Knuckles finetunes Wallabies
4 Jul 2006
Ben Tune is back in the Wallabies mix, but there is no change to the run-on XV that destroyed Ireland in Perth.
The Wallabies play the All Blacks in the Vodacom Tri Nations opener in Christchurch and Australian coach John Connolly has kept with the side that won him test matches against Ireland and England (twice).
Clyde Rathbone is injured and that has allowed a recall for veteran Tune. Matt Giteau is also back from injury, but he can’t crack the starting XV and will get a run as one of the backline substitutes. Mat Rogers plays again at inside centre.
Tune last played for Australia on the 2002 tour of Argentina before missing almost two full seasons through injury.
“He (Tune) is a great player and he’s worked extremely hard to earn this opportunity to play test football again,” said Connolly. “He will do a fine job for us on Saturday night when he gets his opportunity from the bench.”
Connolly said the Wallabies had plenty of improvement in them after an unbeaten start to their season.
“We’ve had three good wins and we’re happy with our progress so far but there is still a lot of improvement in this team,” he said. “Playing against New Zealand is a massive step up from what we’ve had so far and we certainly acknowledge that we are going to have to lift another gear for them this Saturday night. New Zealand are the best team in the world and they’ve got class all over the field so we know what to expect from them.”
AUSTRALIA: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Mat Rogers, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (c), 8 Rocky Elsom, 7 George Smith, 6 Mark Chisholm, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Guy Shepherdsen, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Greg Holmes. Reserves: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Scott Fava, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Ben Tune.
Australia ‘A’ to play Fiji in Adelaide and Melbourne has also been announced.
The squad is: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Richard Brown, Al Campbell, Mitchell Chapman, David Croft, Matt Dunning, Gene Fairbanks, Nic Henderson, Josh Holmes, James Horwill, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Stephen Moore, Sam Norton-Knight, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, John Roe, Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Morgan Turinui, Josh Valentine, Adam Wallace-Harrison.
12 Comments
4 Jul 2006, 08:13 am
Sounds like the Wallabies have got there tails up.
Hope the Ferns destroy them and put about five in hospital cause judging from there Ireland performance they’ll smash the bokke!
4 Jul 2006, 08:13 am
They already looking a better side than last year. Lets hope we can pull it together.
4 Jul 2006, 08:15 am
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4 Jul 2006, 08:15 am
Alweer **** in Boland rugby!
4 Jul 2006, 08:57 am
“but there is no change to the run-on XV that destroyed Ireland in Perth”
Destroyed eh? I think that taking 60 minutes to get the lead is rather less than “destroyed”. Sure the Aussies were better, but Ireland were competitive until their legs gave way.
I HATE journalism where the score is used as the sole basis of what the game was like.
4 Jul 2006, 08:57 am
Can’t see the Aussies beating the Blacks but the Boks are in for a tough tour. We can only hope it was a ‘rope a dope’ tactic against the french!
4 Jul 2006, 09:00 am
The Juice junky is back.
4 Jul 2006, 09:55 am
s A tan
Get a life.
4 Jul 2006, 10:14 am
This backline is going to rip the Ab’s apart
4 Jul 2006, 11:36 am
Perhaps Lee Anthony W, if they get any decent ball.
How much decent ball do you reckon they will get with those props then?
4 Jul 2006, 12:46 pm
Hard to win in Christchurch – and we are still a bit dodgy in the prop department – NZ by 10 plus.
4 Jul 2006, 13:06 pm
He is back once more? That boy must have more track marks on his arms than a horse junkie.
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