TRI-NATIONS SERIES:THE AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans made good on his promise to wield the axe following his team's thrashing by South Africa by dumping five players for this weekend's Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand in Brisbane.
And the All Blacks coach Graham Henry has retained the same winning combination from their last two Tri-Nations matches for Saturday's final.
Deans dropped five players who started the embarrassing 53-8 loss to the Springboks in the hope of turning things around for Saturday's championship finale at Lang Park in Brisbane.
"Last week's gone and we've got a fantastic opportunity this weekend," Deans said. "They weren't proud of their last outing so the priority for us is to be proud of what we leave behind this Saturday." Inside centre Timana Tahu and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau paid the heaviest price when they were omitted from the 22-man squad while flanker Phil Waugh, loose forward Hugh McMeniman and prop Matt Dunning were relegated to the bench.
Centre Ryan Cross, hooker Stephen Moore, flanker George Smith and prop Al Baxter were promoted to the starting line-up after coming off the bench last week. Lock Nathan Sharpe, dropped for the first time in five years for the last match, was also recalled to the starting side as Deans reverted to his tried and trusted players.
"In every game you lose contests but it's not a matter of reinventing the wheel or tipping everything on its head," Deans said.
"It's a matter of sticking to what serves you and trying to win more of those little contests so that the outcome deals with itself." Cross replaces Tahu at centre in the only personnel change to the backline with the other four switches in the pack.
Smith comes in for Waugh at openside flanker, Sharpe returns for McMeniman, tighthead prop Baxter replaces Dunning and Moore is picked at hooker.
Adam Freier is the back-up hooker and backrower Richard Brown the only uncapped player in the squad after a surprise selection on a bench dominated by forwards.
The All Blacks beat Australia 39-10 in Auckland then world champions South Africa 19-0 in Cape Town in their last two matches in the annual Southern Hemisphere competition.
"Its a very competitive . . . Tri-Nations series this year," Henry said. "Every match has been more important than the one before it, and this Test decides the championship. So we're trying to make sure we get our preparation exactly right."
Captain Richie McCaw, lock Brad Thorn and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu all missed last week's 101-14 romp against Samoa because of injuries but are recalled for Saturdays match.
TEAMS FOR BRISBANE DECIDER
NEW ZEALAND:Mils Muliaina; Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Maa Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Greg Somerville, Brad Thorn, Ali Willliams, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Rodney Sooialo. Replacements: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa/Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.
AUSTRALIA:Adam Ashley-Cooper; Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Lote Tuqiri; Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Al Baxter, James Horwill, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Wycliff Palu. Replacements: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.
