Nine changes for Qantas Wallabies to face France
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/wallabi.../section/21893
"Mortlock, fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, winger Drew Mitchell, flyhalf Matt Giteau, No 8 Richard Brown, lock Nathan Sharpe, hooker Stephen Moore and props Al Baxter and Benn Robinson have all been reinstated to the starting XV for the one off Test at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium, after not having been required during last weekend’s 34-12 win over Italy at Melbourne."
A lot of Force players re entering the squad. Cross on the bench, better than having Cooper there.
Should be a good game!
Nine changes for Qantas Wallabies to face France
June 23, 2009 - 12:43pm
Story by: ARU
Adam Ashley Cooper will be wearing the number 15 jersey
Squad skipper Stirling Mortlock returns among a number of changes to the Qantas Wallabies starting XV for Saturday night’s keenly anticipated Test against France in the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.
Mortlock, fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, winger Drew Mitchell, flyhalf Matt Giteau, No 8 Richard Brown, lock Nathan Sharpe, hooker Stephen Moore and props Al Baxter and Benn Robinson have all been reinstated to the starting XV for the one off Test at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium, after not having been required during last weekend’s 34-12 win over Italy at Melbourne.
They take the starting places of Ryan Cross, James O’Connor, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, David Pocock, Peter Kimlin, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander and Pek Cowan respectively.
O’Connor, Cross, Pocock, Polota-Nau and Alexander move to the run on reserves bench; while Hynes, Cooper, Kimlin and Cowan have all been omitted from the match night squad.
This quartet will be released to turn out for their clubs on Saturday along with fellow squad members, Lote Tuqiri and Timana Tahu.
“This is the combination we feel will serve us best this weekend,” Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says.
“We got a lot out of last week’s game in Melbourne and certainly weren’t disappointed with the effort of any of the players involved. That outing has allowed us to broaden our depth in terms of exposing other players to Test match conditions. We will see the benefits of that moving forward.”
The nine returning players bring with them a collective total of 397 caps, making this weekend’s combination a vastly more experienced unit than that which beat Italy in the second Test.
Then, Australia fielded a starting XV which collectively boasted just 198 caps, 97 of which had been earned by one player, the stand-in captain, George Smith.
Ten of the players named in the run on side today started when the Qantas Wallabies beat France 18-13 during the two teams’ most recent meeting in Paris last November, although some were in different positions.
Drew Mitchell was a fullback then, but will start on the left wing this time; Mortlock is at centre after playing inside centre seven months ago, while Adam Ashley-Cooper is at fullback after playing centre in Paris.
Ashley-Cooper lines up for his 26th Test, displacing the 18-year-old O’Connor in the fullback position, after a two-try, and man of the match, performance coming off the bench in Melbourne.
Australia’s win in Paris last year, which was its first on French soil in eight years, allowed the Wallabies to successfully retain the Trophée Des Bicentenaires, after the two-nil series win in Australia earlier in 2008.
The Wallabies have since kicked on in 2009, running up 125 points, and 18 tries, through the first three matches that the team has played this year.
Although happy with all his side has achieved during its three wins to open the 2009 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series, Deans tempered the excitement by saying the performance bar will have to be raised significantly from this point.
“The Barbarians and the Italians provided us with a good opening to the season; we had three quality work outs, but there is no doubt that they were a level down on what is coming,” Deans says.
“You only have to look as far back as the last two weeks, and what the French achieved in New Zealand, to see what a massive threat they will be.”
Australia has conceded just two tries in 240 minutes of action so far this year, but Deans still warned a step up in the overall intensity of his side’s play would be required.
“There’s no doubt that what we have produced so far this year won’t be good enough moving forward,” Deans says.
“The French are coming off a series where they have created a bit of history, by picking up some silverware in New Zealand. They’ll be buoyed by that, which will make them incredibly dangerous as the French have always been a very spiritual team. You can guarantee that they will throw everything at this game as it’s their last one before a break. The players will be looking to make sure there’s nothing left in the gas tank once they’ve finished on Saturday night.”
