Deans drops veteran lock Sharpe
2008-08-14 07:50
Brisbane - Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe has been dropped from the Australian squad heading to South Africa for the final two Tri-Nations matches later this month.
Coach Robbie Deans has also left out starting scrumhalf
Luke Burgess after he sustained a knee injury in training on
Wednesday.
An MRI scan on Thursday revealed a meniscus tear which will
put Burgess out of action for at least four weeks.
"It was an innocuous-looking incident," Deans said.
"Unfortunately Luke's knee blew up afterwards, was worse again this morning, and the scan has then revealed the bad
news."
Sam Cordingley and Brett Sheehan have been named as the two
scrumhalves in the 28-man squad.
Three hookers have been included - Stephen Moore, Adam
Freier and Tatafu Polota-Nau - while injured flanker Rocky
Elsom (foot ligament strain) and fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper
(broken hand) will travel but both are likely to miss the first
Test.
Deans has chosen 16 forwards and 12 backs in the squad.
The Wallabies play South Africa at Durban on Aug. 23 and in
Johannesburg a week later.
Squad: Stirling Mortlock (captain), Ben Alexander, Adam
Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Sam
Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Adam Freier,
Matt Giteau, James Horwill, Peter Hynes, Hugh McMeniman, Drew
Mitchell, Dean Mumm, Stephen Moore, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu
Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Brett Sheehan, George Smith, Timana
Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner, Phil Waugh, Dan Vickerman.