Wallabies unchanged

Wallabies unchanged for All Blacks
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
ARU
George Smith will again lead the Wallabies against the All Blacks.

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and winger Lachie Turner have both been passed fit and will play in Saturday night’s concluding Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations Series Test against New Zealand at Wellington.

The New South Wales pair were today named in the squad that will travel to New Zealand tomorrow, although their Waratahs team-mate, utility back Kurtley Beale, will travel also as cover as the 23rd man.

Both Polota-Nau and Turner, who suffered rib injuries during last week’s 21-6 win over South Africa, have responded well to treatment in order to prove their fitness for selection.

Polota-Nau trained with no discomfort during today’s full contact session - fulfilling the requirement in order to be named in the starting line-up. Turner has also made good progress, although Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said the presence of Beale in Wellington was precautionary if the winger didn’t continue to improve.

“At this stage, we feel Lachie will be right, but we’re taking Kurtley along with us just in case,” Deans says.

“As well as being precautionary, it is good experience for Kurtley being with the squad through the entire Test preparation.”

Travelling with an extra man is nothing new for the Wallabies. Timana Tahu joined the team in Auckland last year as the 23rd man, while Queensland Reds winger Peter Hynes filled the role in the same city in July.

The 23rd man aside, Deans has named the same line-up which opened Australia’s account in the 2009 Tri Nations with a gritty 21-6 win over the subsequent tournament winners, South Africa, at Brisbane a week and a half ago.

The Wellington Test, Deans says, is about consolidating the Brisbane performance.

“We stepped up to a new level, in terms of our performance, last time and that was pleasing,” Deans says.

“But life goes on. We can’t live in that moment and rest our laurels on it. History, both in terms of Australia’s overall record in New Zealand, and our recent experience there, shows how difficult this weekend’s assignment will be. That’s not a negative: it’s a great opportunity for us. It is important that we kick on and build on what was achieved during our match against South Africa.”

As has been the case in the two team’s most recent meetings, the All Blacks enter this match on the back of a disappointing result last weekend, where they were edged out at home by South Africa to concede the Tri Nations title.

“They won’t have enjoyed that experience,” Deans says, “and will be determined to make up for it. We have seen, in our most recent experiences, how setbacks galvanise the All Blacks, especially when they are playing at home. We know what their response will be… we have to be ready to meet it.”

Although New Zealand has already secured the Bledisloe Cup for the season, leading the four match series 2-0, while the Tri Nations title has been won by South Africa; Saturday’s match does have historical over-tones: it will be the 500th game to be played by a side representing Australia in a Test match.

It is also the third of four meetings between the trans-Tasman rivals this year, with the fourth match to be played at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on 31 October.

The Tokyo match follows on from last year’s successful Bledisloe Cup Test which was staged in Hong Kong.

The Qantas Wallabies team to play New Zealand
Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations Series and Bledisloe Cup Test
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Saturday 19 September
Kick-off: 7.35pm kick off (5.35pm, AEST):

1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (CA Brumbies)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
5. Mark Chisholm (CA Brumbies)
6. Rocky Elsom (CA Brumbies)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
8. George Smith (CA Brumbies) (c)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
10. Matt Giteau (Western Force)
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (CA Brumbies)
14. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)
15. James O’Connor (Western Force)

Reserves:
16. Stephen Moore (CA Brumbies)
17. Pek Cowan (Western Force)
18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
19. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
20. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
21. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
22. Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds)