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Australia bring in Barnes

by setanta.com staff , 27 July 2010

Berrick Barnes will take the place of the banned Quade Cooper for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup game against New Zealand in the Tri Nations.


Cooper is prevented from playing in the Melbourne clash of the unbeaten sides after he was hit with a two-match ban for a dangerous tackle committed in last Saturday’s win over South Africa.

The Wallabies are still hoping that Cooper’s suspension may be reduced on appeal, but he definitely misses the clash with competition leaders New Zealand, allowing former vice-captain Barnes to come in from the cold and take the inside centre berth. Matt Giteau, as a result, moves to the fly half berth previously occupied by playmaker Cooper.

Coach Robbie Deans has made one other change with hooker Stephen Moore included in place of Saia Faingaa after he recovered from a broken jaw and made a substitute appearance at the weekend.

Saia's twin brother Anthony Faingaa, meanwhile, could make his Test debut after being elevated to the bench alongside his sibling. If they both appear, they will become the 40th set of brothers to have appeared the Wallabies in Test matches.

Matt Hodgson is also on the bench after a groin strain. Western Force team-mate Ben McCalman is the man to miss out.

Rocky Elsom will captain Deans’ men from the back row.

Australia: AA Cooper; J O'Connor, R Horne, B Barnes, D Mitchell; M Giteau, W Genia; B Robinson, S Moore, S Ma'afu; D Mumm, N Sharpe; R Elsom (capt), D Pocock, R Brown.

Replacements: S Faingaa, J Slipper, R Simmons, M Hodgson, L Burgess, A Faingaa, K Beale.

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