Giteau makes return for Wallabies

Inside centre Matt Giteau returns to the Australia team to play England in Saturday’s World Cup final rematch after shaking off the flu that kept him out of last weekend’s victory over Scotland.

Giteau slots back into the centre alongside Stirling Mortlock in a Wallabies side which features 12 of the starting line-up from the World Cup final last November.

Two of the changes from that team are injury-enforced with Joe Roff starting at full-back for Mat Rogers, out with a long-term ankle problem, and Giteau replacing Elton Flatley – so nearly Australia’s hero in the final – who broke his wrist playing for Queensland against Scotland.

The other change is tactical after Wallabies coach Eddie Jones ditched his World Cup policy of playing both George Smith and Phil Waugh, Australia’s specialist open-side flankers, in the same team.

Radike Samo, the ACT Brumbies revelation who turned down a move to Newcastle after being included in the Wallabies squad, will start at blind-side flanker with Waugh retaining the number seven jersey.

Giteau has won 11 caps for Australia – dating back to his debut off the bench against England at Twickenham in 2002 – but only made two starts.

Jones, though, is confident he is ready to tackle England on Saturday.

“He’s played at a high level for a couple of seasons now and is ready for the challenge of starting in a big Test like this one,” said Jones.

Jones has also made just one change to the bench from last weekend’s victory over Scotland, with blistering Brumbies winger Mark Gerrard included in the Test 22 for the first time after shaking a thigh strain.

England coach Clive Woodward yesterday threw down the gauntlet to Australia, declaring they would never have a better time to beat his injury-depleted side than Saturday.

Jones, who has not beaten England as Wallabies coach in five attempts, insisted his squad is ready to step up to the challenge.

“They are the world champions, the number one team in the world. They are an experienced, physical side and I know they will lift for Saturday’s Test,” said Jones.

“We know what to expect, we are focussed, and we have prepared well.”

Australia team to play England in Brisbane on Saturday is:

J Roff; W Sailor, S Mortlock, M Giteau, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan (captain); B Young, B Cannon, A Baxter, J Harrison, N Sharpe, R Samo, P Waugh, D Lyons

Replacements: M Dunning, J Paul, D Vickerman, G Smith, C Rathbone, M Gerrard, C Latham.