Australia’s selectors have finally run out of patience with their misfiring team and dropped five players for this weekend’s Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Brisbane.
Scrumhalf Luke Burgess, hooker Stephen Moore, wing Peter Hynes, centre Ryan Cross and number eight Richard Brown were all dropped after making the starting side in last weekend’s 32-25 loss to the Springboks in Perth.
Burgess, Moore and Hynes were relegated to the bench but Cross, Brown and replacement prop Al Baxter were all dumped from the 22-man squad as Australia looks to salvage some pride.
The Wallabies lost all of their first four games of the series to be out of the running for the title with one match each against South Africa and New Zealand still to go.
”It’s a Test match and against the world’s best team at one of the premier venues in world rugby. That’s not a prospect any of our blokes would take lightly,” Australia coach Robbie Deans said in a statement.
”Every time you put on your national jumper you want to — and expect to — do your best. That motivation doesn’t change, regardless of the circumstance.”
Queensland scrumhalf Will Genia was chosen to start ahead of Burgess after he impressed the selectors with his previous appearances off the bench in one of three personnel changes to the backline.
Drew Mitchell replaced Hynes on the wing while Berrick Barnes returned to inside centre after missing last Saturday’s game with concussion.
Adam Ashley-Cooper, who played inside centre last week, returned to outside centre, while Quade Cooper joined the bench as Cross missed out altogether.
”Will has shown us since he joined the squad at the start of the Tri-Nations that he is up to this level and we saw that again last Saturday,” Deans said.
”Having Berrick, whom he knows so well and has such a great understanding with, playing alongside him will also help.”
The changes in the forward pack also forced a reshuffle of positions.
With Brown dropping out of the squad, captain George Smith was moved to number eight, allowing 21-year-old David Pocock to start at openside flanker.
Tatafu Polota-Nau replaced Moore at hooker while powerful number eight Wycliff Palu was included on the bench ahead of Brown after returning from injury.
”George is comfortable at the back of the scrum while Dave has shown, in the opportunities he’s had to date, that he is worthy of a crack from the start,” Deans said. – Reuters
Team:15-James O’Connor, 14-Lachie Turner, 13-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12-Berrick Barnes, 11-Drew Mitchell, 10-Matt Giteau, 9-Will Genia, 8-George Smith (captain), 7-David Pocock, 6-Rocky Elsom, 5-Mark Chisholm, 4-James Horwill, 3-Ben Alexander, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16-Stephen Moore, 17-Pek Cowan, 18-Dean Mumm, 19-Wycliff Palu, 20-Luke Burgess, 21-Quade Cooper, 22-Peter Hynes.