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The return to duty of Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu and Nathan Sharpe highlight the Qantas Wallabies side that has been announced today for Saturday night’s Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series Test against South Africa.
The experienced trio are back in the starting line-up for the Tri-Nations opener in Perth after missing Australia’s 40-10 second Test win over France in Brisbane.
Tuqiri (knee) and Palu (shoulder) were ruled out of that match due to injuries that were sustained a week earlier during the first international against that opponent, while a groin injury suffered at training in the lead-up rubbed out Sharpe.
All three have trained freely this week since the squad assembled in Perth.
In doing so, they have convinced Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans of their fitness for the assignment ahead.
Deans watched Palu as he got through 50 minutes for the Manly Marlins in the New South Wales club championship at Manly Oval last weekend.
Tuqiri and Sharpe didn’t play club rugby, but both contributed fully during the final training of last week’s three-day camp at Manly. Neither player has shown any inhibitions from their injuries during the Wallabies’ preparations this week.
“They’re all looking good and ready to go again,” Deans says.
“We needed to be absolutely certain that they were right, because the South Africans are going to be the most physical opponent we have played so far. By allowing them all time, we’re happy that they are at the level, both physically and mentally, that they need to be to play.”
The Western Force skipper, Sharpe has made a timely re-entry into the second row given that NSW Waratahs lock Dan Vickerman is still not quite ready to return to Test rugby after being troubled by an ankle complaint.
Vickerman will play club rugby in Sydney again this weekend to further his preparation towards a Test return. In the meantime, the versatile Queensland Reds forward Hugh McMeniman, who returned to the international arena via the bench in the second French Test, has retained his place in the match day squad.
Sharpe is looking forward to running out in front of an expected capacity - and he hopes exceedingly vocal - home crowd at Subiaco Oval.
“Western Australians are pretty passionate about their rugby, whether it is following the Force, or the Wallabies,” Sharpe says.
“All the boys are looking forward to playing at Subiaco again, and putting in a big one.”
Sharpe is one of four Force players to have made the cut, being joined by flyhalf Matt Giteau, and run on reserves Ryan Cross and Drew Mitchell.
Cross, this year’s Western Force Player of the Year, retains his place after scoring two tries off the bench in Brisbane. Mitchell steps into the spot vacated by his injured provincial colleague, Cameron Shepherd.
The bolter on the bench is Tatafu Polota-Nau, who has won a spot after making his playing return at club level last weekend for Parramatta.
Prior to that outing, the NSW Waratahs hooker hadn’t featured since the Investec Super 14 final against the Crusaders at the end of May, due to an injured hand.
“Tatafu offers genuine impact. His ability to carry could potentially be invaluable in the latter stages of what I’d expect will be a high tempo game,” Deans says.
“While he’s only had one club run since the Super 14 finished, the nature of his injury was such that he was still able to train, so his fitness base didn’t suffer too much. He’s also had two full weeks in camp which has helped bring him up to the level of the rest of the squad.”
Mitchell comes straight into the match day squad, after having made his return from injury with Australia A.
He offers many of the same attributes that the luckless Shepherd had provided, in terms of being comfortable both at fullback and on the wing, Deans said.
A feature of Saturday night’s match is that it will see ACT Brumbies flanker George Smith clock up his 87th Test appearance.
That advances him beyond the career tallies achieved by the legendary John Eales and Joe Roff, making him both the most capped forward in Australian history, but also the third most capped Wallaby of all-time.
Smith, who played inside centre for his Manly club last weekend, has swapped roles with Phil Waugh, who started two weeks ago, although Deans acknowledged that Waugh was likely to see game time.
Last year’s Rugby World Cup winner, South Africa arrived in Perth fresh from last weekend’s historic 30-28 win over New Zealand in Dunedin; its first win in that country for a decade.
“Their record speaks for itself,” Deans said.
“Historically playing South Africa has always been a massive challenge, and recent events have probably only added to the significance of this assignment, but it’s one that we’re excited about as a group and looking forward to.”
Six of the squad named today – winger Peter Hynes, inside centre Berrick Barnes, halfback Luke Burgess, lock James Horwill and run on reserves Polota-Nau and Cross – will be facing South Africa for the first time.
The eight members of the Qantas Wallabies Tri-Nations squad not selected will all play for their clubs this weekend.
The Qantas Wallabies team to play South Africa at Subiaco Stadium in Perth, on Saturday July 19 (6.05pm kick off, local), is:
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (NSW Waratahs)
7. George Smith (ACT Brumbies)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
10. Matt Giteau (Western Force)
11. Lote Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs)
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
13. Stirling Mortlock (ACT Brumbies) captain
14. Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds)
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies)
Run on reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs)
18. Hugh McMeniman (Queensland Reds)
19. Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs)
20. Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds)
21. Ryan Cross (Western Force)
22. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
Australia v South Africa in Perth – Historical Notes
This will be the fourth match between Australia and South Africa in Perth, following on from 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2005.
South Africa has won in Perth twice previously – 14-13 in 1998, and 22-19 three years ago.
Australia won 30-26 in 2004 while the 2001 contest was drawn 14-14.
Overall, the two countries have met on 65 occasions, with South Africa winning 40, Australia 24, as well as the one draw.
Prior to South Africa’s readmission to international sport in 1992, Australia had won just seven of the 31 matches played.
The scoreboard stands 17 wins to 16 in Australia’s favour, along with the draw, in the time since then.
South Africa has prevailed only three times on Australian soil since 1992; and just twice (both in Perth) from the 14 matches in the Tri-Nations era, which kicked off in 1996.
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Originally Posted by lara93
Would have been great to see Browny's debut in Perth, but Robbie seems to know what he's doing so hopefully he's on the money.
