Aussie coach banking on Giffin for Ireland match

AUSTRALIA coach Eddie Jones is hopeful lock David Giffin will be fit enough to play a significant role in the Wallabies’ Pool A clash with Namibia this weekend.

Giffin injured his shoulder and was knocked unconscious during the World Cup’s opening game against Argentina and has been on the sidelines since.

But Jones is anxious his vice-captain, who has been cleared by neurosurgeons, gets as much game time as possible heading into the eagerly anticipated showdown with Ireland.

That means Giffin will be given every chance to prove his shoulder is ready to play in the sold-out clash at the Adelaide Oval.

“He’s improving every day and he will be bracketed with another player in this week’s lineup,” Jones said today.

“We are hopeful he will play as he needs more than 40 minutes against Argentina as preparation for the match against Ireland.”

Even with Giffin’s return, it will be a new-look Australia side that takes on the Namibians.

Jones plans to give a taste of the World Cup action to the six members of his squad who have not yet featured.

That would mean debut caps for prop Matt Dunning and number eight John Roe, who was called into the Wallabies squad at the last minute after Toutai Kefu was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

“The six players that haven’t played so far in the tournament will all be in the 22 this week,” confirmed Jones.

“We always planned to give these players a chance in this match and we’re happy they will get a run.

“The bottom line is how best to we prepare for Ireland?”

The others who are yet to feature for the Wallabies are hard-hitting centre Nathan Grey, fullback Chris Latham, back-rower David Croft and Morgan Turinui, whose last international opportunity came in the defeat to England in June.