Wallabies wary of repeating Murrayfield misery

SYDNEY (AFP) –

File photo shows (L-R) Wallabies players David Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Stephen Moore and Saia Faingaa during a training session in October 2011. The Wallabies will be heavy favourites against Scotland in their season opener in Newcastle on Tuesday.

The Wallabies will be heavy favourites against Scotland in their season opener in Newcastle on Tuesday, but wary of a repeat of one of their blackest days against this year’s Six Nations wooden-spooners in their last encounter.

The Scots pulled off a mighty 9-8 upset at Murrayfield in November 2009 to end a 16-game losing run against the Wallabies in a match described by some critics as Australia’s worst defeat of the professional (post-1995) era.

The Wallabies, ranked second in the world, have chosen far from their best lineup to face 12-ranked Scotland as they manage their playing resources ahead of Saturday’s first of three Tests against Six Nations Grand Slam champions Wales in Brisbane.

Only scrum-half Will Genia and hooker Stephen Moore remain from the Wallabies’ starting XV in that 2009 Edinburgh defeat.

File photo shows Wallabies flanker David Pocock (C) during a training session in October 2011. The Wallabies will be wary of a repeat of one of their blackest days against this year’s Six Nations wooden-spooners in their last encounter.

Flanker David Pocock will lead the Wallabies for the first time in a team containing five uncapped players — Mike Harris at inside-centre, winger Joe Tomane, fullback Luke Morahan, loose forward Dave Dennis and tight-head prop Dan Palmer.

Coach Robbie Deans has chosen nine of his World Cup squad in the starting XV with a further six who played in last year’s New Zealand tournament among the replacements.

There is no place for mercurial fly-half Quade Cooper, who Deans considers has not had enough game time since his comeback from a serious knee injury suffered at the World Cup.

Deans said Berrick Barnes’s experience at number 10, where he has played recently for the NSW Waratahs, along with his Wallaby background, would be critical assets for the Australian side given the short preparation time.

Barnes last played flyhalf for the Wallabies during the 21-18 win in the third-place playoff against Wales at last year’s World Cup, taking over after Cooper was forced off early with ruptured knee ligaments.

Deans is expecting the Scots to come at the Wallabies and test out their forwards in the set-pieces as they defend the Hopetoun Cup.

“They’ll be hungry and will sense the opportunity, striking us first up on a limited preparation,” Deans said.

File photo shows Scotland coach Andy Robinson (R) with his players in October 2011. The Scots pulled off a mighty 9-8 upset in November 2009 to end a 16-game losing run against the Wallabies in a match described by some critics as Australia’s worst defeat of the professional (post-1995) era.

“A feature of the Scottish team under Andy Robinson is that they are very well organised. The Scottish teams of my experience have always been extremely physical in their approach, so they will be very direct and come right at us.”

Scotland have made six changes and will give Ryan Grant, the Glasgow Warriors loose-head prop, his first cap against the Wallabies.

Edinburgh centre Matt Scott will have his first start with two other uncapped players among the replacements, Edinburgh wing/full-back Tom Brown and Tom Ryder, the Glasgow Warriors lock.

“We were all very disappointed by the results in the Six Nations and this tour is about our strong collective determination to put that right, play with confidence and win back pride,” Robinson said.

“When we last played Australia three years ago, it was one of the most courageous performances of scramble defence I have ever seen.

“Four times Australia were over our line only to be held up and it will require that uncompromising resolve if we are to repeat that success.”

It is 30 years since Scotland’s last success in Australia, at Brisbane’s Ballymore stadium in 1982, and overall the Wallabies lead 18 wins to eight.

It will be the first time Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium, 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Sydney, has hosted a rugby union Test match.