Aussie Wrap (Thurs)

3 Apr 2008

Keo.co.za brings you the latest news from Australia’s franchises.

McKay, Horua to miss Bull run

Force pair Lachlan McKay and Tamaiti Horua have both been withdrawn from Friday’s clash with the Bulls.

McKay has a groin injury and will be replaced at inside centre by Scott Staniforth which sees Nick Cummins come into the starting line-up on the wing. Durban-born Dane Haylett-Petty is called up to the bench.

Horua is suffering from a rib ailment and his spot on the wood will now be occupied by Matt Hodgson.

Force – 1 Pek Cowan, 2 Tai McIsaac, 3 AJ Whalley, 4 Tom Hockings, 5 Nathan Sharpe (capt), 6 Scott Fava, 7 David Pocock, 8 Richard Brown, 9 Chris O’Young, 10 Matt Giteau (v/c), 11 Drew Mitchell, 12 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 14 Nick Cummins, 15 Cameron Shepherd.
Subs: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Troy Takiari, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 James Stannard, 21 Josh Tatupu, 22 Dane Haylett-Petty.

Burgess gets debut for Tahs

Young scrumhalf Luke Burgess will make his starting debut for the Waratahs against the Blues on Saturday.

Burgess replaces Brett Sheehan, who drops to the bench, while Wallabies eighthman David Lyons could get his 100th Super Rugby cap if he gets a run off the wood. Lyons has not played since the World Cup when he dislocated and broke his ankle.

Waratahs: 15 Sam Norton-Knight, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (capt), 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.

Subs: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Al Baxter, 18 David Lyons, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Rob Horne, 22 Alfie Mafi.

Reds’ skipper returns

The Reds made only one change for their final tour game against the Cheetahs with scrumhalf and captain Sam Cordingley returning.

Two enforced changes have altered the bench, as Digby Ioane (broken finger) is replaced by Brando Va’aulu, and Rodney Blake’s injured ankle means Ben Coutts takes his place. The continuity in selection is a positive for the Reds, but coach Phil Mooney said they are still wary of the winless Cheetahs.

“The Cheetahs are a far better side than their 13th place suggests and they’re going to break that duck sooner or later. We’d just prefer it was later,” Mooney told AAP.

Queensland – 15 Chris Latham, 14 Clinton Schifcofske, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Sam Cordingley (capt), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 David Croft, 6 John Roe, 5 James Horwill, 4 Van Humphries, 3 Dayna Edwards, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Greg Holmes.

Subs: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Ben Coutts, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Poutasi Luafutu, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Charlie Fetoai, 22 Brando Va’aulu.

This thread will be updated throughout the day…



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