Australia reunite Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes for New Zealand match
July 27, 2010
• 'These two have been reunited and we expect them to thrive'
• Wallabies still waiting on Quade Cooper appeal
Australia's coach Robbie Deans has switched Matt Giteau to fly-half and recalled Berrick Barnes as cover for the suspended Quade Cooper in the Wallabies team to play New Zealand in their Tri-Nations fixture in Melbourne on Saturday.
Cooper is appealing a two-week suspension after being cited for lifting Morne Steyn in a tackle during the Wallabies' 30-13 win over South Africa in Brisbane last week. The hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
"We've prepared on the basis that Quade won't be available to us, so we won't contemplate anything other than that until such time it becomes a reality and then we'll deal with it," Deans said.
Giteau, who had been dislodged from his starting fly-half position after Cooper's excellent season in the Super 14, will play inside Barnes, named at centre.
The Barnes-Giteau pairing is their first since the Wallabies were trounced by the All Blacks in Wellington in last year's tournament.
"It's a combination that we were looking at at the end of last year, prior to the end-of-year tour, but Barnesy picked up an injury and we didn't really get the opportunity," Deans added. "Obviously Quade did at that point and he's made the most of it, but these two blokes have been reunited and we expect them to thrive."
The only other change is at hooker where Stephen Moore has been recalled to the starting 15 in place of Saia Faingaa after recovering from a broken jaw.
Australia team to face New Zealand
15 Adam Ashley Cooper, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Will Genia; 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Anthony Faingaa, 22 Kurtley Beale.
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