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Foley dropped to bench for Wallabies' clash with Springboks
By Dejan Kalinic
Bernard Foley has been dropped to the bench for Australia's Rugby Championship clash with South Africa on Saturday.
Foley, a veteran of 60 Tests for the Wallabies, was left out of the starting side by Michael Cheika.
Kurtley Beale will start at fly-half and Matt Toomua at inside centre for the clash at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Wallabies have lost just three of nine Tests with Beale starting at fly-half (four wins, two draws).
Israel Folau makes his return from an ankle injury to take his place at full-back and Brumbies lock Rory Arnold starts in the second row.
Cheika and the Wallabies are under huge pressure after two heavy losses to New Zealand.
They are bottom of the Rugby Championship table, while South Africa are second to the All Blacks.
AUSTRALIA
15. Israel Folau, 14. Dane Haylett-Petty, 13. Reece Hodge, 12. Matt Toomua, 11. Marika Koroibete, 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Will Genia; 1. Scott Sio, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Lukhan Tui, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. David Pocock.
Replacements: 16. Folau Faingaa, 17. Tom Robertson, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Izack Rodda, 20. Ned Hanigan, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Bernard Foley, 23. Jack Maddocks.
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Latest Comments
I didn't mean to sound down on Dmac. Just looking hard at the bench sub's role of providing impact. I don't think he can do that at 15, and the bench is not really about injury cover anymore (you need to maximise it's use more than that).
He's my first choice of any New Zealander for the 10 jersey with the All Blacks.
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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