Although France lost 10-14 to New Zealand in difficult conditions at Wellington last weekend, it still captured the Dave Gallaher Cup for the first time since its inception courtesy of a 27-22 success a week earlier in Dunedin.
France began its tour of New Zealand without a number of players who still had commitments in the French Top 14 club finals. Those players joined the team prior to last week, which allows French coach Marc Lievremont to field his strongest possible combination in Sydney.
The additional time the full squad has spent together, both prior to the second Test in New Zealand, and since the side arrived in Sydney, will also have proved beneficial.
“They’ll be better for the time they’ve had together, there’s no doubt about that,” Deans says.
Although the Qantas Wallabies coach guided Australia to its three-nil sweep over France in his first season in the position last year, that result holds little relevance to what lies ahead this weekend, aside from providing the tourists with additional motivation, he says.
“The French won’t have enjoyed the outcomes when we met last year. I’m sure they will see Saturday night as an opportunity to gain a little payback, while building on the confidence that they have gained out of the series against the All Blacks.”
The Test is the 25th to have been played by the Wallabies at the Olympic Stadium since rugby union debuted at the ground when Australia beat England 22-15 in 1999.
Australia’s return from Tests at Homebush Bay currently stands at 20 wins and four defeats with England (2003 Rugby World Cup final) and New Zealand (2000, 2003 & 2005) the only visiting sides to have prevailed at the venue.
The Qantas Wallabies team to play France in the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series at ANZ Stadium, Sydney on Saturday 27 June (8pm kick off, AEST), is:
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
6. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
7. George Smith (Brumbies)
8. Richard Brown (Western Force)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
10. Matt Giteau (Brumbies)
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, captain)
14. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
Run on reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
18. Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs)
19. David Pocock (Western Force)
20. Josh Valentine (Western Force)
21. Ryan Cross (Western Force)
22. James O'Connor (Western Force)
Australia v France – Historical Notes
•This will be the 40th Test between teams representing Australia and France, dating back to the inaugural meeting between a touring New South Wales side and France in Paris in 1928, which the visiting side won 11-8. This match was awarded Test status by the ARU. Australia has won 21 matches and France 16, with two previous draws. There have been eighteen previous meetings on Australian soil, with the Wallabies winning thirteen, France four, and one drawn.
•The two teams have played on 11 occasions in Sydney, with Australia winning seven, France three, and the 1972 encounter being drawn 14-14.
•Last year, Australia beat France 34-13 in Sydney, with Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharpe, Stirling Mortlock and Rocky Elsom scoring the tries. Alexis Palisson was the sole French try-scorer that evening.
•Robbie Deans guided the Qantas Wallabies to three consecutive wins over France last term – 34-13 in Sydney, 40-10 in Brisbane and 18-13 in Paris. That is the second greatest number of consecutive wins Australia has ever had against France; being bettered only by the stretch between 1993 and 2000 when the Wallabies won six straight against the French.
•France’s most recent win in Sydney was a 28-19 success in the third Test of the 1990 series at the Sydney Football Stadium. Their previous success in the city was the shock 30-24 victory over the Wallabies in the 1987 Rugby World Cup semi-final at Concord Oval.
•The most recent match between the two teams in Australia – at Brisbane last July – saw Australia record its highest winning margin against a French side, in posting a 40-10 victory.
•The record for the most tries by an Australian player in a Test against France is two. It is shared by six players – including Stirling Mortlock and Ryan Cross. Cross scored his double during the Brisbane Test last year. Only David Campese (with five) has scored more tries for Australia against France than Mortlock, who has three.
•Flanker George Smith will play his 99th Test, and his 11th against Les Bleus, which ties the tally achieved by Jason Little between 1989 and 1999 for the most by any Australian against France. Smith began his Test career against France at Paris in 2000.
James O'Connor dropped for Adam Ashley-Cooper to face France
June 23, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press
TEEN sensation James O'Connor has been dropped to the bench for Australia's Test against France, while winger Lote Tuqiri's international isolation deepened.
Not even a man-of-the-match performance including two tries against Italy is enough for O'Connor, 18, to retain the fullback spot, as Adam Ashley-Cooper forced his way back into the starting side.
