SAINT-ETIENNE: Despite the doom and gloom round Australia on the Rugby World Cup, they have not been knocked out but because the Wallabies put together for his or her ultimate pool recreation in opposition to Portugal on Monday (2.45am AEDT).
Eddie Jones’ misjudged bluster about profitable the event with a younger squad died after consecutive defeats to Fiji and Wales over the past two weekends, however his Wallabies are mathematically alive no less than after Fiji did not beat Georgia with a bonus level.
Australia must beat Portugal with a 4 strive bonus level to maintain their slim quarter-final hopes alive.
The Wallabies, following the dismal 40-6 defeat to Wales final weekend, have dumped centres Samu Kerevi and Jordan Petaia and changed them with Waratahs pair Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese, who’ve a mixed 13 Exams however do not feel misplaced.
They’re between Waratahs mates Ben Donaldson at flyhalf and Mark Nawaqanitawase on one wing. Perese will make his first begin in his second Take a look at.
“Foketi has skilled nicely the entire event,” Jones mentioned.
“Samu has most likely simply been a bit off. He is had a tricky run-in to the World Cup, getting back from an ACL, two hamstring accidents. He simply hasn’t been as sharp as we might like him to be.
“Jordy Petaia had a little bit of a calf situation. He is match now however, once more, with Izzy, he is skilled rather well the entire World Cup.”
Fraser McReight has gone into the again row, and the reserves have been freshened with Rob Leota, backrower Josh Kemeny and scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa.
Prop James Slipper will develop into probably the most capped Wallaby at a World Cup along with his twenty first recreation, forsaking George Gregan.
The lineup confirmed squad captain Will Skelton and tighthead Taniela Tupou have been nonetheless unavailable following their coaching accidents after the opening win over Georgia.
“A tricky outdated week,” Jones mentioned. “We skilled the day after the (Wales) recreation as a result of we wished to get again out on the sphere.
“With the younger gamers we thought we wished to get their ideas of their head about how we wish to play in opposition to Portugal. We have a transparent plan.
“I believe we have skilled rather well however we aren’t getting the outcomes, and typically the scoreboard is the very last thing to alter. And that is arduous to take and I do know it is arduous to grasp, however typically that is the case.”
Portugal made 4 adjustments from the Georgia draw, all within the ahead pack.
Loosehead David Costa and backrowers David Wallis and Thibault de Freitas make their first appearances within the Rugby World Cup.
Martim Belo comes into the second row after 14 minutes off the bench final week.
Australia: Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete, Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Richard Arnold, Nick Frost, James Slipper, Dave Porecki (c), Angus Bell
Reserves: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa’amausili, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, Suliasi Vunivalu
Portugal: Nuno Sousa Guedes, Raffaele Storti, Pedro Bettencourt, Tomás Appleton (c), Rodrigo Marta, Jerónimo Portela, Samuel Marques; Thibault de Freitas, Nicolas Martins, David Wallis, Martim Belo, José Madeira, Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Mike Tadjer, David Costa
Reserves: Francisco Fernandes, Duarte Diniz, Francisco Bruno, Steevy Cerqueira, Rafael Simoes, Joao Belo, Joris Moura, Manuel Cardoso Pinto
