Comeback kid Dean Mumm will skipper the Wallabies for the first time in their second Rugby World Cup pool match on Sunday against Uruguay.
Mumm will lead out an entirely new starting line-up from the team which toppled Fiji 28-13 in a hard-fought contest on Wednesday night, with coach Michael Cheika opting to make mass changes due to the four-day turnaround between games.
One player who had been expected to feature in the Villa Park showdown in Birmingham was Queensland prop James Slipper, who captained the Wallabies in their one-off clash with the USA early this month during their north American training camp and was expected to do so against Uruguay – with regular skipper Stephen Moore benched.
Slipper will miss the Uruguay clash and remains in doubt for England at Twickenham the following Saturday (Sunday AEST), as he goes through the standard concussion protocols after getting knocked out against Fiji.
However his absence opens the door for the 31-year-old Mumm to lead his country in a World Cup.
It caps a remarkable rise for the durable lock who, at the start of the year, was still playing with English side Exeter.
In the time since, he made a snap decision to revive his World Cup dream by joining the NSW Waratahs on a one-year deal.
That quickly earned him a recall to the Wallabies’ squad and, through impressive performances, his dream became reality when he landed in the 31-man World Cup squad.
“It’s an incredible honour to lead this group of players,” said Mumm.
He is one of several Wallabies who will be out to impress Cheika and press his claims for a starting berth ahead of the crucial pool games with England and Wales and, hopefully, the knockout stages.
The unconvincing win over Fiji left lingering question marks over the places of several positions – notably, but not limited to, the halves and outside backs.
Cheika again confirmed places remained up for grabs, and performances against Uruguay would be recognised at the selection table.
“Definitely, for sure … it is an opportunity for the lads to lift the standard of play,” he said.
Cheika’s overhaul will partner Nick Phipps with Quade Cooper in the halves, while Joe Tomane and Drew Mitchell man the wings, Kurtley Beale slots in at fullback and Matt Toomua and Henry Speight line up in the centres.
Alongside Mumm in the second-row is the imposing figure of Will Skelton, with the front row composed of Tatafu Polota Nau and Toby Smith, who made his debut against the USA and comes in at the expense of Slipper, as well as Scott Sio – the only starter backing up from Fiji.
The back-row will comprise Ben McCalman, rising star Sean McMahon and veteran Wycliff Palu, who has recovered from a hamstring injury to take his place at No.8.
The bench will be loaded up with players who Cheika feels need some more miles in the legs – with starting front row and locks from the Fiji game all expected to get more game time.
Wallabies: Kurtley Beale, Joe Tomane, Henry Speight, Matt Toomua, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Sean McMahon, Ben McCalman, Will Skelton, Dean Mumm (capt), Toby Smith, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio. Res: Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Greg Holmes, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Will Genia, Bernard Foley, Tevita Kuridrani.
Uruguay: Gaston Mieres, Leandro Leivas, Joaquin Prada, Andres Vilaseca, Rodrigo Silva, Felipe Barchesi, Agustin Ormaechea, Juan Manuel Gaminara, Matias Beer, Juan de Freitas, Franco Lamanna, Sanitago Vilaseca (capt), Mario Sagario, German Kessler, Mateo Sanguinetti. Res: Nicolas Klappenbach, Oscar Duran, Carlos Arboleya, Alejandro Nieto, Diego Magno, Fernando Bascou, Alejo Duran, Alberto Roman.
atlas
Guest
Think you're no entirely right, article i read said 'of the professional era' But who cares ? Good on him, captaincy a rare privilege
Crusty
Guest
First kiwi to captain the wallabies.
Hoy
Roar Guru
He played well during the short stints in the RC, however he certainly didn't impress me against Fiji... he was on for three minutes and I saw him walking around... we lost three or four lineouts on the trot... which is his forte... I hope he does well this week.
bennalong
Guest
Oh, Congrats to Dean Mumm. He must have impressed Cheika mightily.
bennalong
Guest
Charles, or should I say Mr. Plowdog, eagleJack gave three takes on this and I believe Cheika does not have any doubt about the team he wants against England. The main contender for a spot would be Drew Mitchell, if he looks to have found his mojo, because he's been there and plays with Giteau Tomane is not a good enough defender and I suspect AAC and Horne will keep their spots because they're solid in 'd' and both can score tries. Maybe Toomua, but at 12 I think Giteau will get the nod because of his experience. Cheika split the teams to give him a competition for places and to allow him to switch if someone is injured or tanks psychologically because of the occasion. But he said, when still in the US, he already had chosen his teams for the draw, and I believe he had. (Though Genia may have made it at the last minute.)
bennalong
Guest
Yep EJ, he has. TPN appears to be a superior scrummager, is definitely a bigger hit merchant, and in Moore's current mode better at hitting the ball up. But Moore is the captain and Cheika will back him
Charles Plowdog
Guest
But how is it possible to sensibly compare performances against two very differently ranked sides? Say McMahon performs well-as I expect him to-will it catapult him into the A team? I don't think so. I know it's a plan: but is it a good plan. I am doubtful as I would rather the team get match practice.
Peter Hughes
Roar Rookie
Congrats to D Mumm. Hoping to see Mr Speight & Cooper shine. Very bad luck for Aust that Palu is available again & Ws go in with 14 players again. But 14 should still be enough to put 50 points on Uruguay.
ethan
Guest
Interesting to see Sio get another start after a 70 odd minute performance just 4 days ago. Why not Holmes? Especially as it means we have two tightheads on the bench. That one doesn't make sense to me.
ethan
Guest
Uruguay are ranked lower than the US, which a second string Aussie team beat 47-10. It may seem disrespectful, but with only a four day turn around, and being the easiest game in the pool, it is entirely logical.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yeah, there are multiple ways to look at it. Some might say it is disrespectful - although the side named is still very strong. Some a great way to protect your first string players against a minnow. You can also look at it as Cheika maintaining that hunger within his squad by keeping all on their toes. This is the most competitive squad, internally, I've seen for years. That can only be a positive. And the guys in the "1sts" who Cheika believes still need a run have been named on the bench. With Simmons and Douglas both there if the lineout is an issue. But I'm not convinced it will be.
Charles Plowdog
Guest
EJ I'd rather the game not be fascinating but rather one to set up the team for the apparent key contests against England and Wales. With the way the team went a bit backwards against Fiji in the last 35 mins of the game, particularly the poor lineout surely some game time for key players is a better option. And isn't it always problematic to disrespect your opponents, which I assume will be what the Uruguyans and many observers will take out of it. When I saw this team sheet I started to worry that this was our 'other' -starting-team: one without a functional lineout given the seeming lack of 2 jumpers and one second rower who doesn't jump. Lastly given we have 2 VCs why isn't one of them given the honour of captaining their country: I don't get picking a player to do this who has just returned to Australian rugby. Overall though the core team needs to get rid of its rustiness and this doesn't do it.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Congrats to Mumm - a terrific honour. And a first child to boot! Naming a complete 2nd string side, bar Sio, makes this game a fascinating prospect. So many players get the opportunity to stake their claim for a starting berth. The most obvious to me being Cooper, Toomua and TPN. Their first string counterparts certainly haven't locked down their spots, although has Cheik forced himself in a corner with Moore? Hoping Speight is out of holiday mode after looking a little too relaxed against the US.
J_D_J
Guest
That's a pretty lean looking line out with only two real jumpers in Mumm and McCalman. Hopefully this should not be an issue against Uruguay. I hope Speight has a good game at outside centre, but prefer him on the right wing.