Fri, Jul 4 10:13 AM
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) _ Australian lock Nathan Sharpe will miss Saturday's second rugby match against France with a groin strain, giving second rower Dean Mumm his first test start. Sharpe, a 66-test veteran, suffered the injury when he stumbled during training at Ballymore.
"It's unfortunate but the injury is restricting Nathan, so the choice was made for us," coach Robbie Deans said. "We gave it as much time as we could.
" Australia A forward Hugh McMeniman will sit on the bench after originally preparing to play against New Zealand Maori on Sunday in the deciding Pacific Nations Cup match. Mumm will also have the added duty of calling the Australian lineout Saturday.
"The loss of Nathan obviously tests our depth, in terms of the test experience our two locks have, but we've got total confidence in the guys who are there," Deans said. Sharpe joins second rower Dan Vickerman (ankle surgery), Matt Dunning (infection), Lote Tuqiri (knee), Chris Latham and Wycliff Palu (both shoulder) on the injury list.
Nine of the starting team have played fewer than 20 internationals and only six started in the Wallabies World Cup quarterfinal loss to England last year. Winger Lachlan Turner will make his test debut for Australia, replacing Tuqiri on the left wing.
Stephen Hoiles will take over from Palu at No. 8.
France coach Marc Lievremont made 11 personnel or positional changes to his lineup for the match. Lievremont named an entirely reshaped backline in which Benjamin Thiery moves from the wing to fullback in place of Pepito Elhorga, Maxim Mermoz and Thibault Lacroix replace Damien Traille and Francois Trinh-Duc in the centers, Trinh-Duc moves to flyhalf in place of Benjamin Boyet, Sebastian Tillous-Borde takes over at halfback from Dimitri Yachvili and David Janin is promoted from the bench to the left wing.
Right winger Alexis Palisson is the only back to hold his place and position from the first test lineup. The second row of Sebastien Chabal and captain Lionel Nallet remains intact the only unchanged combination in the side while Pierre Correia replaces Lionel Faure at loosehead prop.
___ Lineups: Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Berrick Barnes, Lachlan Turner, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Stephen Hoiles, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Dean Mumm, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Adam Freier, Ben Alexander, Hugh McMeniman, George Smith, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Cameron Shepherd.
France: Benjamin Thiery, Alexis Palisson, Maxim Mermoz, Thibault Lacroix, David Janin, Francois Trinh-Duc, Sebastian Tillous-Borde, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Imanol Harinordoquy, Matthieu Lievremont, Lionel Nallet (captain), Sebastien Chabal, Renaud Boyoud, Sebastien Bruno, Pierre Correia. Reserves: Benjamin Kayser, Benoit Lecouls, Benjamin Boyet, Louis Picamoles, Yannick Caballero, Dimitri Yachvili, Jean-Baptiste Peyras.
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