Sport

Jones gambles on Rogers at outhalf

Tri-Nations: Australia, reeling from injuries and poor form, have gambled on radical changes which include playing Mat Rogers…

Thu Sept 01 2005 - 01:00

Tri-Nations: Australia, reeling from injuries and poor form, have gambled on radical changes which include playing Mat Rogers at outhalf for the first time in Saturday's final Tri-nations Test match against New Zealand.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has made five personnel changes to the side beaten by South Africa a fortnight ago, including bringing three uncapped players into his 22-man squad, as well as five positional changes for the Auckland Test.

Former rugby league international Rogers was moved from wing to outhalf despite having never played in the position before at senior level, while George Smith was switched from openside flanker to number eight.

Morgan Turinui also moved from outside centre to inside centre while Clyde Rathbone, normally a winger, was handed the outside centre role.

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Mark Chisholm joined Nathan Sharpe at lock in the absence of the injured Daniel Vickerman, while the uncapped Alex Kanaar was added to the bench.

Mark Gerrard passed a fitness test allowing him to return on the wing, while outhalf Lachlan MacKay and utility back Lloyd Johansson, both uncapped, joined reserve hooker Adam Freier among the replacements for the first time this year.

Australia captain George Gregan retained his place at scrumhalf despite increasing calls for his resignation, allowing him to equal former England prop Jason Leonard's world record of 114 caps for a single country.

Jones was forced to make wholesale changes after 17 players, including his first three outhalf choices in Stephen Larkham, Matt Giteau and Elton Flatley, were all ruled out with injuries.

He said he had tossed up whether to start the uncapped MacKay in the number 10 shirt, but eventually opted for Rogers, even though he is not a specialist outhalf.

The Australians are already out of the running for this year's Tri-nations championship after losing their first three matches.

AUSTRALIA (v New Zealand): D Mitchell; M Gerrard, C Rathbone, M Turinui, L Tuqiri; M Rogers, G Gregan (capt); B Young. B Cannon, A Baxter, M Chisholm, N Sharpe, R Elsom, P Waugh, G Smith. Replacements: A Freier, M Dunning, A Kanaar, J Roe, C Whitaker, L MacKay, Lloyd Johansson.