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Last Updated: Wednesday, 31 August 2005, 07:11 GMT 08:11 UK
Australia pick Rogers at fly-half
Mat Rogers
Injury-hit Australia have switched Mat Rogers to fly-half for Saturday's final Tri-Nations clash against New Zealand.

Rogers has been moved from wing to fly-half for the first time as coach Eddie Jones makes five positional and five personnel changes.

Skipper George Gregan keeps his place at scrum-half and will equal former England prop Jason Leonard's world record of 114 caps.

Uncapped Alex Kanaar, Lachlan MacKay and Lloyd Johansson are in the squad.

Jones was forced to make wholesale changes after 17 players, including his first three fly-half choices in Stephen Larkham, Matt Giteau and Elton Flatley, were all ruled out with injuries sustained during the season.

We believe Mat has the passing and kicking skills we need to start the game,
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones

He said he had pondered starting with the uncapped MacKay in the number 10 shirt, but opted for Rogers, even though he is not a specialist fly-half.

"It was a tough decision between Matty Rogers and Lachie MacKay at fly-half, but we believe Mat has the passing and kicking skills we need to start the game, and he can also take the ball to the line," Jones said.

Other changes include George Smith switching from open-side flanker to number eight, while Morgan Turinui also moved from outside centre to inside centre and Clyde Rathbone, normally a winger, was handed the outside centre role.

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

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

The Australians, already out of the running for this year's Tri-Nations championship after losing their first three matches, fly to Auckland from their Australian training camp on Thursday.


Australia: Drew Mitchell; Mark Gerrard, Clyde Rathbone, Morgan Turinui, Lote Tuqiri; Mat Rogers, George Gregan (captain); Bill Young, Brendan Cannon, Al Baxter; Mark Chisholm, Nathan Sharpe; Rocky Elsom, Phil Waugh, George Smith.
Replacements: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Alex Kanaar, John Roe, Chris Whitaker, Lachlan MacKay, Lloyd Johansson.




SEE ALSO
Lauaki & Howlett to face Aussies
30 Aug 05 |  Internationals
Kaino to replace banned Collins
29 Aug 05 |  Internationals
Aussies call up uncapped quartet
24 Aug 05 |  Internationals
Banned Collins out of crunch game
28 Aug 05 |  Internationals
Australia 19-22 South Africa
20 Aug 05 |  Internationals
Australia 13-30 New Zealand
13 Aug 05 |  Internationals
South Africa 22-16 New Zealand
06 Aug 05 |  Internationals
South Africa 22-16 Australia
30 Jul 05 |  Internationals


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