Lachie Turner to make Test debut against France
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Tuesday, 1 July 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Lachie Turner will become the 826th player to represent the Wallabies after being named on the wing for the second Test against France in Brisbane on Saturday.
After some neat lead-up work, Lachie Turner touches down.
After some neat lead-up work, Lachie Turner touches down. [2008 Super 14 - Rd 1 v Hurricanes]
After impressing for Australia A and Eastwood in recent weeks, Turner comes into the side in place of Waratahs teammate Lote Tuqiri who sustained a knee injury in the first Test.
Waratahs captain Phil Waugh gets his first opportunity in the starting side while Randwick No.8 Stephen Hoiles will start his first Test since the 2007 Tri Nations, coming into the team following Wycliff Palu's neck injury.
Northern Suburbs fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper has rotated with Cameron Shepherd and will start the match at fullback.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans says the decision to sideline Tuqiri and Palu was a straight forward one even though both had been given time to recover from the injuries they sustained last weekend before the call was eventually made.
"Initially the outlook was fairly promising on both of them," said Deans. "But, in the end, we've decided that it's not worth risking further aggravation of their current situations by playing them when they're not quite right."
Deans added that he believes Turner is ready to take the step up to Test level after his recent form for Australia A.
"Lachie has been playing well for Australia A and working hard off the field when he has trained with us. We see this as a good opportunity to get his Test career underway," he said.
Three Wallaby squad members who have featured for Australia A - winger Digby Ioane, halfback Brett Sheehan and flanker Richard Brown - will return to that side, which has moved to Sydney, after completing their training commitments with the Wallabies today.
"The Australia A program has provided an excellent vehicle for us to give a broader group of players game time, while developing our overall depth," said Deans.
"The match conditioning the players have gained will be invaluable for us going forward. The competition has also served to provide us with a good gauge as to how a wider group of our players are developing and the standard they are at."
Deans will be in attendance at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday when Australia A plays the New Zealand Maori in a match that will determine the outcome of this year's Pacific Nations Cup tournament.
2008 BUNDABERG RUM TEST SERIES
SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V FRANCE
Saturday, 5 July 2008 (Kick-off 8:05pm AEST)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
AUSTRALIA
1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood, HSBC Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Reds)
3. Al Baxter (Northern Suburbs, HSBC Waratahs)
4. James Horwill (Reds)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Randwick, HSBC Waratahs)
7. Phil Waugh (Sydney University, HSBC Waratahs)
8. Stephen Hoiles (Randwick, Brumbies)
9. Luke Burgess (Eastern Suburbs, HSBC Waratahs)
10. Matt Giteau (Force)
11. Lachie Turner* (Eastwood, HSBC Waratahs)
12. Berrick Barnes (Reds)
13. Stirling Mortlock [c] (Gordon, Brumbies)
14. Peter Hynes (Reds)
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs, Brumbies)
Reserves
16. Adam Freier (Randwick, HSBC Waratahs)
17. Ben Alexander (Northern Suburbs, Brumbies)
18. Dean Mumm (Sydney University, HSBC Waratahs)
19. George Smith (Manly, Brumbies)
20. Sam Cordingley (Reds)
21. Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs, Force)
22. Cameron Shepherd (Force)
* Test debut
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