Baxter axed for Ireland clash

Australia head coach Eddie Jones has axed tight-head prop Al Baxter for Saturday’s clash with Ireland at Lansdowne Road and gambled on an inexperienced front row.

Jones has taken immediate action to try and remedy an Australian scrum that was demolished by England last weekend and Baxter, who was sin-binned after being over-powered and out-scrummaged by Andrew Sheridan, has proven the fall-guy.

David Fitter will make his debut in place of Baxter while Greg Holmes comes in for injured loose-head Matt Dunning and makes his first Test start.

Dunning was carried off at Twickenham with a neck injury after being caught under a collapsed scrum. He suffered no structural neck damage – just a strained muscle – but the Wallabies were not willing to risk him so soon after the injury.

“While Matt Dunning is coming along well he’s just not ready to play at the moment so Greg Holmes will get a chance to start at loosehead,” said Jones.

“We also feel David Fitter deserves the opportunity at tighthead, after making some good progress on tour and he’s a bloke who is very passionate about scrummaging.”.

The rest of the Australian side is unchanged and Jones will be looking for a more even battle up front to give his exciting back division, who threatened England despite working on just 35% of possession, the chance to run at an Irish defence that was shot to bits by New Zealand last weekend.

Jones has made changes on the bench. Matt Giteau’s knee injury has opened the door for Wendell Sailor to return while Chris Whitaker has made way for Matt Henjak to fill the reserve scrum-half role.

“Chris Whitaker has done extremely well on tour and it was a tough call to make, but we feel it’s time to give Henjak an opportunity. He has worked very hard, both on and off the field, and thoroughly deserves his chance on Saturday.”

Australia team to face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday: C Latham (Queensland); M Gerrard (ACT), L Tuqiri (NSW), M Turinui (NSW), D Mitchell (Queensland); M Rogers (NSW), G Gregan (ACT, capt); G Holmes (Queensland), B Cannon (Western Australia), D Fitter (Western Australia), H McMeniman (Queensland), N Sharpe (Western Australia), J Roe (Queensland), P Waugh (NSW), G Smith (ACT).

Replacements: T Polota-Nau (NSW), A Baxter (NSW), M Chisholm (ACT), S Fava (Western Australia), M Henjak (Western Australia), L Johansson (Queensland), W Sailor (NSW).