Wallabies and All Blacks clash in Sydney

Hosts and defending champions Australia take on the mighty All Blacks in the first of the World Cup semi-finals today in Sydney.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has to make do without the services of Matt Giteau for the clash at Telstra Stadium.

Giteau won’t feature as fly-cover for Stephen Larkham, so the experienced Nathan Grey takes his place as Australia’s solitary change from the 22 on duty in their shaky quarter-final encounter against Scotland.

“Matt Giteau has worked hard on his ankle with our medical staff, but unfortunately, he has still been unable to train and will miss the match,” said Jones.

“It was a tight call between Nathan Grey and Morgan Turinui for the bench spot, but Nathan’s ability to play fly-half makes him the preferred option.”

Jones has again opted for the all ex-rugby league back-three of Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri, despite only Tuqiri really firing against Scotland.

Meanwhile, Jones’s Kiwi counterpart John Mitchell has left vice-captain Tana Umaga on the sidelines for today’s crunch encounter, saying he was “not sharp enough”.

Umaga ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament in New Zealand’s opening game of the tournament but has remained with the squad throughout and had initial hopes of returning for the quarter-finals.

Mitchell knows the task in hand and is sure not to underestimate the Wallabies: “This is Australia, they are defending champions, this is their country and we never underestimate Australia,” he said.

“They are very organised and very structured and if we don’t respond we will lose.”

Mitchell opted instead for the same XV that beat South Africa in the quarter-finals.

Australia: M Rogers; W Sailor, S Mortlock, E Flatley, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan (capt); B Young, B Cannon, B Darwin, J Harrison, N Sharpe, G Smith, P Waugh, D Lyons.

Replacements: J Paul, A Baxter, D Giffin or D Vickerman, M Cockbain, C Whitaker, N Grey, J Roff.

New Zealand: M Muliaina; D Howlett, L MacDonald, A Mauger, J Rokocoko; C Spencer, J Marshall; D Hewett, K Mealamu, G Somerville, C Jack, A Williams, R Thorne (captain), R McCaw, J Collins.

Replacements: M Hammett, K Meeuws, B Thorn, M Holah, B Kelleher, D Carter, C Ralph.