Wallabies look to the future

Scotland will face a new-look Australia side in Sunday’s first Test after Wallabies coach Eddie Jones awarded Clyde Rathbone and Radike Samo their international debuts.

Rathbone, the former South Africa Under-21 captain, will link up in the centres alongside Matt Giteau in what has been described as the most exciting pairing to wear Wallaby colours since Tim Horan and Jason Little.

Samo rejected the chance to play for Fiji to follow his dream of becoming a Wallaby and he will start at blindside flanker, providing Australia with a third genuine lineout jumper to challenge Scott Murray and Stuart Grimes.

Samo’s inclusion also confirmed Jones’ decision to ditch his World Cup policy of playing two specialist open-side flankers, with George Smith reverting to seven and Phil Waugh starting on the bench.

Joe Roff starts at full-back and takes on the goal-kicking responsibilities, with Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor on the wings – the only members of the back division not from Super 12 champions the ACT Brumbies.

“It will be a special moment for Radike and Clyde to earn their first Test cap, running on in the starting team,” said Jones.

“They both thoroughly deserve it, on the back of some good performances in the Super 12, and the way they have trained over the last week or so, suggests they are ready for Test rugby.

“The preparation has been pretty good since we got into camp last week. The guys have worked hard and are really enthusiastic and upbeat about playing Scotland this weekend.”

The starting XV features four changes from the Australia team that began the World Cup final against England in Sydney last November.

That, warned Scotland coach Matt Williams, does not mean they will be any less dangerous a proposition in Melbourne.

“They are at a big advantage because they have sat back and watched us during the tour and we don’t know about them. They can be more prepared for us than we are for them,” he said.

“They are making lots of changes. They are more exposed than you would get them during the Tri-Nations.

“But they have got some world-class players and can still play poorly and win because they have got world-class individuals.”

When Elton Flatley and Stirling Mortlock were both ruled out through injury, Jones opted against the more direct midfield style of Morgan Turinui and the experience of Matt Burke and took the adventurous option.

Rathbone captained the South African Under-21 side to the World Cup from outside centre but in his first injury-free season with the Brumbies he was moved onto the wing and became one of the competition’s most prolific try-scorers.

“It’s a great honour to be selected to start in a Test match for Australia and to do so at outside centre is just a buzz,” said Rathbone.

Giteau, making only his second start for Australia, is not seen as a long-term option at inside centre given his size, but he wore 12 for the Brumbies and forged an understanding with Wallabies half-backs George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.

The Brumbies also benefited from the remarkable talents of Samo, whose unpredictable style flummoxed defences and his giant paws caused havoc in opponents’ lineouts.

His inclusion in the Australia squad came only days after he had been called up to play for Fiji in the Pacific Tri-Nations, causing an international wrangle which also embroiled Newcastle where he is due to play next season.

“It was one of my goals at the start of the year to play for the Wallabies and to be chosen in the starting team is just great,” said Samo.

“I’m very keen to play well at number six and am looking forward to Sunday.”

With Mat Rogers injured, Roff was reinstated at full-back and Sailor was guaranteed another chance to prove his wares on the wing when Mark Gerrard was ruled out with a thigh strain.

Burke suffered a slight thigh strain in training and has been included on the bench but Matt Henjak will travel with the squad to Melbourne on stand-by.

Australia team to play Scotland in Melbourne on Sunday is: J Roff; W Sailor, C Rathbone, M Giteau, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan (captain); B Young, B Cannon, A Baxter, J Harrison, N Sharpe, R Samo, G Smith, D Lyons.

Replacements: J Paul, M Dunning, D Vickerman, P Waugh, M Turinui, M Burke, C Latham.