Giffin takes place in Australian squad

David Giffin was today declared fit to play from the bench in Australia’s World Cup semi-final against New Zealand on Saturday.

The Wallabies vice-captain was a doubt after withdrawing on the morning of Australia’s quarter-final victory over Scotland with a quad strain.

Giffin was initially bracketed on the bench with Daniel Vickerman, but after coming through a fitness test yesterday and waking today with no negative effects, he was confirmed in the match 22.

“It’s fine. I trained yesterday afternoon and didn’t have any problems so I fully expect to get through the rest of week and be fine for the game,” said Giffin, who is likely to be introduced against the All Blacks as a late impact player.

“He is the vice captain of the side, a lineout leader and a guy with great experience,” said coach Eddie Jones.

“At this stage he is right to start off the bench and not start the game. The last 20 minutes of the game against New Zealand is probably going to be the crucial 20 minutes of the game.”

Vickerman now drops out of the squad, with Nathan Sharpe and Justin Harrison the starting locks with the responsibility of ensuring Australia’s lineout functions properly.

Injured number eight Toutai Kefu believes it is an area the All Blacks are particularly vulnerable and in Sharpe and Harrison, the Wallabies boast two of the world’s leading lineout exponents.

British rugby fans remember ruefully how Harrison marked his Test debut by dismantling the Lions’ lineout in the deciding Test of the 2001 series.

“If you can pressure the All Blacks lineout it can fall apart and Australia are capable of applying the blowtorch,” Kefu wrote in the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

It was not all that effective against the Scots, though when flanker George Smith got injured, Matt Cockbain came on and provided the Wallabies with added options – but he has been omitted from the semi-final 22.

“We were pleased with Matt’s efforts in the second half against Scotland, but in the end we believe we have the right lineout for New Zealand,” said Jones.

The lack of a recognised jumper from the back row – with Smith only used sparingly – did not concern Kefu, himself a part-time receiver.

“The Australians had major problems in the lineout against Ireland and Scotland. It was as crook as we have seen it all season,” he said.

“But we did not carry a lineout specialist in the back row when playing the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup Tests this year and stole 50% of their ball.”

Nor, for the same reason, does it worry Giffin.

“The last few games this year we haven’t had those sorts of problems. If you look at the All Blacks, they have a similar make up in their team as we have,” he said.

“They don’t have an enormous amount of height in the backrow and they have got two main jumpers, Ali Williams and Chris Jack, and they will look to predominantly use them. In a way their lineout is similar to ours.”

Sharpe will be up against Jack, who returned from injury and won his place back in the side from the impressive Brad Thorn because, at 6ft 7in, he brings added lineout expertise.

“Chris is world class player. I have played against him since I was maybe 18 or 19, in the underage sides. I am looking forward to that challenge again this weekend,” said Sharpe.

“The lineout continues to be an area we are always working on and has probably become one of the game’s most tactical areas. It’s one of the places in the game you concentrate on in training.”