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bettersportsblog
on Fri 12 Aug 2005 09:16 PM BST |
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Cosmos
Having backed Australia to win this year's tri-nations I shall be watching tomorrow morning's game against New Zealand with some interest. Eddie Jones has been forced to change his backline through injury and finally appears, more by luck than judgment, to have picked his most potent combinations. Giteau has moved to 10 in place of Larkham, Turinui will play in the centre with Mortlock, Gerrard on the wing in place of Sailor and Mitchell at fullback for Latham. Along with a large proportion of the Australian Rugby watching public I actually think this is a good and long overdue move. South Africa showed last week that New Zealand can look fallible when put under pressure. While the Australians play a different system than the Springboks highly effective rush defence it is just, if not more, effective. The Australians have beaten New Zealand in 10 of their last 16 test matches and I think Saturday will make it 11 from 17.