29 Oct 2009

Changes to Wallabies line-up

7:45 am on 29 October 2009

Captain one day, on the bench the next.... no-one is safe from Robbie Deans's razor-sharp axe, with champion flanker George Smith shunted to the reserves for Australia's Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Tokyo on Saturday.

With 105 Tests to his credit, 29-year-old Smith is the most-capped forward in Australian rugby history and captained the Wallabies in their past four Tests before Deans this month appointed fellow breakaway Rocky Elsom as his spring tour skipper.

David Pocock will start as openside flanker, Wycliffe Palu at number 8, while Digby Ioane, Peter Hynes and Adam Ashley Cooper start in the backline.

Matt Giteau has been named at first five eighth with Berrick Barnes outside him, although they are expected to switch during the game... a situation Barnes has no problem with....

The Wallabies have lost their last six clashes with the All Blacks.