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Wallabies make changes

Wallabies make changes

23/11/2009 9:30 PM

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The embattled Wallabies have made several changes to the starting team that lost to Scotland on the weekend, handing Australia Under-20 and Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua his senior debut.

The Wallabies will tackle the Cardiff Blues on Tuesday night in an effort to bounce back from the disappointing 9-8 loss to Scotland.

The other changes see Pekahou Cowan included to start at loosehead prop, in the place of Salesi Ma'afu, after coming off the bench as a hooker against Gloucester.

James O'Connor also starts at fullback with Kurtley Beale, who filled that role against Gloucester, switching to wing in the place of Drew Mitchell.

O'Connor is one of seven players in the starting XV who back up from last weekend's Test match in Edinburgh, although centre Ryan Cross is the only player who starts at Cardiff who also featured in the run on list for the Test match.

Kepu, Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, No 8 Richard Brown, halfback Luke Burgess and lock Dean Mumm are the other starters playing their second match in four days.

Ma'afu is relegated to the bench, after featuring on the tighthead side of the scrum at Gloucester, with Sekope Kepu switching from loosehead to tighthead to accommodate the inclusion of Cowan.

Mumm again leads the midweek side, after making a successful fist of his first time in charge when Australia over-powered English Premiership side Gloucester 36-5 at Kingsholm earlier in the month.

Bench inclusions lock Mark Chisholm, flanker George Smith and inside centre Quade Cooper all started in the 8-9 loss to Scotland at the weekend.

The bench also sees the inclusion of squad newcomer Luke Morahan, who joined the team last week in Edinburgh as the replacement for Stirling Mortlock.

The Cardiff squad also features former NSW Waratahs and 2007 Wallaby flyhalf Sam Norton-Knight, ex All Black and Blues No 8 Xavier Rush, and two former Crusader All Blacks in fullback Ben Blair and the recently arrived centre Casey Laulala, both of whom have previously worked with Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

Wallabies team to play Cardiff
15. James O'Connor            (Western Force)
14. Lachie Turner                  (NSW Waratahs)
13. Ryan Cross                     (Western Force)
12. Tyrone Smith                   (Brumbies)
11. Kurtley Beale                   (NSW Waratahs)
10. Matt Toomua                   (Brumbies)
9. Luke Burgess                    (NSW Waratahs)
8. Richard Brown                  (Western Force)
7. Matt Hodgson                    (Western Force)
6. Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies)
5. Dean Mumm                      (NSW Waratahs, captain)
4. Dave Dennis                     (NSW Waratahs)
3. Sekope Kepu                    (NSW Waratahs)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
1. Pekahou Cowan               (Western Force)

Run on reserves:

16. Salesi Ma'afu                  (Brumbies)
17. Matt Dunning                   (Western Force)
18. Mark Chisholm                (Brumbies)
19. George Smith                 (Brumbies)
20. Richard Kingi                  (Queensland Reds)
21. Quade Cooper                (Queensland Reds)
22. Luke Morahan                 (Queensland Reds)

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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