James Slipper will grow to be solely the third Australian to play in 4 Rugby World Cup tournaments after coach Eddie Jones on Friday named him as one in every of three modifications for the Pool C conflict with Fiji at 1:45am on Monday (AEST).
The 34-year-old is available in at tight-head for the injured Taniela Tupou, who has suffered a minor hamstring pressure, and can earn his 132nd Test cap within the match in Saint Etienne.
“It’s a remarkable achievement to play in four World Cups,” Jones stated on the workforce announcement.
“Particularly as he started off as a tight-head then volunteered to go to loose-head and he’s volunteering to go back to tight-head.
“It’s a real testament to his courage, to his resilience, to how much he loves the game and he loves playing for the Wallabies and we think on Sunday he’ll play a pretty big game for us.”
For hooker David Porecki, will probably be business as normal regardless of his new tight-head accomplice.
“No changes. We’ve got our ‘next man up approach’ here, so everyone’s prepared,” he stated about Slipper coming into the workforce.
“He wouldn’t be there if he couldn’t adapt, that’s one of his strengths. He’s experienced and I’ve packed with him before at tight-head and he was spot on there and I fully expect him to do the job well.”
Tupou is affected by a hamstring pressure however Jones stated he could be accessible in a few weeks.
The different change sees Nick Frost accomplice captain Will Skelton at lock with Richie Arnold dropping to the bench.
Skelton was named within the beginning line-up regardless of heading for scans on a calf problem picked up in coaching on Thursday.
Jones stated the second rower could be given “right up until kick-off” to show his health nevertheless studies have emerged that Skelton’s damage could also be a lot worse than first thought, with some ideas he could have really torn his calf.
A torn calf might probably rule the Wallabies captain out of the rest of the World Cup, however for now Jones has nonetheless named the towering lock in his aspect to face Fiji.
“He got a bit of a knock at the end of training. He is just getting some extra medical work now,” Jones stated.
“At this stage he’s still in the team.”
Fellow veteran Nic White will get the nod at scrum-half instead of Tate McDermott, who suffered a concussion in final week’s 35-15 victory over Georgia in Australia’s Pool C opener and is sitting out a 12-day head damage evaluation protocol.
It confirmed a transparent desire from Jones for expertise in what’s in any other case a really younger Wallaby squad on the World Cup, with 33-year-old White picked at scrum-half over Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa, who comes into the matchday 23 on the bench.
“Nic has more experience,” Australia’s assistant coach Pierre-Henry Broncan stated this week. “He can control perhaps more the game than Fines.
“Fines is a Fijian player, he’s an athletic player, very fast. He can carry very well and he’s a strong boy, a very strong boy.
“As a halfback I (would) prefer to play against Nic, I think, because if there is a fight, Fines can be very tough,” the French coach stated.
Jones stated each would have an necessary position on Sunday on the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
“We’ve got two good halfbacks to fill the 80 minutes. Nic will start and little Freddie (Fines-Leleiwasa) will finish and we think both guys will give us a good 80 minutes,” stated Jones.
The coach made three modifications to his bench with hooker Jordan Uelese coming in for Matt Faessler, who alongside backrower Langi Gleeson misses out.
The Wallabies face Fiji in Saint Etienne at 1:45am on Monday AEST.
Wallabies (15-1): Ben Donaldson, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Carter Gordon, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Will Skelton (c), Nick Frost, James Slipper, Dave Porecki, Angus Bell
Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Blake Schoupp, Zane Nonggorr, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Lalakai Foketi, Suliasi Vunivalu
Fiji (15-1): Ilaisa Droasese, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Waisea Nayacalevu (c), Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra, Teti Tela, Simione Kuruvoli, Viliame Mata, Levani Botia, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Isoa Nasilasila, Luke Tagi, Samuel Matavesi, Eroni Mawi
Reserves: Tevita Ikanivere, Peni Ravai, Mesake Doge, Temo Mayanavanua, Albert Tuisue, Frank Lomani, Vilimoni Botitu, Vinaya Habosi
– with news.com.au
Source: www.news.com.au
