Australian coach John Connolly on Thursday named an untried front row combination to face England’s formidable pack this weekend in a bold gamble for his first Test leading the mis-firing Wallabies.
Connolly will start Test debutants Tai McIsaac and Rodney Blake alongside three-cap prop Greg Holmes in the front row, opting to leave veterans Jeremy Paul and Al Baxter on the reserves bench despite their combined 94-Test caps.
It is Australia’s least experienced starting front row in a Test match since 1983 and represents Connolly’s attempt to revamp a scrum that was humiliated in a 26-16 loss to England at Twickenham last November.
That sealed Australia’s worst losing streak in 36 years and eventually resulted in Eddie Jones being replaced as coach by Connolly, who identified the scrum as a problem when he took over last February.
”We’ve certainly taken a step in the right direction with our scrummaging but we will continue to evolve it,” Connolly said.
Connolly has made it clear that reputations count for little when it comes to team selection. He has also proved willing to experiment with established players in new positions, naming Mat Rogers as inside centre for the first time in his 33-Test career and giving nine-cap lock Rocky Elstrom his debut at number eight.
Connolly has also given Daniel Heenan a chance to resurrect his Test career, providing the ACT Brumbies lock with a starting cap against England in the same venue that he earned his sole cap against Wales in 2003.
”It’s a team that’s very much picked on form but a number of positions are still unclear,” Connolly said after unveiling his team selection.
”Front row, hooker and the back row positions are very competitive but it’s a great chance for the players who have been selected in those positions to put their hands up and show that they are capable of retaining those spots.” – AFP