Wallabies anoint new front row
Connolly makes first Test pick
Wallabies coach John Connolly has selected a brand new front row for Sunday's encounter with England at Telstra Stadium in Sydney.
Connolly has opted to start the inexperienced trio of Greg Holmes, Tai McIsaac and Rodney Blake, naming 63-Test hooker Jeremy Paul and 31-Test prop Al Baxter on the reserves bench.
But there are also plenty of changes elsewhere – indeed, just seven players from the XV that lost 26-16 to England at Twickenham in November 2005 have been selected in the starting team for Sunday night's match.
McIsaac and Blake will each make their Test debut, while Holmes has just three Test caps to his name, making this the least-experienced Australian front row trio to start a Test match since 1983.
Western Force fullback Cameron Shepherd and Queensland scrum-half Josh Valentine are both in line for their Test debuts, earning their first selection in a Wallaby 22.
Valentine was included as a late replacement for fellow Reds scrum-half Sam Cordingley who has been ruled out through injury.
Sunday's Test against England will also see the resurrection of flanker Daniel Heenan's Test career. His sole Test appearance came from the bench against Wales at Telstra Stadium in 2003.
Versatile back Mat Rogers will make his first Test appearance at inside-centre, while Rocky Elsom will start his first Test at the base of the scrum.
Meanwhile, Australia captain George Gregan will captain the side in his record-equalling 119th Test, drawing level with Jason Leonard who notched up the same number of Tests with England and the British & Irish Lions.
"It's a team that's very much picked on form, but a number of positions are still unclear," said Connolly of his first pick as Australia coach.
"Front row, hooker and the back row positions are very competitive but it's a great chance for the players who have been selected in those positions to put their hands up and show that they are capable of retaining those spots," he said.
Connolly said that the four-day orientation camp in Sydney and week-long training camp in Coffs Harbour had been very productive.
"We've had a great week and a half to prepare for this Test and the new coaches and the new players have worked in particularly well," he said.
Placing a strong emphasis on the set-piece during the first two weeks of training, Connolly said that his young front row had progressed well.
"We've certainly taken a step in the right direction with our scrummaging but we will continue to evolve it," he said.
"We feel that we've selected the best combination for the front row but it was very close and we've been happy with [Guy] Shepherdson, [Al] Baxter and [Benn] Robinson during the camp."
Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Mat Rogers, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Rocky Elsom, 7 George Smith, 6 Daniel Heenan, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Josh Valentine, 21 Clyde Rathbone, 22 Cameron Shepherd.
Date: Sunday, June 11
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Venue: Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Touch judges: Steve Walsh (New Zealand), Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Television match official: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assessor: Bob Francis (New Zealand)
