Deans rings changes
25 Nov 2008
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made five changes for Saturday’s clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Four of the five changes are in the Australian pack with Phil Waugh starting at openside flank in place of George Smith who drops to the bench. Mark Chisholm starts in the second row, while loosehead Benn Robinson starts in the row.
Richard Brown replaces Wycliff Palu after a shoulder injury ruled out the powerhouse No 8.
The only change to the Aussie backline is at outside centre where Ryan Cross comes in after missing out on the French game through illness. Cross replaces Adam Ashley-Cooper who is bracketed on the bench alongside Lote Tuqiri.
“It’s because of our respect for them [Wales] that we have looked to inject some freshness into our group,” said Deans. “It’s been a demanding four weeks, with four very hard Test matches back-to-back. To expect the same guys to carry the load right through is unrealistic, and could easily have compromised us.
“The players we have introduced have been offering a lot to the group both on the field but also in training off the field.”
Australia - 15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs – 16 Adam Freier, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 George Smith, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 Lote Tuqiri/Adam Ashley-Cooper.
15 Comments
25 Nov 2008, 14:55 pm
Freshly injected dragons
25 Nov 2008, 15:08 pm
So which row exactly does Ben Robinson start in? I gather the front row.
25 Nov 2008, 15:20 pm
robbie deans…i’ve got so much admiration for the guy. he’s the master of adaptation. that was the key of the crusaders’ success.
25 Nov 2008, 15:48 pm
#3 viewer:
Well and truly smashed the record books…
Ended the almost decade drought in RSA…
Ended the Twickenham drought…
And this all with a new young team… and not much depth to write home about…
25 Nov 2008, 15:57 pm
#4 bryce_in_oz: Wallabies will be the team to watch next year.
25 Nov 2008, 16:54 pm
# Safrican_Werewolf_in_London: LOL
25 Nov 2008, 16:55 pm
#4 bryce_in_oz: Ending the drought in SA was more thanks to the Boks playing **** than Deans.
But still it is all very well done with a young Aussie team.
25 Nov 2008, 17:04 pm
I dont know what everyone sees in Digby Ione. He seriously is the Wylie Human of Australia. Average and ****
I would much rather have gone with Lachlan Turner, or even O Connor.
25 Nov 2008, 18:16 pm
#8 Cheetha Champs:
26 Nov 2008, 00:37 am
#8 Cheetha Champs: I presume Wily Human is a big fast guy who is quite a powerful runner, but has terrible hands, can’t kick and can’t catch then … as to this side, Aussie Rob has got them to outperform already on this tour so I am optimistic they can win again, although Wales will start favourites.
As has been pointed out earlier in this thread, despite the thrashings in Pretoria and Auckland, the Wallabies away record this year has been a big big improvement and I am satisfied with 08 and expect big things in 09 from the glorious golden Wallabies – to quantify, win at least 2 out of the 3N, the Bledisloe, the Mandela Cup and a season ending British Isles grand slam.
I know that the great fair dinkim Aussie Clyde Rathbone has many friends and supporters on this site, so I should report that he came through OK on his return from injury in a trial game for the brumbies over the weekend, and looks set for next year’s S14. He might even last until the Brumbies tour SA where he will no doubt cop the usual season ending pole-axing.
26 Nov 2008, 02:34 am
#8 Cheetha Champs: Lachie is good Cheeta make no mistake, I actually think Digby is quality but a little inexperienced, if he keeps his head on he will be very dangerous for the Welsh and hard to stop#10 Clyde Wombat: I too have concerns whether they can topple the Welsh, the forwards will have to step up thats for sure. In watching the highlights of the AB’s and Welsh the Welsh really ran out of puff in the second half, If they do that against us we should finish stronger than them.
26 Nov 2008, 03:31 am
#10 Clyde Wombat:
Clyde Wombat said:
I am satisfied with 08 and expect big things in 09 from the glorious golden Wallabies – to quantify, win at least 2 out of the 3N, the Bledisloe, the Mandela Cup and a season ending British Isles grand slam.
Didn’t the Warblies win the Mandela Cup this year? And they are one step away from an unbeaten northern test tour, which is fairly close to a grand slam.
So why would doing the same thing next year be considered “big things”?
26 Nov 2008, 04:31 am
#12 HBone: Good point, they’ve reversed some trends in previous years by winning some close games, For a relatively young inexperienced team their doing so well under Deans, Its a shame that we can’t put our best team on the field this weeknd with the likes of Horwill, Vickerman, Barnes and Elsom out but their doing well. It will be interesting to see the make up of the team next year when the likes of Rathbone, Staniforth, Horwill returning and Pocock having a good super 14. Be very afraid Kiwis and Saffas the Aussies are coming
27 Nov 2008, 05:03 am
#12 HBone: Fair point HBone but we haven’t won the 3N or the Bledisloe, or indeed a Grand Slam yet.
27 Nov 2008, 05:04 am
#13 SAussie/QldRed: Yep 09 is looking good. The two who could really make a difference are Cooper and Beale, we need some players to take the pressure of Giteau and Barnes.
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