QANTAS WALLABIES NAMED TO PLAY SOUTH AFRICA

Note: This release was put out by the Wallaby Team Management on Thursday.

6 August, 2009

QANTAS WALLABIES NAMED TO PLAY SOUTH AFRICA

The return to a more conventional split among the run on reserves, with the inclusion of Queensland winger Peter Hynes among the replacements, represents the only change to the Qantas Wallabies line-up named today for Saturday’s Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Hynes replaces New South Wales flanker Phil Waugh in a straight swap on the bench. The match-night combination is otherwise the same as that which lost Australia’s opening match of the Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations, 16-22 to New Zealand, at Auckland two and a half weeks ago.

Although edged by six points in New Zealand after having led at halftime, Australia let in just one try. The Wallabies head to Newlands having conceded just two tries from the four Test matches they have played to date in 2009.

That defensive record is sure to be tested by a Springbok side which is coming off its first back-to-back victories over the All Blacks since 1976, which followed up a 2-1 home series win over the British & Irish Lions.

The game, which kicks off at 1am on Sunday morning [AEST], represents the Springboks’ final home tie in the Tri Nations. South Africa leads the way in the tournament with eight points gathered from two home matches against the All Blacks. New Zealand has four, from its three matches, while Australia picked up a bonus point during its opening tie in the competition.

While the Wallabies have not won at Cape Town since 1992, the squad does feature 13 of the players who participated in last year’s 27-15 win over South Africa at Durban.

That success was Australia’s first on South African soil for eight years, and just the second win achieved by the Wallabies in the Republic from 14 attempts since the Tri-Nations kicked off in 1996.

The Qantas Wallabies team to play South Africa in the Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations Series at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town on Saturday 8 August, 5pm kick off, (1am, Sunday 9 August, AEST), is:

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)

14. Lachie Turner (Waratahs)

13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, captain)

12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)

11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)

10. Matt Giteau (Western Force)

9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)

8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)

7. George Smith (Brumbies)

6. Richard Brown (Western Force)

5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)

4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)

3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)

2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)

1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)

Run on reserves:

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)

17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)

18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)

19. David Pocock (Western Force)

20. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)

21. Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds)

22. James O’Connor (Western Force)

Australia v South Africa @ Cape Town – Historical Notes

• Australia and South Africa have met on nine previous occasions at Cape Town, with the Springboks having won six matches to three, including the last four in succession.
• Australia’s first appearance at Newlands was in 1933. That 3-17 loss is still the Wallabies’ heaviest defeat at Cape Town.
• Australia achieved its wins in 1953 (18-14), 1963 (9-5) and 1992 (26-3).
• Five of the nine matches played between the two teams in the city have been determined by margins of four points or less. This includes the three Tri Nations games that have been played – in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
• In South Africa, the two countries have played 35 matches, with South Africa winning 27 games to Australia’s eight.
• Overall, the two countries have met on 67 occasions, with South Africa winning 40, Australia 26, as well as one draw.
• Prior to South Africa’s readmission to international sport in 1992, Australia had won just seven of the 31 matches played.
• The scoreboard stands 19 wins to 16 in Australia’s favour, along with a draw, in the time since then.
• South Africa has won 30 of the 48 Tests it has played at Cape Town, losing 14 and drawing two others.

Further Information: Matt McILraith, Qantas Wallabies Media Manager