Mitchell Returns To Squad For Return Bout With South Africa

[NewsBot]

Mitchell Returns To Squad For Return Bout With South Africa

Emirates Western Force flyer Drew Mitchell has been recalled to the Wallabies squad for Saturday’s return Tri Nations clash with South Africa in Sydney.

[prop53]

Good Job, for the silly reason given he should never have been omitted in the forst instance. Wake up Knuckles

[travelling_gerry]

Mitchell Returns To Squad For Return Bout With South Africa
Wednesday, July 04, 2007 11:27am

RugbyWA

Emirates Western Force flyer Drew Mitchell recalled to Wallabies squadEmirates Western Force flyer Drew Mitchell has been recalled to the Wallabies squad for Saturday’s return Tri Nations clash with South Africa in Sydney.



Mitchell will join fellow Force back Scott Staniforth on the bench, with Nathan Sharpe and Matt Giteau again in the starting XV.



The clash will be the last time Wallabies duo George Gregan and Stephen Larkham play on home soil, as the veterans continue along their path to a World Cup swansong.



On what will be an historic night for Australian sport, Larkham will play his 100th Test for the Wallabies and in doing so will become the third player to register a century of Test caps for Australia alongside Gregan (132) and David Campese (101).



In other changes, Wallabies coach John Connolly has introduced locks David Lyons and Hugh McMeniman to the reserves bench.



It is a long-awaited return to the Test arena for the injury-plagued McMeniman, who is in line to play his first match in the Wallabies jersey since the 2005 Spring Tour.



Number 8 Wycliff Palu will learn of the extent of his shoulder injury later in the week, leaving the door ajar for Stephen Hoiles to make his debut in the Wallabies starting XV.



Lyons will take Hoiles’ place on the reserves bench, after completing the Pacific Nations Cup with Australia A.



Hooker Stephen Moore succumbed to a sternum injury, allowing Adam Freier the opportunity to make his first appearance in the starting lineup this season.



Freier’s elevation to the starting XV gives Queensland and Australia A hooker Sean Hardman the chance to win his third Test cap for the Wallabies after being called into the squad on standby for the injured Moore on Monday.



Wing Lote Tuqiri is serving a two-match suspension for breaching team standards and his place on the right wing has been awarded to Mark Gerrard.



Connolly expects an emotional home farewell for Gregan and Larkham.



“They are virtually icons of Australian sport,” said Connolly.



“We’ve just been so blessed in this country to have such incredibly consistent players playing in two of our key positions over the past 12 or so years,” he said.



“They are two great warriors of Australian sport and I’m sure they will receive a fitting farewell from the supporters on Saturday night in what is such a crucial Test for the Wallabies.”



The Wallabies can retain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate with a win on Saturday night.





QANTAS WALLABIES v SOUTH AFRICA

Saturday 7 July 2007

Telstra Stadium, Sydney

Kick off: 8.05pm EST



Qantas Wallabies



Matt Dunning
Adam Freier
Guy Shepherdson
Nathan Sharpe
Dan Vickerman
Rocky Elsom
George Smith (vc)
Stephen Hoiles
George Gregan
Stephen Larkham
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Matt Giteau
Stirling Mortlock (c)
Mark Gerrard
Julian Huxley


Sean Hardman
Al Baxter
Hugh McMeniman
David Lyons
Phil Waugh (vc)
Scott Staniforth
Drew Mitchell


Match notes



Australia is the current holder of the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate after winning two of the three Tests between the two Nations in 2006.
Last meeting: South Africa 22 Australia 19, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town (16/6/2007).
Overall: Played 64, South Africa 40, Australia 23, Drawn 1.
Last meeting at Telstra Stadium: Australia 20 South Africa 18 (2006).
South Africa has not defeated Australia in Australia since 2005 and has not won in Sydney since 1993.


Tri Nations notes



Australia last won the Tri Nations in 2001.
New Zealand has owned the Tri Nations title for the last two years (2005, 2006).
The trophy has been won seven times by New Zealand and twice each by Australia and South Africa.
New Zealand won the inaugural Tri Nations title in 1996.

[Ecky]

Why Gerrard and not Mitchell in the starting XV?

[hopep]

Having Mitch on the bench gives JC the option of using him to replace either a) Gerrard for fumbling the ball too often, or b) Huxley for consistently bad kicks.

[Thequeerone]

Having Mitch on the bench gives JC the option of using him to replace either a) Gerrard for fumbling the ball too often, or b) Huxley for consistently bad kicks.

Why not take the oppurtunity and put Sheps back on the team - surely his performance last year for the Force and Wallabies was more consistant than Huxley - and Sheps is quite a good kicker to !