Ashley-Cooper's return is one of nine changes to last week's experimental line-up against Italy, with stalwarts such as captain Stirling Mortlock, flyhalf Matt Giteau and lock Nathan Sharpe all back.
But there is not even room on the bench for Tuqiri, the 67-Test veteran who is yet to don a Wallabies jersey this year and seemingly well down the pecking order of preferred wingers as the Tri-Nations approaches.
Australia has opened its season with creditable wins over the Barbarians and Italy, but coach Robbie Deans said they would have to step up a level for Saturday's one-off match in Sydney.
Deans pointed to France's recent achievements in New Zealand, where they retained the Dave Gallaher Trophy by beating the All Blacks in the first Test then gave the home side a bruising workout before narrowly losing the second.
"They'll be buoyed by that, which will make them incredibly dangerous as the French have always been a very spiritual team,'' he said.
"You can guarantee that they will throw everything at this game as it's their last one before a break. The players will be looking to make sure there's nothing left in the gas tank once they've finished on Saturday night.''
Deans said Australia's 3-0 record against France last year is irrelevant to Saturday's clash in Sydney.
"I'm sure they will see Saturday night as an opportunity to gain a little payback, while building on the confidence that they have gained out of the series against the All Blacks,'' he said.
Despite introducing wholesale changes, Deans said he is happy with the players who faced Italy and said they had given the Wallabies greater depth for the upcoming season.
Australia team to play France in Sydney on Saturday:
15 to 1: Adam Ashley-Cooper; Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell; Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess; Richard Brown, George Smith, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill; Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Josh Valentine, Ryan Cross, James O'Connor.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
Deans moves to fire up Wallaby forwards
June 23, 2009 - 6:35PM
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is far from impressed with his side's work at the breakdown after three internationals so far this season.
Deans has challenged his forwards to improve every aspect of their work at the contest, including their enthusiasm, as the Australians prepare to take on the physical French at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.
"The French will target our breakdowns, it's not difficult to see that coming and they exposed the All Blacks in that area," Deans told reporters on Tuesday.
"It's not at the level that we'd like yet on all fronts, to be honest, on technique, on understanding of role play and on general enthusiasm."
Deans' comments came as he unusually named two openside flankers, young gun David Pocock and veteran Phil Waugh, on his bench for Saturday's Test.
That move will boost the Wallabies' breakdown capability but is also partly so starting openside George Smith can cover No.8, the position he played in last Saturday's second Test against Italy.
Halfback Luke Burgess said he was confident of his forwards winning clean ball.
"They've been training hard and we've made improvements, especially against European sides," Burgess said.
"It's obviously against one team so far, against Italy, but we're expecting France to be really tough at the breakdown and our forwards have been doing well there, well they've been improving.
"We experienced some difficulty against them last year in France but if you're aware of it then you can deal with it so it's all about being aware of it."
© 2009 AAP
http://news.rugbyheaven.com.au/break...0623-cv7o.html
Deans boosts the ranks for 'next step'
Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent | June 24, 2009
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans has brought back his big guns up front, given Adam Ashley-Cooper the No.15 jersey and Drew Mitchell a spot on the wing for Saturday night's showdown with France at ANZ Stadium.
Deans said the France Test was a "step up" from the two internationals against Italy and therefore the need to be a force at the breakdown was imperative - as indicated by George Smith being backed up by openside breakaways Phil Waugh and David Pocock on the bench.
Whoever scavenges best at the tackle area will undoubtedly have the edge in what is shaping as the highest-quality June international in years.
Yesterday, Deans was clearly concerned the breakdown was an area where France could dominate, as it was there that they were able to destabilise the All Blacks during their victory in Dunedin a fortnight ago. "The French will target our breakdown," Deans said. "It's not difficult to see that coming. They exposed the All Blacks in that area."
Deans said the quality of Australia's breakdown work was "not at the level we would like yet on all fronts - technique, understanding of role play, and pure enthusiasm".
Standards will have to improve, said Deans, because France "are a side which is really athletic, energetic, and seldom idle because they are all constantly looking for what they can do to make a difference".
