Mitchell gets Wallabies recall
28 Oct 2010
Drew Mitchell and Ben Alexander are the only two changes to the Wallabies side that lost the last Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney.
Alexander is back from a knee injury while Mitchell replaces Lachie Turner on the wing despite the latter’s impressive showing against the All Blacks. Coach Robbie Deans said that Mitchell’s selection was down to what he brings to the back-three combination.
‘We’ve re-established the back three that did so well for us in South Africa during the year,’ he said. ‘Lachie did really well for us in Sydney and he’s been rewarded with a place on the bench.
‘From the team’s perspective, the combination that has been so effective throughout the year has now been re-established.’
Wallabies - 15. Kurtley Beale, 14. James O’Connor, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Ben McCalman, 7. David Pocock, 6. Rocky Elsom (c), 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. Mark Chisholm, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson
Subs: 16. Saia Faingaa, 17. James Slipper, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. Richard Brown, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Berrick Barnes, 22. Lachie Turner.
8 Comments
28 Oct 2010, 09:14 am
Probably the best backline and tight 5 Aus currently has avaialable.
But why Deans persists with Richard Brown, I don’t know.
What does he see in him?
Add Polota-Nau, Vickermann, Palu, Higgenbotham, Shepherd, Mortlock, Ioane…
And the Wallabies are looking pretty good.
Alexander and Slipper are the best finds for this team (along with Pocock, Genia And Cooper of course).
28 Oct 2010, 09:21 am
Dangerous team
28 Oct 2010, 09:46 am
This is a good team.
However, I am surprised the media hacks have been suggesting NZ will be vulnerable because several key players have not played for a while.
Really?
Why do NZ players need tough match play form to take into Test’s while the Aussies can rock up with only training behind them to be so competitive.
28 Oct 2010, 13:27 pm
Where the hell is Rod Davies?
28 Oct 2010, 17:58 pm
Wallabies shaping very nicely now.
Alexander strengthens the front-row, considerably.
Mitchell and Turner are both more than adequate to fill that wing berth.
Ben McCalman was the find of their season, a significant improvement on Brown at no8 and suddenly Aus loosies look balanced and very threatening, esp if Elsom can find his previous form.
Still cant see the helter-skelter combination of Cooper and Genia working, they would be much better off having Barnes at 12 and Genia coming off the bench.
Looking very much like Dark Horse contenders for RWC glory.
29 Oct 2010, 00:29 am
I don’t like that back three. Plenty of attacking flair but very poor defensively – I am sure Beale and O’Connor have both conceded as many tries as they have created.
None of them as safe under the high-ball as AAC either.
I am hoping either Hynes or Shepherd get a look in (injuries not counting) before the RWC. Also Ioane to return will help.
Any player who can’t tackle at test level, regardless of their X-factor, is just as much of a one-trick pony as someone like Wynand is often accused of being.
That aside, the team is building well. Our strongest tight 5 is returning (just need Horwill back), and as mentioned McCalman has been a vast improvement on Brown. Just need Palu or Higginbotham on the bench over Brown now as a big impact player and things are looking good.
Am hopeful for this weekend, but worried that NZ have that mental edge to be able to take it in the last 2 mins again if required, similar to how the Wallabies had that edge over the ABs back in the Eales days.
29 Oct 2010, 02:01 am
Ja Deans is very quietly building a good squad, his biggest problem is the AB bogie though. If they can somehow manage a win tomorrow I think we will see a totally different side going forward.
29 Oct 2010, 11:36 am
@Brads(Brads) : ???????????
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