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Australia and Ireland name teams for Brisbane clash
By Ben Spratt
Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Caleb Timu will debut for Australia against a new-look Ireland side in Saturday's first Test.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has combined youth with experience for the opening match of the series, with Paenga-Amosa's bow capping his rise from the National Rugby Championship to Super Rugby in the last 12 months.
The 22-year-old lines up at hooker, with Reds team-mate and fellow debutant Timu at number eight. Pete Samu is also primed to collect a first cap from the bench.
Captain Michael Hooper and David Pocock join Timu in the back row, where Cheika believes the new man can have a real impact.
"I think Caleb has had a great season, to be honest," he said.
"His carrying game has been outstanding and, if you look at the way our back row is set up, the other two boys aren't the hugest of carriers."
Changes in the back line also see the returns of Samu Kerevi and Dane Haylett-Petty.
Ireland also have a new look, coach Joe Schmidt having recognised this tour as an opportunity for the Six Nations champions to "trial things".
There are six changes from the XV that wrapped up the Grand Slam against England in March, with Peter O'Mahony stepping up as captain in the absence of the injured Rory Best.
Veterans such as Rob Kearney, Keith Earls and Conor Murray remain in the back line, but Johnny Sexton drops to the bench, as Robbie Henshaw and Joey Carbery come in.
Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong are also among the replacements, with a much-changed front line including Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, John Ryan and Jordi Murphy.
Ireland are unbeaten since losing to Wales in March 2017.
Australia team: Israel Folau, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Scott Sio, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Sekope Kepu, Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Caleb Timu.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Lukhan Tui, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Reece Hodge.
Ireland team: Rob Kearney, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale, Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, John Ryan, James Ryan, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Jordi Murphy, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Quinn Roux, Jack Conan, Kieran Marmion, Johnny Sexton, Jordan Larmour.
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Latest Comments
Sad but unfortunately true as long as negativity is rewarded and positivity " penalised"
Go to comments“Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement?”
It is an achievement. It is less of an achievement than he managed with Barcelona. You said that ”He has gotten better with age. By every measure.” He hasn’t. Doesn’t mean he isn’t still extremely good though!
”I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…”
are you really this incapable of understanding the context of what I’m saying? My point is that Gatland was a good coach ten years ago, and isn’t a good coach now. So what he did ten years ago is relevant to whether he was good ten years ago - that is pretty basic stuff.
On the other hand, what Les Kiss did ten years ago isn’t relevant to how good he is now, just as what Gatland did ten years ago isn’t relevant to how good he is now.
”So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?”
I was replying to your comment, given you have the memory of a goldfish and are unable to scroll up, I’m remind you what you said:
“Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.”
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