Smith dropped and new back three for Wallabies

Former stand-in skipper George Smith has been dropped and there are three other personnel changes and one positional alteration in the Wallabies starting side for Saturday’s historic Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Japan.

Wingers Digby Ioane and Peter Hynes, centre Ryan Cross and No.8 Wycliff Palu are the new faces from the run on combination which lost the closing Tri-Nations match in New Zealand last month.

Adam Ashley-Cooper has reverted from centre to fullback in the place of James O’Connor.

Matt Giteau has retained his No.10 amid recent speculation that Berrick Barnes could move in from inside centre, although the two playmakers will likely rotate roles during the game.

Meanwhile, Rob Horne has returned to Australia because of a hamstring injury. He has been replaced in the touring squad by Tyrone Smith.

O’Connor is listed among the run on reserves, alongside Smith. Matt Dunning also makes his return from injury among the substitutes. He and Ioane, who have both been sidelined by injury this year, have not featured for Australia since last year’s Spring Tour of Europe.

Ashley-Cooper has started 13 Tests for Australia in the number 15 jersey over the past two seasons; the most recent of which was against South Africa at Cape Town in the second match of the Tri-Nations. His last four Test appearances have all come in the midfield, three at outside centre, and one at inside centre.

“Returning Adam to fullback helps with the balance of the side,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said. “It is not a slight on the performance of James O’Connor at all. He’s already had a big year, which it must be remembered has been his first at this level. We’re wary of over exposing James and will be looking to manage his involvements through this tour.”

Ashley-Cooper’s relocation, plus the absence of former captain Stirling Mortlock due to a torn calf, has opened the way for Cross to return at centre, where he played during the Test win over the All Blacks in Sydney last year.

Saturday will be his 16th Test, and his third start of the year, after Cross previously featured in the run on XV against Italy at Melbourne and South Africa at Perth. “Ryan has worked hard on the training paddock to gain this opportunity,” Deans said.

Likewise Hynes and Palu gain their third starts of the campaign, with Hynes having featured in the run on XV against Italy (Melbourne) and South Africa (Perth) while Palu started in the first two Tri-Nations matches in Auckland and Cape Town.

The addition of Cross and Palu provide the Wallabies with added size in the midfield and amongst the loose trio, where Palu has swapped duties with Smith from the Wellington Test.

He will combine with openside David Pocock and the new Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom, who becomes Australia’s 76th Test captain.

While the match will be a big occasion personally for Australia’s new skipper, he said it is a massive event for the entire touring party.

“None of us were happy with our most recent performance,” Elsom said. “This is the first Bledisloe Cup Test to have been played in Japan and our final opportunity against the All Blacks for the year, so it’s vital for us to produce a complete performance.”

Elsom added it was important for the confidence of his touring group that it maximised its opportunities this weekend. “That’s not something we have done of late, and we know more than anyone that it is critical,” Elsom said.

Deans echoed his skipper’s sentiments, saying there was still plenty for the Wallabies to play for even though the Bledisloe Cup could no longer be won by Australia this year.

“The significance of the occasion - with it being the first Bledisloe Cup game to be played in front of a Japanese audience - demands a spectacle, and I’m sure that you will see that,” Deans said.

“These are two proud nations, and the players are proud to be putting on their national jumpers. I’m sure that will reflect in their performance.”(source)