|
 |
| O'Connor set for first Australia rugby team start |
|
Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 2-Dec-2008 22:02 hrs |
|
| Australian rugby player James O'Connor is pictured during a training in west London, November 10, 2008. O'Connor, the 18-year-old who became the second youngest cap for Australia last month, is to make his first start for the Wallabies in Wednesday's Wembley meeting with the Barbarians. |
| |
|
|
James O'Connor, the 18-year-old who became the second youngest cap for Australia last month, is to make his first start for the Wallabies in Wednesday's Wembley meeting with the Barbarians.. O'Connor, who made his Test debut as a replacement in the 30-20 win over Italy last month, starts at full-back against the all-star invitational side in a match to commemorate the Olympic Gold Medal won by the Wallabies at the 1908 London Games.. Australia coach Robbie Deans has also included uncapped Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin among his replacements.. The Waratahs' Brett Sheehan makes his first appearance of the European tour at scrum-half while flanker George Smith will skipper the side in the absence of injured captain Stirling Mortlock.. Mortlock suffered a head knock in the 21-18 defeat by Wales on Saturday while Matt Giteau (shoulder and ankle injuries) and Nathan Sharpe (fractured thumb) were also ruled out.. Hooker Stephen Moore, winger Peter Hynes and props Al Baxter and Benn Robinson were all left out at the end of a tough tour while winger Lote Tuqiri makes his first start since knee surgery after this year's Tri-Nations.. Australia (15-1). James O'Connor; Lote Tuqiri, Ryan Cross, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane; Quade Cooper, Brett Sheehan; Richard Brown, George Smith (capt.), Dean Mumm; Hugh McMeniman, Mark Chisholm; Matt Dunning, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu. Replacements: Adam Freier, Ben Alexander, Peter Kimlin, David Pocock, Luke Burgess, Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell — AFP
|