"Having done one thing, they are proactive in looking to contribute again. That makes them challenging. They understand their role play, and that's what you've got to have to win in New Zealand once, potentially twice. You've got to go for 80 minutes. You've got to work together, and they did that pretty impressively.
"It's evident that the Test matches we've played are not of the same intensity to the two Tests the French have played, and we have to now step up to that level."
For that reason, Deans has opted for Ashley-Cooper at fullback, moving 18-year-old James O'Connor to the bench. While O'Connor has been outstanding this season, this match was "another notch up", requiring Ashley-Cooper's experience.
However, the Brumbies' utility back wasn't expecting the call-up. "It was a bit of a surprise, because I wasn't sure where Robbie wanted me this week," Ashley-Cooper said. When asked why he regained the No.15 jersey, Ashley-Cooper replied: "I've got no idea. I guess Robbie was happy with the impact I made off the bench the last two weeks."
Mitchell's return was partly due to Peter Hynes being badly battered during last week's victory over the Italians. But Mitchell's fine form for Randwick in the Sydney club ranks last Saturday was also a factor.
"Hynes had a tough day in Melbourne," Deans said. "He got a bang to his knee and a nasty cut. So he never really settled in the game, as he was on and off the ground. But more importantly has been how Drew has been going."
WALLABIES TEAM
Adam Ashley-Cooper; Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (c), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell; Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess; Richard Brown, George Smith, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Josh Valentine, Ryan Cross, James O'Connor.
The Australian Rugby Union is conducting an investigation into potential breaches of team protocol and code of conduct involving at least one player. The ARU last night refused to provide details or specify whether more than one player was involved and at which level of the game.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...522822976.html
Robbie Deans rewards form at fullback
Bret Harris | June 24, 2009
Article from: The Australian
WHEN James O'Connor scored three tries in a man-of-the-match performance for the Wallabies against Italy in Canberra two weeks ago, Adam Ashley-Cooper thought he would need to find a new position.
Perhaps that explains why Ashley-Cooper was surprised to learn he had displaced O'Connor from fullback for the Wallabies' Test against France in Sydney on Saturday night.
"It was a bit of a surprise," Ashley-Cooper said. "Not sure where Robbie (Deans) wanted me this week. Happy to get the start and very excited about the challenge."
The selection of Ashley-Cooper at fullback says as much about his outstanding form off the bench in the two Tests against Italy as it does about Deans's intention to manage O'Connor's development.
Deans would have been justified in starting O'Connor at fullback and Ashley-Cooper on the wing, which was where he played so superbly as a replacement for the blood-stained Peter Hynes in the second Test against Italy in Melbourne last Saturday.
But just as he did with the youthful Dan Carter in New Zealand, Deans will guide O'Connor through his early Test career to ensure he does not burn out.
"Adam is playing really well. He is accustomed to this level. The French will be another notch up," Deans said.
"James has made a great start. Nothing against what he's done. He has played really well on both occasions as well.
"Sure, he had a little aberration at the start of the game in terms of he coughed the ball up, which is most unlike him. He didn't dwell on that and pushed on and played really well and made a significant contribution to our game. And it won't be the last time he does that."
After Hynes sustained eye and ear wounds in his comeback Test in Melbourne, Drew Mitchell has been reinstated to the left wing after being sent back to club rugby last Saturday.
A number of squad members - Quade Cooper, Pek Cowan, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri and Peter Kimlin - have been released to play club rugby this weekend, but Hynes will be rested.
"Hynesie had a tough day," Deans said. "He had a bang to his knee and a nasty cut.
"Without a doubt that contributed, but probably more importantly the way Drew has been going."
There were nine changes to the team that beat Italy in Melbourne, but there was really only one other contentious selection issue and that centred on blindside flanker.
With Dean Mumm reverting from second row to blindside flanker at the expense of Kimlin, who started in the No6 jersey in Melbourne, Deans stuck with two openside flankers, David Pocock and Phil Waugh, on the bench. Pocock has established himself as George Smith's back-up, which means the veteran Waugh beat the rookie Kimlin for the spot on the bench.
Australian team: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (c), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Josh Valentine, Ryan Cross, James O'Connor.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
