WALLABY COACH ROBBIE DEANS has named three debutants in his team to face the Lions in the First Test on Saturday.
Deans gives first international start to Israel Folau on the right wing, with the Brumbies pair of Christian Leali’ifano (inside centre) and Ben Mowen (blindside) also included. The starting team, captained by lock James Horwill, still boasts a combined 519 Test caps.
Waratahs’ versatile back Berrick Barnes gets the fullback berth ahead of Kurtley Beale, who starts on the bench, while Adam Ashley Cooper (outside centre) and Digby Ioane (left wing) are experienced and dangerous hands in the backline. The half back pairing is relatively untested at the top level – James O’Connor of Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Red scrumhalf Will Genia.
In the front row, hooker Stephen Moore will pack down between Ben Alexander and the dangerous Benn Robinson. Horwill is partnered in the second row by Kane Douglas of the NSW Waratahs.
The ‘Tahs provide two of the back row with Wycliff Palu and Michael Hooper lining out at the back of the Australia pack with new boy Mowen. Lions coach Warren Gatland names his starting XV at 3am on Tuesday morning.
Australia XV to play Lions: Berrick Barnes, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’ifano, Digby Ioane; James O’Connor, Will Genia; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander; Kane Douglas, James Horwill (c); Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu.Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Liam Gill, Nick Phipps, Pat McCabe, Kurtley Beale.
Its a good team, much more attacking based then most thought and Deans at last looks like he is rewarding players on form and not solely on name
Lealifiano at 12 is a superb player who offer much more than the direct pat maccabe. Like Barnes he can also change to 10 so that gives good interchanging options on who will be the first receiver. Folau has been a sensation and due to his state of origin experience shouldnt be too fazed in his debut. Lions will do well not to kick often to the former AFL man. With Digby recovered from injury and Beale on the bench the backline is dangerous. Ben Mowen is the leading lineout taker in the super comp and has been outstanding captaining the Brumbies this year. Young Hooper at seven dominated the end of year tour last autumn and is supported from the bench by another outstanding young fletcher in Gill.
However questions still remaining over JOC ten and the headspace of Beale…
One in 4 year event, one in 12 for the wallabies, should be an absolute belter
I think joc is starting ten rather than fb or wing due to his defensive ability as the lions tactics have been to vash it down the ten chanel and then spread it wide o putting joc there means it wont be as successful. Also with barnes and lealifano there i’d say they’ll kick for territory before giving it to ashly-cooper,folau,ioane and they’ll probably kick to north and cuthbert z lot seeing as how neither plyer kicks the ball much and there for win the kicking battle giving them the territory they need to get ioane and folau into the game and that will be where they are most dangerous. The pack also has the ability to play a tight game. Everyone is saying that the lions have great strength in depth but so do the wallabies and they have a much superior bench. So seeing as the first match is at suncorp which is historically a good hunting ground for the aussies that coupled with how much we underestimate them and they’re better gench means, its set up for a 2-1 series win for the wallabies