Wallabies coach John Connolly’s hopes of beefing-up the Australian front row to face South Africa’s monster pack this weekend were dashed on Wednesday when giant prop Rodney Blake lost a fitness race.
The 130kg Blake, nicknamed Rodzilla, was not named in Australia’s team for the Tri-Nations clash in Brisbane on Saturday, where the Springboks have pledged to target the Wallabies’ scrum.
Connolly made four changes to the team that played the All Blacks last week after suffering his first loss since taking over as coach earlier this year, dropping Mat Rogers to allow Matt Giteau to return from injury.
”I thought Mat Rogers had played extremely well during the first four Tests and is very unlucky to miss out, but we want to see what Giteau can bring to the team at inside centre,” Connolly said.
With hooker Tai McIsaac out with a rib injury, Connolly included 67-Test veteran Jeremy Paul to add stability to the Australian scrum that was humbled in the 32-12 loss to New Zealand.
He also called up Scott Fava to the starting line-up for the first time, allowing Rocky Elsom to switch from number eight to his normal position at blindside flanker.
Elsom was sin-binned for repeated infringements at number eight in Christchurch, and the All Blacks took advantage of their extra man to score two vital tries that helped them run away with the game.
Connolly said Fava deserved a start after coming off the bench to score a try against New Zealand.
Winger Clyde Rathbone will make his return from a hamstring injury on the reserves bench, taking the place of Ben Tune.
Queensland hooker Sean Hardman is also on the bench, named to play his first Test since making his debut in 2002. ‒ AFP
