5 Aug 2010

Faingaa twins to start for Wallabies

6:57 pm on 5 August 2010

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has rung the changes with three new faces in his starting lineup to take on the All Blacks in Christchurch - and two of them are twins.

Hooker Saia Faingaa and his brother Anthony, who's a second-five eighth, last weekend became the 40th set of brothers, and the third twins to appear in Test matches for the Wallabies, and now they're set to start together for the first time at Test level.

Saia Faingaa says it's surreal and an honour for the family.

Anthony Faingaa replaces Berrick Barnes while fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper moves to centre for Rob Horne, who's replaced by Kurtley Beale.

Saia Faingaa takes Stephen Moore's spot at hooker.

Meanwhile fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper is rejecting former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer's suggestion that their skill levels have gone backwards.

Ashley-Cooper doubts it's skills they're lacking, saying the New Zealanders have just taken their chances better.