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Connolly to blood rookie prop as Australia takes on Ireland in Perth
June 21, 2006 - 1:06pm
Story by: ARU
Qantas Wallabies Coach John Connolly has today named his team for Saturday night’s Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series Test against Ireland at Subiaco Oval in Perth.
After losing hooker Adam Freier and prop Rodney Blake to injury after last weekend’s convincing 43-18 Cook Cup triumph over England, Connolly has re-called Western Force hooker Tai McIsaac to the starting team and will blood yet another rookie at prop.
24-year-old Brumbies prop Guy Shepherdson will make his Test Debut after winning selection at tighthead prop.
Shepherdson, who has earned 33 caps in three seasons of Super Rugby with the Brumbies, was an Australian Under 21s representative from 2001 to 2003.
Connolly said that he had been impressed by Shepherdson’s Super 14 campaign.
“He played pretty well through the Super 14 and we were impressed with him during our initial camp. He’s got the capacity to learn a lot more and develop his game,” said Connolly.
George Gregan returns to scrumhalf and will resume captaincy duties after eclipsing Jason Leonard’s world record with his 120th Test appearance last weekend.
Despite making just two changes to his starting lineup outside of Gregan, both forced due to injury, Connolly insisted that he had not settled on his ideal starting fifteen.
“There are still some positions we’re not 100% sure on and we’ll continue to have a look at a few combinations, particularly in the front row,” said Connolly.
“Having said that we want to play the team into some form and give players the opportunity to play together and build some cohesion.
We’ve been happy with the team’s progress in a short space of time but there’s always room for improvement,” he said.
Connolly is expecting a strong challenge from the in-form Irish team this Saturday night.
“They play a lot more direct and a lot tighter than England and there’s no doubt they’re a better team than England is at the moment,” he said.
“They played well in trying conditions last weekend and were very competitive in their series against New Zealand so they present us with a good challenge,” he added.
The winner of Saturday’s one-off Test match will receive the Lansdowne Cup. Australia are the current holders of the Cup after their 30-14 victory on last year’s Spring Tour.
Notes:
* Prop Guy Shepherdson will be the sixth Test debutant used by Australia in three Tests this season.
* Australia and Ireland have met on two prior occasions in Perth Test matches, with Australia victorious 45-16 in 2003 and 32-26 in 1999.
2006 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series
Match: Australia v Ireland
Trophy: Lansdowne Cup
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Perth, Australia
Date: Saturday 24 June 2006
Kick Off: 6.00pm (local WA time)
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (NZ)
Qantas Wallabies:
1. Greg Holmes
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Guy Shepherdson *D
4. Nathan Sharpe
5. Dan Vickerman (vc)
6. Mark Chisholm
7. George Smith
8. Rocky Elsom
9. George Gregan (c)
10. Stephen Larkham
11. Lote Tuqiri
12. Mat Rogers
13. Stirling Mortlock (vc)
14. Mark Gerrard
15. Chris Latham
16. Jeremy Paul
17. Al Baxter
18. Wycliff Palu
19. Phil Waugh
20. Sam Cordingley
21. Clyde Rathbone
22. Cameron Shepherd
Coach: John Connolly
Key:
*D Selected for Test Debut
Unavailable for selection due to injury: Rodney Blake, Adam Freier, Matt Giteau, Daniel Heenan
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