Barnes handed talisman Cooper's spot
Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:30
Come in No.12: Berrick Barnes gets his chance. (c) Gallo
Waratahs centre Berrick Barnes has been recalled to replace the suspended Quade Cooper in one of two changes to Australia's starting line-up for Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against New Zealand.
Flyhalf Cooper was suspended for two weeks for a dangerous tackle in the second half of Australia's 30-13 win over defending champion South Africa in Brisbane last weekend. He has appealed the ban.
Barnes was included in the starting line-up on Tuesday at inside centre, with Matt Giteau shifting one spot in to flyhalf. Stephen Moore replaces Saia Faingaa at hooker in the only other personnel change to the run-on team. Faingaa, in turn, drops down to the bench.
Giteau and Barnes will be combining at 10 and 12 for the first time this year, but have played in tandem in those positions in 15 of Australia's last 33 Tests - dating to the 2008 match against Ireland at Melbourne, which was coach Robbie Deans's first in charge of the Wallabies.
Barnes is only making his second appearance in the starting line-up this season, after starting at inside centre - as a late replacement for Giteau, ironically - in the 27-17 win over England at Perth last month.
Moore was preferred to Faingaa after coming off the bench in the second half of the win over South Africa to make his 47th Test appearance, and his first since recovering from a broken jaw.
In a slight boost for Faingaa, his twin brother Anthony was included on the replacements bench as an inside back after Barnes was elevated to the starting XV.
Matt Hodgson was also included on the bench at the expense of Ben McCalman. Hodgson was a late withdrawal from the Springboks match due to a groin strain.
Veteran Nathan Sharpe will equal the record of World Cup-winning captain John Eales for most caps earned by a Wallabies lock when he makes his 84th Test appearance.
* New Zealand picked up two bonus-point wins over South Africa at home to start the Tri-Nations and lead the competition with ten points - six clear of Australia. The Melbourne match will be New Zealand's first on the road this season.
Australia: 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 Maafu, 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.
Date: Saturday, July 31
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (SA)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Kaplan (SA), Cobus Wessels (SA)
SAPA
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