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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Wallabies switch roles for Wales | Wallabies switch roles for Wales |
| (2 days later) | |
| Wales face an experimental Australia back division in Saturday's Test at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. | Wales face an experimental Australia back division in Saturday's Test at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. |
| Wallabies coach John Connolly has named Stephen Larkham, who has played all his international rugby either at fly-half or full-back, at inside centre. | Wallabies coach John Connolly has named Stephen Larkham, who has played all his international rugby either at fly-half or full-back, at inside centre. |
| Larkham will partner Lote Tuqiri - who usually plays as a winger - in a new-look Australian midfield. | Larkham will partner Lote Tuqiri - who usually plays as a winger - in a new-look Australian midfield. |
| Mat Rogers is at fly-half with Matt Giteau, more comfortable as a three-quarter, his fellow half-back. | Mat Rogers is at fly-half with Matt Giteau, more comfortable as a three-quarter, his fellow half-back. |
| href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">News conference: Australia assistant coach Scott Johnson | |
| Giteau gets his chance in the number nine shirt as George Gregan has been rested for the tour and Sam Cordingley is injured. | Giteau gets his chance in the number nine shirt as George Gregan has been rested for the tour and Sam Cordingley is injured. |
| Cameron Shepherd secures the available wing berth with one of the few impressive displays in the Australia midweek side's 24-16 defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea on Wednesday night. | Cameron Shepherd secures the available wing berth with one of the few impressive displays in the Australia midweek side's 24-16 defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea on Wednesday night. |
| We need to see if Matt Giteau can play scrum-half Australia coach John Connolly | We need to see if Matt Giteau can play scrum-half Australia coach John Connolly |
| Up front, open-side flanker Phil Waugh, who captains the side, and lock Nathan Sharpe are the only survivors from the Australia pack demolished in Wales' 24-22 victory 12 months ago. | Up front, open-side flanker Phil Waugh, who captains the side, and lock Nathan Sharpe are the only survivors from the Australia pack demolished in Wales' 24-22 victory 12 months ago. |
| The front row is made up of 21-stone Queenslander Rodney Blake, hooker Tai McIsaac and Al Baxter, who has switched to the loose-head side. | The front row is made up of 21-stone Queenslander Rodney Blake, hooker Tai McIsaac and Al Baxter, who has switched to the loose-head side. |
| Waugh, capped 52 times by the Wallabies, takes over the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Stirling Mortlock, who is expected to return for next week's Test against Italy in Rome. | Waugh, capped 52 times by the Wallabies, takes over the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Stirling Mortlock, who is expected to return for next week's Test against Italy in Rome. |
| "Phil has been a tremendous player for Australia rugby," Connolly said. | "Phil has been a tremendous player for Australia rugby," Connolly said. |
| "He's one of those players who wears their heart on their sleeve and he thoroughly deserves his chance to captain his country." | "He's one of those players who wears their heart on their sleeve and he thoroughly deserves his chance to captain his country." |
| There is no place in the 22-man squad for back-row George Smith, who captained Australia against the Ospreys. | There is no place in the 22-man squad for back-row George Smith, who captained Australia against the Ospreys. |
| "We need to see if Matt (Giteau) can play scrum-half, can Stephen (Larkham) play at 12 and a number of issues among the forwards," Connolly added. | "We need to see if Matt (Giteau) can play scrum-half, can Stephen (Larkham) play at 12 and a number of issues among the forwards," Connolly added. |
| "That's why George (Smith) is not in the 22-man squad. However, the goal is always to win and we will be aiming to do that on Saturday." | "That's why George (Smith) is not in the 22-man squad. However, the goal is always to win and we will be aiming to do that on Saturday." |
| The 23-year-old, who had spent most of 2006 on the sidelines due to a shoulder reconstruction, spent the night in hospital after landing heavily at a line-out. | The 23-year-old, who had spent most of 2006 on the sidelines due to a shoulder reconstruction, spent the night in hospital after landing heavily at a line-out. |
| A decision has yet to be taken on his future involvement in the tour. | A decision has yet to be taken on his future involvement in the tour. |
| Australia team v Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff):C Latham (Queensland Reds); C Rathbone (ACT Brumbies), L Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs), S Larkham (ACT Brumbies), C Shepherd (Western Force); M Rogers (NSW Waratahs), M Giteau (Western Force); A Baxter (NSW Waratahs), T McIsaac (Western Force), R Blake (Queensland Reds), N Sharpe (Western Force), D Vickerman (NSW Waratahs), R Elsom (NSW Waratahs), P Waugh (NSW Waratahs, captain), W Palu (NSW Waratahs).Replacements: B Cannon (Western Force), B Robinson (NSW Waratahs), M Chisholm (ACT Brumbies), S Hoiles (ACT Brumbies), J Valentine (Queensland Reds), M Gerrard (ACT Brumbies), A Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies). | Australia team v Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff):C Latham (Queensland Reds); C Rathbone (ACT Brumbies), L Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs), S Larkham (ACT Brumbies), C Shepherd (Western Force); M Rogers (NSW Waratahs), M Giteau (Western Force); A Baxter (NSW Waratahs), T McIsaac (Western Force), R Blake (Queensland Reds), N Sharpe (Western Force), D Vickerman (NSW Waratahs), R Elsom (NSW Waratahs), P Waugh (NSW Waratahs, captain), W Palu (NSW Waratahs).Replacements: B Cannon (Western Force), B Robinson (NSW Waratahs), M Chisholm (ACT Brumbies), S Hoiles (ACT Brumbies), J Valentine (Queensland Reds), M Gerrard (ACT Brumbies), A Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies). |
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