Three changes for forward-thinking Deans

13 April 2012

Australia have made three changes to their starting XV for Saturday's Test against France in Paris.

They all come in the forwards as coach Robbie Deans breaks up a pack that performed so well in the superb 28-14 win over England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Prop Ben Alexander replaces Benn Robinson to earn his third cap while Dean Mumm comes into the back row, pushing Hugh McMeniman - who started as a flanker against England - into the second row instead of Mark Chisholm.

Wycliff Palu is recalled at number eight in place of Richard Brown, who injured his knee at the weekend and is ruled out of the clash at the Stade de France.

Palu returns to the starting line-up for the first time since injuring the medial ligament in his knee against New Zealand in Brisbane in September.

Deans keeps his back line unchanged as the Kiwi looks to guide his team to a third successive win on their autumn tour.

Prior to the victory over the English, the Wallabies defeated Italy 30-20.

Winger Lote Tuqiri does not make the matchday squad as he continues his recovery from a knee operation.

An under-strength France squad toured Australia over the summer, losing Tests in Sydney (34-13) and Brisbane (40-10).

But Les Bleus head coach Marc Lievremont has close to a full-strength team at his disposal this weekend and Australia lock Nathan Sharpe is anticipating a battle in the French capital.

"It's a big challenge for us as a team, trying to beat France away from home," said the Western Force second-row forward.

"We'll have to play as a team and to the best of our ability. It's up to us to transfer the performance of last week to this weekend.

"France are always dangerous and playing a full-on France is going to be a tough challenge for us."

Skipper Stirling Mortlock will this weekend play his 75th Test, and will be tied with Jason Little as the 10th most-capped Wallaby in history.

Australia's tour will conclude with a Test against Wales in Cardiff a week on Saturday and a specially-arranged midweek game against the Barbarians at Wembley on December 3.


Australia team:
Adam Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies); Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), Ryan Cross (Western Force), Stirling Mortlock (ACT Brumbies, capt), Drew Mitchell (Western Force); Matt Giteau (Western Force), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs); Ben Alexander (ACT Brumbies), Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds), Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs), Hugh McMeniman (Queensland Reds), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), G Smith (ACT Brumbies), Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs).
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu (both NSW Waratahs), Mark Chisholm (ACT Brumbies), David Pocock (Western Force), Sam Cordingley, Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane (all Queensland Reds).

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