Australia forced to reshuffle after Sharpe injury

03/07/2008 15:03

By Julian Linden

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s preparations for Saturday’s second test against France were turned upside down when giant lock Nathan Sharpe was ruled out after a bizarre training accident on Thursday.

Sharpe, who is the vice-captain of the side and the leader of the forward pack, strained his groin when he stumbled during a practice session, forcing new coach Robbie Deans into some hasty reshuffling for the clash in Brisbane.

Deans promoted Dean Mumm from the reserves to join James Horwill in the second row, while calling up Queensland flanker Hugh McMeniman, who was in Sydney with the Australia A side, to the bench.

Sharpe is the third Australian player to be ruled out of the match because of injury, joining wing Lote Tuqiri and number eight Wycliffe Palu, but Deans said he had plenty of faith in his backups.

"The loss of Nathan obviously tests our depth, in terms of the test experience our two locks have, but we’ve got total confidence in the guys who are there," Deans said.

Deans replaced Tuqiri with uncapped wing Lachlan Turner, who is regarded as one of the most talented young players in the country.

He also recalled Stephen Hoiles for Palu as well as giving flanker Phil Waugh and utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper a chance at the expense of George Smith and Cameron Shepherd.

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The Australians are overwhelming favourites to complete a 2-0 series win after crushing a below-strength France 34-13 in Sydney last weekend.

Deans, who only took over the job last month, wants to use the match to have a closer look at some of his fringe players, but has warned his players not to underestimate the tourists.

"They are going to rebound -- that’s the nature of the French, they are never down for long," Deans said.

"They won’t have enjoyed the first outing and they’ll want to finish the season and finish the tour on a good note."

France coach Marc Lievremont was forced to pick a weakened squad for the two-match tour as most of the country’s top players were involved in national club championship playoffs.

He responded to last week’s heavy defeat at the Olympic Stadium by making seven changes to his starting side as well as reshuffling his bench.

Outside centre Maxime Mermoz and loosehead prop Pierre Correia were both selected for their first test appearances after failing to make the 22-man squad last week.

Another five players -- inside centre Thibault Lacroix, wing David Janin, scrumhalf Sebastian Tillous-Borde, flanker Matthieu Lievremont and prop Renaud Boyoud -- were promoted to the starting side after making their test debuts off the bench last week.

Five of last week’s starting fifteen have been relegated to the reserves while Lievremont added two new caps to his bench, flanker Yannick Caballero and wing Jean-Baptiste Peyras.

Teams:

Australia - 15-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14-Peter Hynes, 13-Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12-Berrick Barnes, 11-Lachlan Turner, 10-Matt Giteau, 9-Luke Burgess, 8-Stephen Hoiles, 7-Phil Waugh, 6-Rocky Elsom, 5-Dean Mumm, 4-James Horwill, 3-Al Baxter, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson

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