AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans admits the Wallabies’ injury crisis has forced him to be “creative” in his team selection for tomorrow’s World Cup clash with Russia.
Backrow Radike Samo has been named on the right wing for their final Pool C match, the position where he finished the 67-5 victory over the United States. The 35-year-old becomes the first player to start as a forward and a back in the same World Cup.
A lengthy injury list means Deans has been forced to pick all three of the squad’s hookers and all three scrumhalves in the match-day 22. “We’ve had to be a bit creative, but it’s never been about the number on their back,” said Deans.
Australia will soon be reinforced by the return from injury of fullback Kurtley Beale, winger Digby Ioane and midfielders Rob Horne and Pat McCabe. “We’ve got four backs coming back to us next week so it shouldn’t be an issue going forward, unless we have a train smash this weekend,” said Deans.
There was some good news for Deans with openside flanker David Pocock returning to the side after missing games against Ireland and the US with a back injury.
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