Pat McCabe will line up at inside centre for the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash with the Springboks in Wellington on Sunday.
Wallabies Squad v Springboks
- Sekope Kepu
- Stephen Moore
- Ben Alexander
- Dan Vickerman
- James Horwill
- Rocky Elsom
- David Pocock
- Radike Samo
- Will Genia
- Quade Cooper
- Digby Ioane
- Pat McCabe
- Adam Ashley-Cooper
- James O’Connor
- Kurtley Beale
- Tatafu Polota-Nau
- James Slipper
- Nathan Sharpe
- Ben McCalman
- Luke Burgess
- Berrick Barnes
- Anthony Faingaa
- McCabe returns to the starting line-up alongside backline aces Kurtley Beale and Digby Ioane, all three players having recovered from their respective injuries.
Beale replaces injured winger Drew Mitchell, with James O’Connor relocating back to the right wing; McCabe steps in for Berrick Barnes, while Ioane resumes in the place of stand in Radike Samo, who moves back to No.8.
“We had that option obviously,” Deans said when asked about his decision to select McCabe over Barnes.
“Pat’s played all season, the game he missed was through injury.
“It’s great to see Barnsey back to his best and he’s come into the 22, which he hasn’t been in recent times.
“He’s a bloke we can use for when he choose.”
In the forwards, Dan Vickerman returns to the pack in place of veteran lock Nathan Sharpe, who reverts back to the bench along with backrower Ben McCalman.
“We’ve gone with the players, and the combinations, which have served us best through the year to date,” Deans said.
“Obviously injury, and managing individual player work-loads, has been a factor in selection through the tournament so far, but fortunately a lot of the injury problems that we’ve had are now behind us. The players that are coming back into the team after breaks are good to go.”
by Buford Balony
