No room for Mitchell

MARSEILLE – Leading tournament try-scorer Drew Mitchell has missed out on a place in the Wallabies’ team following the return from injury of skipper Stirling Mortlock for their Rugby World Cup quarter-final with England tomorrow.

Mitchell, who broke compatriot David Campese’s World Cup try-scoring record with seven tries, was relegated to the bench with Adam Ashley-Cooper taking his wing spot when the team was named yesterday for the first of the knockout games. Head coach John Connolly had flagged Mitchell’s likely demotion when he said that Ashley-Cooper as the incumbent left winger in this year’s Tri-Nations series would keep his place with Mortlock’s return.Mortlock missed the Wallabies’ final two pool matches with a shoulder injury suffered against Wales.Test rookie Berrick Barnes was named at flyhalf for the injured Stephen Larkham, while utility back Scott Staniforth was not considered for squad selection because of a badly bruised shoulder.The forwards remain intact with the regular front-row combination of Matt Dunning, Stephen Moore and Guy Shepherdson named for what is a highly anticipated battle up front with England’s top-rated pack.Scrumhalf George Gregan will be making his record 139th Test appearance in his farewell international tournament.Connolly has opted for five forwards on the bench, including Hugh McMeniman, man-of-the-match in the 37-6 win over Canada in Bordeaux last Saturday.Australia (15-1): Chris Latham; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri; Berrick Barnes, George Gregan; Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom; Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe; Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning.Replacements: Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Hoiles, Phil Waugh, Julian Huxley, Drew Mitchell.Nampa-AFPHead coach John Connolly had flagged Mitchell’s likely demotion when he said that Ashley-Cooper as the incumbent left winger in this year’s Tri-Nations series would keep his place with Mortlock’s return.Mortlock missed the Wallabies’ final two pool matches with a shoulder injury suffered against Wales.Test rookie Berrick Barnes was named at flyhalf for the injured Stephen Larkham, while utility back Scott Staniforth was not considered for squad selection because of a badly bruised shoulder.The forwards remain intact with the regular front-row combination of Matt Dunning, Stephen Moore and Guy Shepherdson named for what is a highly anticipated battle up front with England’s top-rated pack.Scrumhalf George Gregan will be making his record 139th Test appearance in his farewell international tournament.Connolly has opted for five forwards on the bench, including Hugh McMeniman, man-of-the-match in the 37-6 win over Canada in Bordeaux last Saturday.Australia (15-1): Chris Latham; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri; Berrick Barnes, George Gregan; Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom; Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe; Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning.Replacements: Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Hoiles, Phil Waugh, Julian Huxley, Drew Mitchell.Nampa-AFP