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A fitness test will determine if departing HSBC Waratahs fullback Kurtley Beale takes his place in Australia’s team to take on New Zealand in Auckland, or whether 2012 recruit Adam Ashley-Cooper takes the No.15 jersey.
Beale, who is recovering from a strain in his left hamstring, has been bracketed in the custodian role with Australian selectors choosing to delay a decision on his fitness as he continues his recovery.
Ashley-Cooper has been bracketed at outside centre, and if he does move to the back in place of Beale, then Anthony Fainga’a will come into the starting side.
Currently Fainga’a has been named on the bench, bracketed in the No.22 jersey with HSBC Waratahs centre Rob Horne who has recovered from a facial fracture.
The switch for Ashley-Cooper, if it eventuates, shouldn’t prove too disruptive as the 27-year-old has played from fullback on 19 previous occasions among his 62 Tests to date.
Beale has twice left the field with the same hamstring strain during Rugby World Cup.
After being Australia’s internal Player of the Day against Ireland, he retired 38 minutes into the following week’s Pool C match against the United States of America, taking the decision to withdraw after feeling a “general tightness” in the muscle.
Beale was subsequently rested from the final Pool match against Russia before returning in the gripping 11-9 quarter-final win over South Africa, where he excelled from the back before retiring six minutes before the end with a reoccurrence of the injury.
Scans last Monday in Auckland subsequently confirmed a small strain although the team’s medical staff has worked tirelessly since in an attempt to return the fullback to playing duties.
“We will leave it as long as we can before making a decision,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says.
“It will be tough on Kurtley if he has to miss this one, but we will take no chances. If he can’t play, he will contribute off the field as he always does. Adam and Ant are both good men. They will do a more than capable job in Kurtley’s absence.”
Inside centre McCabe, who has been troubled by an injured shoulder, has recovered quickly, playing a full part in training this week without any problems.
While the starting forward pack remains the same as that which tackled South Africa last week, with prop Sekope Kepu having recovered from a rolled ankle in time to play, the bench will see two changes if Beale doesn’t front.
In that instance, Horne will return, having overcome the fractured cheekbone he sustained in the win over the United States.
The confirmed change among the run on reserves is a straight swap Rob Simmons selected in front of 99-Test veteran Nathan Sharpe.
AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND
Sunday 16 October (9:00pm NZDT, 7:00pm AEDT)
Eden Park, Auckland
Australia
15. Kurtley Beale (HSBC Waratahs) / Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies) / Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies)
5. James Horwill [c] (Queensland Reds)
4. Dan Vickerman (HSBC Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu (HSBC Waratahs)
Reserves
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (HSBC Waratahs)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
19. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
20. Luke Burgess (HSBC Waratahs)
21. Berrick Barnes (HSBC Waratahs)
22. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds) / Rob Horne (HSBC Waratahs)