotesque to you, You want him on that wall, You need him on that wall!"
bryan
Guest
vipleague.co can be good too. Anyone got an ATT invite?
kibui b
Guest
wiziwig if you don't want to pay, premiumsports.tv if you do....the whole fall tour is $99.00, highway robbery. Or you could wait till Sunday and find the game on youtube.
Redsback
Guest
Maybe we should save him for a weak team and give him his debut against England.
Redsback
Guest
Sorry, but did you see where Genia passed the ball to Foley to pot the drop goal? It went to his right bicept-peck. He couldn't have walked up to him and handed it to him in a better position for a right-footed kicker. Had it been Phipps in that position, he would have got it a 10th of a second faster, but it would have been at his ankles on his left side and he would have been attempting either a left-footed drop or an improvised run. Would very much like to see Cooper on the bench with Genia. They have the experience to either close the game out or create a miracle if necessary. Foley strikes me as more of a 60 minute man at the moment, having cost us several consecutive tests with late blunders. With Cooper available, there is no point in risking him.
pjm
Roar Rookie
He's going to the WC mate and leaving after that.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
You are not permitted to say that. I'm betting that you (and I now) will be set upon by a highly decorated Roar warrior and lectured about knowing nothing of rugby whilst displaying a flawed personality. Two-Fathers is the classic time server with limited abilities, pedestrian abilities, a yet to be seen passing game and a propensity to die with the ball and lose it often in so doing. His contribution to the game is marked by a prominent role in the sacking of 3½ coaches. One of them had the temerity to admonish him for his late night social life whilst on tour, for which he paid dearly. See? I know nothing of rugby just like you realist.