Wallabies introduce four new players in season opener against Samoa - Rugby news
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has decided to introduce four new faces in their upcoming season opener test match against Samoa, on Sunday, July 17. Wallaby coach, Robbie Deans made the announcement of the 30-members squad on July 13 and revealed that
four new players have been included in the side for the single test against Samoa. Robbie Deans told the media that Nick Phipps, the find of Super Rugby championship 2011 for Melbourne Rebels, has been named along with three other players to represent Australia
for the first time.
The other three players who have been named for the Wallaby test against Samoa include New South Wales Waratahs lock Sitaleki Timani and two promising players from Super Rugby winning side Reds, James Hanson and Beau Robinson.
Nick Phipps, who won the Australian Super Rugby Rookie of the Year award last month, has been elevated into the playing 15 along with Sitaleki Timani. Meanwhile, the other two new players will start the game from the benches.
The Wallabies coach, Robbie Deans, also announced Rocky Elsom as the skipper of the side to start the game at blindside flanker in their forthcoming contest. Rocky Elsom has been out of action for a while and will play his second game of the year against
Samoa.
While making the announcement of the Wallabies team for the Sydney test, Robbie Deans said, “They've refocused quickly on the task at hand representing their country, which is why we've included a good group of those players in the match-day 22. They'll
get their opportunity.”
Talking about Queensland Reds players James Hanson, Beau Robinson and Quade Cooper, the coach said that, “Given the high most of those blokes had last weekend, it's my experience that it does take a little while to come down from that.”
The Wallabies will go against Samoa with the following line up: Mark Gerrard, James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Matt Giteau, Nick Phipps, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, Rocky Elsom (capt), Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander,
Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: James Hanson, TBA, Dan Vickerman, Scott Higginbotham, Beau Robinson, Will Genia, Kurtley Beale.
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