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Wallabies team unchanged for first time in 26-match Rennie reign
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has opted for stability as his side searches for back-to-back wins, naming an unchanged starting line-up for the clash with South Africa in Sydney on Saturday. It’s the first time in his 26-match reign he hasn’t made a change to the starting 15, having made at least four in every Test so far this year, many forced by injury.
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It means Rennie is backing in the same personnel to tidy up some significant flaws from the 25-17 Rugby Championship Wallabies win against the Springboks in Adelaide last weekend, including deficient set-piece work that saw them win just seven of their 13 lineouts.
The Wallabies will again have their all-Brumbies front row of James Slipper, Folau Fainga’a and Allan Alaalatoa over bench options Taniela Tupou, Scott Sio and Dave Porecki, while outside back Andrew Kellaway will again have to make his impact off the pine.
Noah Lolesio holds the No10 jersey after impressing last Saturday, with full-back Reece Hodge continuing in that role and Tom Wright, the man he replaced there for the first Test, staying on a wing. The only change to the 23-man squad sees scrum-half Jake Gordon grab a spot on the bench in place of Tate McDermott.
Rennie said the Wallabies’ win in Adelaide had earned the same personnel the chance to prove if they could do it again at a sold-out Allianz Stadium.
“It’s great to be able to have some consistency in selection with the team that played last week earning the right to wear the jersey again in Sydney. While rapt with last week’s effort, we’re well aware of the challenge a wounded Springbok poses and the intensity we will require again on Saturday night.”
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber has taken the opposite approach, swinging the axe with eight changes to his injury-hit team. Notably, five-eighth Handre Pollard misses with a knee injury and will be replaced in the No10 shirt by Damian Willemse, whose full-back role will be taken by veteran Willie le Roux.
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Earlier, Wallabies assistant coach Scott Wisemantel called on the team to be more ruthless in delivering a complete display, having coughed up a bonus point in allowing two late tries in the Adelaide Test. “You’re filthy that you miss that point, you’re absolutely livid,” he said.
“We are really disappointed with that last eight-to-ten-minute period and we had chances there, even when it was three tries to one we had another chance off a set piece to do something. We have got to be a little bit more cut-throat, a little bit more ruthless in that regard, so it’s definitely something we’ve spoken about and we have worked on.”
Wallabies (vs Springboks, Saturday)
1. James Slipper (c) (120 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (30 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (57 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (31 Tests)
5. Matt Philip (25 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway (3 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (5 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (24 Tests)
9. Nic White (53 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (13 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (48 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (19 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (18 Tests)
14. Tom Wright (15 Tests)
15. Reece Hodge (58 Tests)
Replacements
16. David Porecki (4 Tests)
17. Scott Sio (72 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (43 Tests)
19. Darcy Swain (14 Tests)
20. Rob Leota (11 Tests)
21. Pete Samu (25 Tests)
22. Jake Gordon (13 Tests)
23. Andrew Kellaway (15 Tests)
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Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments