Wallabies Tri-Nations Team Named to Play Boks

Latest: Matt Hodgson ruled out – Ben McCalman now on the bench

Robbie Deans has named his first Tri-Nations test team for 2010 and it’s much as expected containing only the odd positional surprise.

There is one test debutant, Rob Simmons from Queensland, who features off the bench.

Drew Mitchell has regained his wing position due to injuries to Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane. He had been dropped after the Irish test for defensive lapses.

Much speculation has centred on Cameron Shepherd to make a return after last appearing for the Wallabies against France in June 2008, when he broke his leg.

But that is not to be. He was in some discomfort during training this week and misses the cut. Kurtley Beale is selected on the bench in his place.

In an interesting positional change, James O’Connor is selected on the wing to allow for Adam Ashley-Cooper’s steadier influence at the back both in defence and ‘bomb disposal’.

Probably the most concerning aspect of the team is the number of players who will be underdone due to injury. Coming back to top level rugby is Robinson, Moore, Sharpe, Genia, Horne and Simmons.

Most have only played a few games of club rugby recently so you’d expect Deans to use his bench more proactively than he has previously.

To that end, Stephen Moore starts his campaign off the bench after Saia Faingaa’s relatively successful June efforts.

Queensland’s Scott Higginbottom was also a touted selection; however, he’s another with only half a club game under his belt so it’s no surprise he hasn’t appeared as yet.

The selectors have resisted temptation to drop Matt Giteau from the starting side although I’m not sure it would have seriously been canvassed.

He’s Mr Experience in an essentially virginal backline and they’ll be hoping that the bigger tests bring out the best in him.

Mumm and Brown are probably a little lucky to have retained their places and will need big games to stay in the squad.

The Springboks appear to be at their most vulnerable after two significant defeats at the hands of a re-energised All Black team. They’ve got on-field discipline problems and their aerial tactics have been found out and negated.

Brisbane hasn’t been a happy hunting ground in the past for the Bokke and they’ll be hurting from their recent shellackings.

The Wallabies will want to use their talented backline but they’ll need at least parity at the set piece and breakdown to be able to do this from the front foot.

This will be the $64m dollar question….