Ruled out: Ben Alexander
Australia's injury woes continued ahead of Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup clash against NZ with prop Ben Alexander ruled out with a wrist injury.
Alexander is the second player to drop out of the Wallabies squad since it was announced earlier this week. Reserve hooker Saia Fainga'a withdrew after breaking his hand at training.
James Slipper was reinstated to the starting front row as Alexander's replacement on Thursday, with Sekope Kepu covering Slipper on the bench after recovering from a knee injury.
James Hanson is the new reserve hooker.
Should Hanson take the field in Brisbane, he will become the 12th player to make his international debut for Australia this year.
Australia (revised): 15 Mike Harris, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 James Slipper, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Brett Sheehan, 22 Drew Mitchell.
Date: Saturday, October 20
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20:00 (10:00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Comments
tweedledee49 says...
@trinats, but remember apply kryptonite first next time. Im only telling you because i dont like seeing you on the sidelines... i enjoy watching you...get smashed
Posted 05:19 19th October 2012
Mace says...
That's the one Robbie keep em dropping like flies mate work those useless auzzie b@rstards so they'll be prime like lamb to the slaughter!!! Herd Trinats is going to bring his boots don't know why probably to take the place of that thieving lil mozzie to give King Richie a cheap shot while he's not looking. But King Richie won't even notice coz we will be too busy winning hahahahaha!!!!
Posted 04:54 19th October 2012
georgesmith says...
Oh no! I don't know which one is worse... B.Alexander ruled out or S. Kepu being called on the bench. Wallabies are doomed under rotten egg R. Deans. B. Alexander is a quality player and he will be missed. I'd have preferred S. Kepu to sustain another injury and be ruled out of the Wallabies and Waratahs for-ever.
Posted 04:38 19th October 2012
rugbylover says...
The Aussies are showing the RMA [right mental attitude] in talking up their chances. There's no point in even turning up unless you hope (expect there's a chance) to win. Shades of Lawrence Dalaglio in days gone by.
It's a two horse race.
I expect the AB's to win - but, no doubt, the Aussies will give it all.
As they always say, "We know how to beat these guys." They (probably) think, "...after all, they're only Kiwis..........."
My money is on the NZers.
Posted 21:18 18th October 2012
UBA05 says...
On the Faingaa story, I joked about the Aussies taking up touch rugby. Im not joking anymore
Posted 19:54 18th October 2012
new_j4a says...
Well at least it'll be decent SH rugby, not that 5 penalty kick rubbish that that scum Sincero supports from Leinster.
At NZ-14 for even money, this has to be the closest thing to a racing certainty this year. Trinats, shall I remortgage the house and put the lot on the ABs to win by 20+
Posted 18:49 18th October 2012
Trader2 says...
Talking about Wannabies biting the dust, just heard on Fox Sports that Genia has declared himself "open to offers" Another rat deserting the ship or perhaps a frustrated player trying to up the ante but really what the hell are the ARU doing if Oz's best player needs to resort to this stuff. I know they squandered the 2003 WC profit but surely there is enough left to pay Genia what he deserves. Cooper would be no loss but Genia is another story all together. And what is with all these injuries, something is very wrong here, there are too many agenda's around Oz rugby at the moment.
Posted 14:35 18th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
tweedledee49:
If McCaw was on side he wouldn't cop my knee !!!
Posted 13:47 18th October 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
...and yet they are still the 2nd best side in the world.
I mean NZ are so far ahead of EVERYONE that the real competition starts from no.2 down. Forget NZ they're basically that big blue dude in the watchmen movie with the deathray eyes. You mess with them then you're toast, you may as well jump into an active volcano. Then you have Aus and SA. as a subgroup followed by France, Wales, England, Ireland, Argentina and Scotland who can beat each other and maybe throw in a big performance vs Aus and SA, but are also just as likely to get thumped by SA and Aus.
The bottom line is, if you take god-like NZ out of the equation, Australia, dispite all the backroom issues and injuries, are the best of the rest.
You'd think from the headlines that they shouldn't be up there , but they are. Maybe thats down to the current laws / refs favouring them? Maybe its down to the players. Just look at Nathan Sharpe. If everyone plays like him then no wonder they are where they are. They certainly won my respect over the course of the rugby championship and for me Oz are the arch villians. I hate losing to Oz.
Posted 12:12 18th October 2012
tweedledee49 says...
@trinats, but I thought you recently just had knee surgery? and remember not to use your body this time to hit McCaw, you might break your knee again
Posted 11:24 18th October 2012
tha_mai says...
good luck to you TriNats have you got someone to tie the shoelaces for you?
one Australian win this weekend may be Casey Stoner at Sepang MotoGP, that's where I'm headed tomorrow; last year missed RWC final because of it, this time a match of little consequence.
Easy to say it's a poor Qantas Wallabies side, but while not all the players may be the #1 choice, still plenty of experienced players there and with home support they'll put on a good show. Hanson the only uncapped player - sure Mealamu or Hore will welcome him to international front row club.
The other Oz rugby forum - someone said he hoped the QWs go down like the Spartans, but if my history is correct that's not the best analogy - I think the Spartans were crucified!
NZ by 30-15..
Posted 11:18 18th October 2012
Kiwikev says...
This is bordering on the ludicrous with all of the injuries! That said, I expect the Wobblies to put up a better fight than many people expect...
If the AB are on their game, this could get ugly in the last 20...
Posted 10:57 18th October 2012
frasinlucian says...
i am looking forward for the game in 24 november to see a great victory of italy
Posted 10:47 18th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
I'm taking my boots to the game, just in case !
Posted 10:29 18th October 2012
kid_diablo says...
@new_j4a: that wasn't a lesson, simply because people learn things from lessons. come november kidney will show he learned nothing and do the same all over again.
Posted 10:24 18th October 2012
melkdave says...
This is starting to become silly now ,if it carries on ,Australia wont have any players to tour with
Posted 09:57 18th October 2012
kinsman says...
@newj4a, I think NZ has given Aust enough players already. Surely it's time Australia stepped up and provided the Wallabies with some players...
Posted 09:43 18th October 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Didn't realise they had any props.
Posted 09:33 18th October 2012
new_j4a says...
Can the ABs maybe lend them a few players off the bench and try to make a game of it? Otherwise I see another another thrashing which approaches the 60-nil lesson given to the Irish....
Posted 08:08 18th October 2012