/ 31 July 1999

BLADES, KEARNS BACK FOR WALLABIES

AUSTRALIA added five new names on Friday to its squad for next month’s Tri-Nations clash against South Africa, including veteran prop Andrew Blades. Blades will return to the starting line-up with fellow front-rower Phil Kearns, the Australian Rugby Union said. Kearns will replace Jeremy Paul as a starter but the latter remains in the squad. Blades and fellow prop Richard Harry, lock Tony Bowman, utility back Rod Kafer and winger Scott Staniforth were all named to beef up the Wallabies after last weekend’s bruising 35-14 defeat to the All Blacks. Glenn Panoho was dropped, leaving 26 players in the squad for the August 14 clash with the Springboks at Newlands in Cape Town. Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen said both Blades and Kearns — a veteran of 63 tests — would start but the final composition of the team would not be named until after the All Black-Springbok clash next weekend.