Key prop Scott Sio has made a remarkable recovery to overcome a painful elbow injury in time for the Rugby World Cup final, while coach Michael Cheika has ignored calls to dump out-of-form fullback Israel Folau against defending champions New Zealand.
Sio’s inclusion is the only change made to the starting lineup from the semi-final victory over Argentina, and gives Cheika a full-strength squad to choose from for the Twickenham showdown on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
Folau, the leading light in Australian rugby for the past two years, has been uncharacteristically subdued at the tournament – failing to score a try, spark the attack or look steady under the high ball.
The cross-code superstar has been playing injured for half of the tournament, having rolled his ankle in Australia’s crucial pool game victory over England a month ago.
That injury forced him to miss Australia’s quarter-final victory over Scotland, ending his record of never having missed a Test through injury, and hampered his performance against Los Pumas.
However, despite calls for the in-form Kurtley Beale to be promoted from the bench, Folau’s big-match experience has won out and Cheika has kept the faith in the former NRL champion to deliver in the biggest match of his rugby union career.
Other injury doubts, including lynchpin David Pocock (calf, broken nose), veteran centre Matt Giteau (groin) and rugged No.6 Scott Fardy (hip), have all been cleared to play.
And the surprise return of Sio, who suffered a serious elbow injury in a collapsed scrum during Australia’s tense victory over Scotland a fortnight ago, has given the Wallabies a huge boost in their bid to win a third World Cup.
“We still have lots of scope to improve and we’ll work on that before this next match against New Zealand,” Cheika said.
It had been feared Sio’s tournament might have been ended through injury, but after missing the battle with Argentina he slots straight back in at starting loosehead, relegating Australia’s most-capped prop James Slipper to the bench while Toby Smith drops out of the 23.
Slipper, who will play his 74th Test this weekend, had a miserable time against a powerful Pumas pack and conceded three scrum penalties before being subbed off midway through the second half.
But has been a big factor in coming off the bench against tiring scrums or when locking horns with the opposition’s second-string front-rows.
Pocock played the full 80 minutes against Argentina last week and suffered no recurrence of the calf complaint which plagued him for the previous two weeks.
He finished the game with a badly broken nose – which was broken in the first half, before being re-set and then broken again – which has left him with two black eyes, but the influential No.8 scoffed at suggestions it could stop him playing in a World Cup final.
“Nah, definitely no doubt,” he laughed.
“One of those things that’s sore at the time but will be right.”
WALLABIES TEAM:
Israel Folau, Adam Ashley Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
Shrink
Guest
Wonder what leaves he has wrapped his fleshy hinge in over the last two weeks .....its a miracle for sure, otherwise it will be ok as long as he doesnt use it
Mitcher
Guest
If he's got a history could easily sublux the shoulder and be able to come back. Full dislocation with tendon damage might be a stretch packing in but otherwise he's just risking another movement. Seriously could play 5 mins after replaced if need be.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Don't believe Sio dislocated his elbow. At worst it looked like a hyper-extension. As long as there is no ligament damage the main problem is the bruising that is painful & limits movement. He will likely get some painkilling meds or injections prior to the game & have appropriate strapping to stabilise the injury. Had a similar injury back in the day & was back in 3 weeks. I sure didn't have access to the kind of treatment that Sio has now.
Paul from Melbourne
Guest
A dislocated elbow wouldn't heal in 2 weeks. Sio has to be on pain killers, bottles of it.
ebop
Guest
Yes, it's really easy to 'say' full strength isn't it.
Mike
Guest
Just further on "Slipper... conceded three scrum penalties" - by my count, he was penalised once, and the other two were against the whole pack for pushing early. Of course he was outclassed by Herrera - few looseheads in the world aren't. But some real rubbish is written at times about the Australian scrum.
Mike
Guest
"Slipper, who will play his 74th Test this weekend, had a miserable time against a powerful Pumas pack and conceded three scrum penalties before being subbed off midway through the second half." Firstly, he didn't concede three scrum penalties - three scrum penalties were conceded. Its not the same thing. Secondly, yes he did get hammered, and yes it was a powerful Pumas pack. And thirdly, yes he wasn't subbed off until midway through the second half - an indication that he wasn't doing badly, all things considered. "But has been a big factor in coming off the bench against tiring scrums or when locking horns with the opposition’s second-string front-rows." That is just inaccurate. Against the Scots, our scrummaging improved after Sio went off, and arguably the same against the English and Welsh. The reason we didn't do well against Argentina is because, like the Scots, they are better at scrummaging than we are.
Bfc
Guest
Slipper pinged unfairly by Barnes who seemed to have predetermined a 'fault'. Scrum analysts suggest that the Pumas TH was constantly 'slipping his bind' and dragging Slipper down and the TV shots appear to back up that theory. Happy to see both Sio and Slipper in the match squad, and if our scrum can deliver front foot ball and apply pressure on their feed...
Mike
Guest
Sio was the penalty magnet against the Scots, and more worryingly, also against New Zealand in Bled 2. So he was easily replaceable. He also had issues against England and Wales. Slipper's performance against Argentina needs to be seen in context - a very strong scrummaging opponent with a good tighthead. It wasn't as bad as some assume. If our scrum manages to hold its own against the ABs, that's all we need.
DaniE
Roar Guru
Hoping the replacements are fit enough and can dominate if any of the guys can't last. I couldn't sleep last night for worrying about the injuries! At least they'll get a long holiday afterward.
Hello
Roar Rookie
Poopy for the breakdown win :)
Antoni
Roar Rookie
Great team. With Sio the Wallaby scrum might dominate and Foopcock will control the breakdown.
Playmaker
Guest
You got to go in with your best team.The question is will they last long enough, especially the players who have been carry injuries...we will soon find out. The first scrum, the first high ball , we will know the outcome of this RWC final.
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
Of all the injured players, Sio was the most irreplaceable. Rightly or wrongly, Slipper was becoming a penalty magnet and the potency of our scrum had gone. I hope Sio is really fully fit.
Paul
Guest
Full strength in name yes, I just hope they are all at full strength.
Adsa
Guest
Welcome back Scotty Sio, a full strength team, full steam ahead, GO WALLABIES GO.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
If Folau is good for at least part of a game, makes sense starting him and subbing as soon as he's no longer producing. If you leave him on the bench, then bring him in, you might need to take him out again. One reason he has not been performing is that the opposition has been double or triple tackling him. That sucks up defenders; last week, one of the tries, there were three on him, one on Kudriani, which is why AAC was unmarked and free to receive the long pass to run it in.