Australia and England head into tomorrow’s second rugby union Test in Sydney looking for redemption in very different areas.
The Wallabies may have won the first Test in Perth 27-17, however their inexperienced front rowers were totally destroyed by their English counterparts, conceding two penalty tries for the first time in Australia’s history.
Although England dominated up front and were in with a chance of an unlikely win late in the second half, they were a poor second in every other aspect of the game.
They were beaten to the ball at the breakdown, their kicking was aimless and their backs were incapable of penetrating the Wallabies’ defense.
Both coaches have resisted calls for substantial change, with Robbie Deans and Martin Johnson preferring to tinker around the edges as they look for improvement.
Deans has kept faith with his front rowers, likewise Johnson with his backline.
Australia’s only changes from the first Test come in the backs.
Deans brought Will Genia back into the side, the scrum-half fully recovered from a leg injury, while Matt Giteau returns to inside center in place of Berrick Barnes.
Teenager James O’Connor retains his place at full-back despite the return from injury of Adam Ashley-Cooper, who will sit on the bench.
“It was probably one of the hardest selection processes I’ve been involved with, mostly concerning the nine, 12 and 15,” Deans said. “It’s a good problem to have though.”
With first choice props Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander, and Wallaby hookers Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau out with injuries, Deans had no such luxury choosing his front row.
Deans has elected to stick with Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa and Ben Daley despite the hammering they received from England.
Johnson was also faced with calls to bring veteran fly-half Jonny Wilkinson back into the starting side in a bid to spark some life into the backs.
But Johnson has kept faith with Shontayne Hape at inside center and has only made one change in the backs, bringing livewire Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs into the starting side ahead of Danny Care.
Youngs has been rewarded for his efforts in Perth — when he came off the bench late in the match the England backs finally began to show some creativity.
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