17 Sep 2009

Aussies see changes as salute to Wallabies

6:36 am on 17 September 2009

Some of the changes made by the All Blacks selectors for Saturday's final Tri-Nations match are seen across the Tasman as a rare salute to the Wallabies forward pack.

The return of prop Neemia Tialata and the surprise selection of the Otago lock Tom Donnelly are among five changes made to the starting line-up, although the All Blacks coach Graham Henry denied there were any scapegoats from the side that lost again last weekend to South Africa in Hamilton.

Henry says he regards Tialata as the strongest scrummager to oppose the in-form Benn Robinson, though there's a concern about his fitness to play the full 80 minutes.

The Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says he's concerned about facing an All Blacks side that'll be determined to silence home critics.