News

100 not out for George Smith

July 14 2009

Saturday's opening Tri-Nations clash between New Zealand and Australia, will see Wallabies flanker George Smith win his 100th Test cap in Auckland.

One of the central figures in Australia's strong start to the international season, Smith, will play his centurion match on the same day that he celebrates his 29th birthday.

In other team news, number eight Wycliff Palu returns in the only change to the Wallabies starting XV. Palu has been included after recovering from a broken hand and will be playing his 29th Test.

He replaces Dean Mumm, with the Western Force loose forward Richard Brown switching from the back of the scrum to the blindside flank position, from where he will start a Test match for the first time.

Mumm is on a bench that features a five-two split, with Reds scrum-half Will Genia and 19-year-old James O'Connor the only back-line replacements.

The forward-orientated make-up on the bench allows for the inclusion of two openside flankers, David Pocock and Phil Waugh.

The 21-year-old Genia, who is a newcomer to the Wallabies squad for the Tri-Nations, will become the 835th player to have appeared for Australia in Test matches should he be required to take the field at Eden Park.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says the selection represents the strongest combination available for what is shaping as the stiffest Test Australia has faced to date in 2009.

"We have made good progress, and the relative consistency of our selection reflects that, but no-one is getting ahead of themselves," Deans said.

"Playing New Zealand at Eden Park is going to be a major step up on what we have faced so far.

"You only have to look at the history in terms of the All Blacks' outstanding record at Eden Park and their current circumstance to appreciate the size of the task that is in front of us."

The Wallabies haven't won at Eden Park since 1986 while New Zealand have won their last 10 trans-Tasman Tests in Auckland and have not lost at the ground to anyone since France prevailed 23-20 in 1994 - twenty matches ago.

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Richard Brown, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 David Pocock, 21 Will Genia, 22 James O'Connor.

Date: Saturday, July 18
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)