Two Changes to Qantas Wallabies for Italy
June 09, 2009 - 12:30pm
Story by: ARU
Blindside flanker Dean Mumm and fullback James O’Connor have been called into the Qantas Wallabies side that has been named today for Saturday night’s opening Test of the 2009 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series against Italy at Canberra Stadium.
Mumm replaces the injured Matt Hodgson, while O’Connor comes in for AdamAshley-Cooper, in the two changes to the starting XV from that which saw off the Barbarians 55-7 at the Sydney Football Stadium last weekend.
Both Mumm and O’Connor played from the run on reserves bench during last weekend’s international season opener. The teenage O’Connor, who will be starting in a Test match for the first time, last year became the second youngest ever Test Wallaby when, at the age of 18 years and 126 days, he made his debut off the bench at fullback during Australia’s 30-20 win over Italy at Padova.
Ashley-Cooper takes over the position vacated by O’Connor amongst the run on reserves, while Brumbies utility forward Peter Kimlin has been promoted into the match night squad, after being released to play club rugby for Wests in Canberra last weekend.
The 23-year-old will be making his Test debut if called on to take part from the bench. While Kimlin was a member of last year’s Spring Tour squad, his only involvement came in the non-cap match against the Barbarians at London’s Wembley Stadium.
He is one of six players currently on the Brumbies’ playing roster who will feature in the Test match, which represents the Wallabies’ first appearance in Canberra for nine years.
Regular openside flanker George Smith is another of these. Although Saturday night will be the 97th Test of Smith’s career, it will be the first time that he has played a Test in front of his regular Super Rugby home crowd.
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says the change in the back row was forced by injury, with both last week’s debutant, Matt Hodgson (AC joint in his shoulder), and returning squad member Rocky Elsom (bruised knee) ruled out.
Hodgson and Elsom were assessed by the Wallabies medical staff once the team relocated to Canberra on Sunday afternoon.
Deans confirmed Hodgson is unlikely to be available for selection prior to the start of the Tri-Nations, while Elsom will be sidelined for a still to be determined period in order to allow his injured knee to settle.
“It’s unfortunate for both Matt and Rocky, but we’ll give them all of the time that they need to come right,” Deans says.
“In Rocky’s case, his is an injury that has developed over time and he has been playing on it for a while which probably hasn’t helped. Mentally Rocky has returned to Australia good to go, but examinations have shown that the damage, in terms of the bruising in behind his right knee, was a little bit worse than was first thought. Because of that, we now need to unload the knee and give it sufficient time to settle down.”
Deans said there was no specific time-line on when Elsom would be available, although he did concede that the 26-year-old might not be in a position to add to the 40 Test caps that he has earned to date until the start of the Tri-Nations.
The promotion of O’Connor into this weekend’s starting line-up had always been planned for some point during opening stages of the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series, and did not reflect any disappointment in the performance of Ashley-Cooper at the SFS.
Flyhalf Matt Giteau and reserve halfback Josh Valentine both appear on Saturday night as Western Force players within the Wallabies squad, but will be back in Canberra next year on the playing staff of the Brumbies.
Italy arrived in Australia last week to begin its preparations for the two-Test series and Deans is advising against under-estimating the visitors.
“They showed last year in Padova, where they came within 10 minutes of beating us, what they are capable of,” Deans says.
“The Italians will have brought the belief from that performance with them, and will be looking to add to it. Far from being daunted, they will be excited by the opportunity that is ahead of them. That will make them a dangerous opponent.”
Deans noted the return to the pre-ELV laws relating to the rolling maul, where defending teams are no longer allowed to pull the maul down, would assist the Italians.
“They are a physical side so the change to that aspect of the game will suit their playing style,” he says.
“While the set pieces loosened up at times last weekend, which was to be expected in a Barbarians-style contest; this week we are in for a stern examination in those areas – we’ve no doubts about that!”
The Qantas Wallabies team to play Italy in the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series at Canberra Stadium on Saturday 13 June (7.35pm kick off), is:
15. James O’Connor (Western Force)
14. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)
13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, captain)
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
10. Matt Giteau (Brumbies)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
8. Richard Brown (Western Force)
7. George Smith (Brumbies)
6. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run on reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
18. Peter Kimlin
(Brumbies)
19. David Pocock (Western Force)
20. Josh Valentine (Western Force)
21. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
22. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
Australia v Italy – Historical Notes
* This is the 11th official Test between Australia and Italy dating back to the inaugural match at Rovigo in 1983. Australia won that game 29-7 and has prevailed in every contest since. Four of these have been played on Australian soil.
* Italy last appeared in Australia four years ago when beaten 69-21 in Melbourne. That is the highest score the Wallabies have recorded against the European Six Nations member nation. Just four members of the Australian starting line-up from that evening remain in the side – skipper Stirling Mortlock, flyhalf Matt Giteau, lock Nathan Sharpe and prop Al Baxter. Hooker Stephen Moore appeared off the bench.
* Eleven members of the Qantas Wallabies squad named today for the match featured in the most recent meeting between the two sides, at Padova last November, when Australia broke a 20-20 deadlock late in the game to record a 30-20 win. Lachie Turner and Quade Cooper both scored their first Test tries in that match.
* Matt Giteau starts his fifth Test against Italy just 12 points behind Michael Lynagh’s career tally of 46, which is the most for the Wallabies against Italy.
* No Italian player has ever scored more than one try in a Test match against Australia.
* Qantas Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock will play his 77th Test, tying team-mate Phil Waugh as the ninth most capped Australian player in history.
* Saturday night will represent the third Test appearance by the Qantas Wallabies at Canberra Stadium, following on from a 74-0 win over Tonga in a Rugby World Cup qualifying match in 1998, and a 32-25 victory over Argentina in 2000. Current captain Stirling Mortlock and current assistant-coach Jim Williams both featured on the Wallabies’ playing staff in the 2000 match.
