Advertisement
moore the merrier

Cheika chops six as wounded Wallabies turn sights on Italy

Conor O’Shea is still ruing a missed opportunity against Fiji as he takes his team to Brisbane.

2Paddy Jackson tackles Stephen Moore James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

STEPHEN MOORE WILL return to captain Australia after coach Michael Cheika axed six players for this Saturday’s Test with Italy in Brisbane.

Moore will start at hooker in place of Tatafu Polota-Nau in a shake-up following last week’s much-criticised 24-19 loss to Scotland in Sydney.

There are three further changes to the Wallabies pack  with Brumbies pair, prop Scott Sio and lock Rory Arnold, joined by Lopeti Timani at No.8 in place of rookie prop Tom Robertson, lock Sam Carter and Scott Higginbotham.

“Moore’s obviously the captain of the team and he’s got a lot of experience,” said Cheika, who will wait until tomorrow before naming his eight replacements.

“Polota-Nau’s still putting out a big challenge to him and I want to give Moore the chance to respond.

It’s Moore’s chance to get back in the starting boots and Polota-Nau’s opportunity to finish from the bench, if he gets selected as a finisher.”

Moore will become the 10th most-capped international player, surpassing Italian Martin Castrogiovanni and England’s Jason Leonard in his 120th Test.

The hooker is 19 games away from Australia’s Test record held by George Gregan with 139.

“It’s a big week, no doubt, particularly after last week against Scotland,” Moore said. “The game can’t come quick enough for everyone.”

Australia Scotland Rugby Union File photo: Cheika chats with Michael Hooper and Bernard Foley. Rick Rycroft Rick Rycroft

Melbourne Rebels flyer Sefa Naivalu will add to his six Tests, while Rob Horne returns for Tevita Kuridrani to partner Karmichael Hunt in the centres.

Horne’s last Australia appearance was 12 months ago in the final Test against England in Sydney. The centre is Northampton-bound and so will be out of contention for the 2019 World Cup, and was not in Cheika’s original squad until a late injury to Samu Kerevi (ankle).

“We’re missing Samu at the moment and there’s some other players who I think have been going well in Super Rugby,” Cheika said, But I think you’ve got to earn that jersey and Rob Horne, since I’ve seen him in camp, I think he has.”

Tito Tebaldi runs in a try 2017 Treviso's Tito Tebaldi is back in the Azzuri side for the first time in three years. Camersport / Ian Cook/INPHO Camersport / Ian Cook/INPHO / Ian Cook/INPHO

Italy boss Conor O’Shea meanwhile, has made three changes from the side who coughed up a defeat from the jaws of victory against Fiji last time out.

Scrum-half Tito Tebaldi is in the starting side for the first time in three years, with back row Andries Van Schalkwyk at No.8 and Marco Lazzaroni in line for a debut off the bench.

georgian channel / YouTube

“We came so close,” said O’Shea, “we should’ve beaten Fiji on the balance looking back on the game but we know this is a step-up in class,” O’Shea said.

“We’ve a lot of changes to make, we’re on a huge growth curve in Italian rugby.

Changes that should’ve been made years ago, we’re making now with group of young players who are learning a lot, getting better.”

The Wallabies are yet to lose to Italy in their 16 encounters, winning 23-20 in their last clash in Brisbane in 1994.

The Italy Test is the Wallabies’ last before August’s Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand, with players heading back to their Super Rugby clubs next week for the final two home and away rounds of the competition.

Australia

15. Israel Folau
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
13. Rob Horne
12. Karmichael Hunt
11. Sefa Naivalu
10. Bernard Foley
9. Will Genia

1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen moore (Capt.)
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Rory Arnold
5. Adam Coleman
6. Ned Henigan
7. Michael Hooper
8. Lopeti Timani

Italy

15. Edoardo Padovani
14. Angelo Esposito
13. Michele Campagnaro
12. Tommaso Boni
11. Giovambattista Venditti
10. Tommaso Allan
9. Tito Tebaldi

1. Andrea Lovotti
2. Luca Bigi
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Marco Fuser
5. Dean Budd
6. Francesco Minto (capt)
7. Maxime Mbanda
8. Andries Van Schalkwyk

Replacements:

16. Ornel Gega
17. Federico Zani
18. Pietro Ceccarelli
19. Marco Lazzaroni
20. Abraham Steyn
21. Edoardo Gori
22. Carlo Canna
23 Tommaso Benvenuti

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Wasps to kick off Connacht’s pre-season schedule before Pat Lam returns to Galway

‘We’ve played some lovely rugby’: Lions will show positive, aggressive streak in attack, says Gatland

Your Voice
Readers Comments
1
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.