Wallabies unchanged for All Blacks in Wellington

A SURPRISING recovery from a rib injury by winger Lachie Turner will allow Australia coach Robbie Deans to name an unchanged team to play the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.

Turner sustained the injury in the Wallabies' 21-6 upset win against South Africa in Brisbane two weeks ago.

Deans all but ruled Turner out when the team assembled in camp in Sydney last Thursday, but the Waratahs speedster has made significant progress over the past few days and seems a lot more likely to play.

If Turner can prove his fitness at training today and tomorrow, he is expected to retain his place on the right wing. But if Turner is forced out, Peter Hynes is likely to regain a starting wing spot.

The only other injury concern is hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, who also sustained a rib injury in the Springboks Test.

Like Turner, Polota-Nau will also have to prove himself in contact work at training today and tomorrow, but he is expected to be fit to play.

After ending a four-game losing sequence against South Africa, Deans is unlikely to make any unforced changes to the 22-man squad to meet New Zealand.

This means there is a strong chance Deans will select the same team for two consecutive Tests for only the second time in his 15-month period as coach.

Deans made a number of key changes for the Springboks Test. Polota-Nau replaced Stephen Moore, Will Genia took over at halfback from Luke Burgess and David Pocock started at openside flanker, forcing George Smith to number eight.

Prop Pek Cowan was also promoted to the bench, displacing veteran Al Baxter.

After beating the Springboks, Deans would be anxious to give this new-look team another opportunity against the All Blacks.

Some observers have suggested the Australian team that beat the Springboks offered a sneak preview of the Wallabies' 2011 World Cup side.

But there is a long way to go before Deans will finalise that team.

Genia has a splendid opportunity to secure the starting halfback position, but Pocock and Polota-Nau will have to remain at the top of their game to keep Smith at number eight and Moore on the bench, respectively.

Hynes, likewise, will be eyeing any opportunity to return to the starting line-up at the expense of either Turner or Drew Mitchell.

Down the track, injured centre Stirling Mortlock and outside back Digby Ioane will also be looking to break back into the team, while rising stars such as Rob Horne will challenge for a place.

In the immediate future, much will depend on whether the new-look Wallabies can back up their encouraging effort when they played the Springboks against an All Blacks team that will be smarting after losing the Tri-Nations tournament for the first time in four years.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry is likely to make several changes to the team that lost 32-29 to the Springboks in Hamilton on Saturday.

Cory Jane will almost certainly replace the injured Sitiveni Sivivatu on the wing after filling the role last Saturday night.

Ma'a Nonu and Isaia Toeava will probably form a new midfield combination with inside back Stephen Donald dropping back to the bench.

Henry hooked Donald in the 50th minute on Saturday night and played Nonu and Toeava in the centres for the rest of the game as the All Blacks made a comeback.

There is also speculation that Adam Thomson will take over from Jerome Kaino at blindside flanker in an attempt to improve the All Blacks lineout, which folded in Hamilton.

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