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| | Wednesday, 19 June, 2002, 11:58 GMT 12:58 UK Larkham back for Wallabies Fit-again Larkham will replace Elton Flatley Fly-half Stephen Larkham will return to Australia's starting line-up for Saturday's Test against France after recovering from injury. The ACT Brumbies star missed the win over the New Zealand Maori but will replace Elton Flatley at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium. And he will face a French team showing eight changes to the side that lost 28-27 to Argentina last Saturday. France coach Bernard Laporte has dropped his skipper, Raphael Ibanez, and changed his entire front row and both half-backs.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said of Larkham's return: "Steve's a world class player and to get a player like him back is a great boost for the side." Rugby league convert Wendell Sailor and second rower Nathan Sharpe will earn their first Test caps while another former league player, Mat Rogers, is on the bench. "It's a huge honour for me and I'm really keen to repay the faith the selectors have placed in me," said Sailor. The former Brisbane Broncos star gets his chance because first choice right wing Ben Tune has yet to fully recover from a knee injury. Tune hopes to be ready for the second Test at Sydney on 29 June. The Wallabies have also recalled Patricio Noriega after a three-year absence.
France coach Bernard Laporte has taken the axe to the side shocked by the Pumas. Hooker and skipper Ibanez loses his place to Gloucester's Olivier Azam, with lock Fabien Pelous regaining the captaincy. Azam is joined in the new-look front row by props Arnaud Martinez and Sylvain Marconnet, who replace Jean-Jacques Crenca and and Jean-Baptiste Poux. Stand-off Gerald Merceron pays the price for his late penalty miss in Buenos Aires, being dropped to the bench in favour of Agen youngster Francois Gelez. Gelez will win his third cap in tandem with rising Toulouse star, 19-year-old Frederic Michalak, who replaces Pierre Mignoni. The other changes see Six Nations hero Imanol Harinordoquy return from injury for Christophe Labit at number eight, debutant Christophe Porcu replace Olivier Brouzet in the second row and Pepito Elhorga take over from Nicolas Brusque at full-back. Australia: Chris Latham; Wendell Sailor, Matthew Burke, Daniel Herbert, Stirling Mortlock; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt); Bill Young, Jeremy Paul, Patricio Noriega, Nathan Sharpe, Justin Harrison, Owen Finegan, George Smith, Toutai Kefu. France: Pepito Elhorga; Aurelien Rougerie, Tony Marsh, Damien Traille, Nicolas Jeanjean; Francois Gelez, Frederic Michalak; Arnaud Martinez, Olivier Azam, Sylvain Marconnet, Fabien Pelous (capt), Christophe Porcu, Serge Betsen, Olivier Magne, Imanol Harinordoquy. | | See also:  15 Jun 02 | International 03 May 02 | International Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top International stories now: Links to more International stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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