Cooper Starts At Flyhalf For Wallabies
Australia coach Robbie Deans will hand Super 14 player-of-the-year Quade Cooper his first international start at flyhalf for Saturday’s Test against Fiji in Canberra.
The Wallabies regular stand-off Matt Giteau switches to inside centre, the position Cooper operated from during last November’s European tour.
Giteau and Cooper’s switch is one of a number of positional changes made by Deans, who is experimenting with his line-up ahead of two matches against England and one against Ireland.
Fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper switches to the wing in order to accommodate Kurtley Beale, and Digby Ioane also moves to the flank to allow NSW Waratah Rob Horne to make his debut at outside centre.
“This is the group we’ve opted to go with first up, a number of the combinations are familiar but the selection template is always a living document,” Deans said on Tuesday.
Cooper’s inclusion comes six months after he was arrested for an alleged break-in at the Surfers Paradise resort, which led to him being ordered by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to undergo counselling before being considered for reselection.
The New Zealand-born back has been in sensational form since and his Queensland Red’s side narrowly missed out on a place in the Super 14 semi-finals for the first time since 2001.
With thanks to timesonline.co.za
S14 Fantasy League – Big Names Back
Round two is around the corner, with a number of star players back after injury layoffs – here are the teamsheets.
The Brumbies will be relieved to welcome back their star-signing Matt Giteau at flyhalf, as well as Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom. For the struggling Sharks, the return of Ruan Pienaar at flyhalf will offer some hope in a hard-to-call clash with the Cheetahs in Durban on Friday night.
For last year’s finalists the Chiefs, powerful No 8 Sione Lauaki is back in the team, and joined by centre Callum Bruce.
No such good news for the Western Force, who are still without long-term absentees Cameron Shepherd, Mark Bartholomeusz, David Pocock, Richard Brown and Andre Pretorius. Now there’s further disaster, as Wallaby centre Ryan Cross has been withdrawn due to injury concerns.
It’s still early days in the Super 14, and some games seem pretty hard to pick a winner this weekend. Chose wisely for your Fantasy League team…
Round 2 Teamsheets
Highlanders vs Blues, Friday 8:35am, Dunedin
Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 James Paterson, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 John Hardie, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Fetu’u Vainikolo.
Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Rudi Wulf, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Rene Ranger.
Reds vs Crusaders, Friday 11:40am, Brisbane
Reds: 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Adam Byrnes, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Robert Simmons, 19 Leroy Houston, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 Tim Walsh, 22 Will Chambers.
Crusaders: 15 Colin Slade, 14 Jared Payne, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Kieran Read (captain), 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ti’i Paulo, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Brad Thorn, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Kahn Fotuali’i, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Sean Maitland.
Sharks vs Cheetahs, Friday 6:00pm, Durban
The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Adrian Jacobs, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Willem Alberts, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Andries Strauss.
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Hennie Daniller.
Lions vs Chiefs, Friday 8:00pm, Johannesburg
Lions: Earl Rose; Tonderai Chavhanga, Deon van Rensburg, Doppies la Grange, Wandile Mjekevu; Carlos Spencer, JP Joubert; Todd Clever, Derick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), Willem Stoltz, Franco van der Merwe, Ross Geldenhuys, Hannes Franklin, Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: Charles Emslie, JC Janse van Rensburg/Kevin Buys, Jacques Lombaard, Jonathan Mokuena, Jacques Coetzee, Burton Francis, Michael Killian.
Chiefs: 15 Mike Delany, 14 Dwayne Sweeney, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Sione Lauaki (captain), 7 Luke Braid, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Nathan White, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.
Hurricanes vs Western Force, Saturday 8:35am, Wellington
Hurricanes: 15. Cory Jane, 14. Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. David Smith, 10. Willie Ripia, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Victor Vito, 7. Scott Waldrom, 6. Michael Paterson, 5. James Broadhurst, 4. Bryn Evans, 3. Neemia Tialata, 2. Andrew Hore (captain), 1. John Schwalger
Replacements: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Jacob Ellison, 18. Rodney So’oialo, 19. Karl Lowe, 20. Tyson Keats, 21. Aaron Cruden, 22. Andre Taylor
Western Force: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Josh Tatupu, 11 Haig Sare, 10 Sam Harris, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Sam Wykes, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Pek Cowan, 1 Matt Dunning.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Tyrrell, 17 Nic Henderson, 18 Richard Stanford, 19 Luke Jones, 20 Chris O’Young, 21 Stefano Hunt, 22 Joelin Rapana.
Bulls vs Brumbies, Saturday 5:05pm, Pretoria
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 John Mametsa.
Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Ben Hand, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Tyrone Smith.
Stormers vs Waratahs, Friday 7:10pm, Cape Town
Waratahs: 15. Sosene Anesi, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Tom Carter, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Berrick Barnes, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh (captain), 6. Ben Mowen, 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Will Caldwell, 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Hendrik Roodt, 19. Dave Dennis, 20. Josh Holmes, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22. Rory Sidey
Stormers: 15. Joe Pietersen 14. Gio Aplon 13. Jaque Fourie 12. Juan De Jongh 11. Bryan Habana 10. Peter Grant 9. Ricky Januarie 8. Duane Vermeulen 7 Francois Louw 6. Schalk Burger (C) 5. Andries Bekker 4. De Kock Steenkamp 3. Brok Harris 2. Tiaan Liebenberg 1. JC Kritzinger
Reserves 16. Deon Fourie 17. Eusebio Guinazu 18. Anton Van Zyl 19. Pieter Louw 20. Dewaldt Duvenage 21. Lionel Cronje 22. Sireli Naqelevuki
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