EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE STARS RETURN FOR WALLABIES
Wednesday, 12 November 2008 12:48pm
ARU/RugbyWA
Emirates Western Force stars Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Ryan Cross and Nathan Sharpe have been recalled to the Wallabies line-up and will join teammate Richard Brown in the starting XV for the Test against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Giteau has been named to return at flyhalf after playing from the reserves bench in the 30-20 victory over Italy in Padova last weekend.
Mitchell and Cross return to the backline, with Mitchell to start at left wing and Cross named in the number 13 jersey alongside captain Stirling Mortlock in the midfield.
Brown has retained his place in the starting lineup at Number 8, after being the only Emirates Western Force player to start against the Azzurri last Saturday.
Nathan Sharpe returns to partner Mark Chisholm at lock, while rookie tourists James O’Connor and David Pocock have missed out on selection.
The Wallabies have managed just one win from their past four visits to Twickenham and will be out to avenge their defeat to England at the quarter finals stage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
Queensland Reds utility forward Hugh McMeniman, who got through the full match last Saturday after returning from an ankle ligament injury, has been switched to the blindside flank after he featured in the second row against the Azzurri.
The backline is the same as that which started the 14-19 loss to New Zealand at Hong Kong two weeks ago, while the inclusion of McMeniman at six is the only alteration to the forward unit from that occasion.
Mumm, who has worn that jersey in each of Australia’s tour outings to date, is this week named among the run on reserves, as is his state colleague, prop Matt Dunning.
The pair are two of four NSW Waratahs among Australia’s forwards reserves, with the others being the Sydney housemates; hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and No 8 Wycliff Palu.
In contrast, the Australian backline reinforcements hail entirely from Queensland, with experienced halfback Sam Cordingley and winger Digby Ioane being joined by flyhalf Quade Cooper, who made a telling contribution from the bench on Test debut last weekend.
The 20-year-old scored the match-sealing try against Italy less than 10 minutes after taking the field.
Barnes, Timana Tahu and Adam Freier were not considered due to injury. Tahu has returned to Australia after succumbing to a hamstring injury while Barnes (posterior cruciate ligament damage to his knee) has also been ruled out of further participation in the tour.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who featured in a Test for New Zealand at London in 1983, says his side is excited by the opportunity ahead at Twickenham.
“There’s great history in the sporting rivalry between Australia and England and Twickenham is a great stadium, and a special ground to play on. We’re looking forward to what we anticipate will be a great occasion.”
Nor, he says, will his team be intimidated by a recent history that shows Australia has won just once from its last four visits to the home of rugby union in England.
“This is a new group carving out its own way,” Deans says.
“We won’t be distracted by what has gone before. Many of our players have never experienced playing at Twickenham before so it holds no baggage for them. The history has no real relevance for what is to come aside, perhaps, from highlighting the scale of the opportunity that is ahead of us!”
South Africa’s Marius Jonker will referee the Test, replacing original appointee, New Zealander Steve Walsh, who is injured.
The game is the third of the Wallabies Spring Tour following on from the matches against New Zealand at Hong Kong, and Italy in Padova.
It will be followed by Tests against France (Paris) and Wales (Cardiff) on consecutive Saturdays before the tour concludes with a specially arranged midweek game against the Barbarians club at London’s Wembley Stadium on 3 December.
That match commemorates the Olympic Gold Medal won by the Wallabies at the 1908 London Games.
Match coverage kicks off at 1am WSDT on Ten this Sunday 16 November. (NB Fox Sports does not have the rights to broadcast the match on pay television).
The Wallabies team to play England for the Cook Cup at Twickenham Stadium in London:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
14. Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds)
13. Ryan Cross (Western Force)
12. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) captain
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
10. Matt Giteau (Western Force)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
8. Richard Brown (Western Force)
7. George Smith (Brumbies)
6. Hugh McMeniman (Queensland Reds)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Mark Chisholm (Brumbies)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run on reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs)
18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
19. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
20. Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds)
21. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
22. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
Australia v England – Historical Notes
- This is the 36th Test match between Australia and England. Australia has won 20 and England 14 while the 1997 contest in London resulted in a 15-15 draw.
- England holds a narrow 10 wins to seven advantage with one drawn, from the 18 matches played on English soil. This includes victories in three of the last four matches played.
- Flanker George Smith will tie Chris Latham, with 11, as the second most capped Australian player against England, behind George Gregan who featured on 16 occasions.
- The two teams compete for the Cook Cup, which was established in 1997. The cup is named after Captain James Cook and is currently held by Australia.
- Although the links between the countries are undoubtedly close, the intensity of the rivalry between the two is a relatively modern phenomenon. This is evidenced by the fact that only six Tests had been played prior to the 1970s. Australia and England have twice met in Rugby World Cup finals, sharing the spoils one apiece, each having prevailed on the other’s home turf.
