Sixth-string hooker Saia Fainga’a will start his first Test match in four years as the Wallabies face a massive set-piece assignment against South Africa at Newlands.
Australia’s dreadlocked rake, Fainga’a becomes the fifth man to wear the jinxed No.2 jersey in eight games after gaining a shock recall ahead of Queensland teammate James Hanson.
The 27-year-old is one of three changes to the starting team which overcame Argentina 32-25 on the Gold Coast, with vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper returning from injury and Joe Tomane edging out Rob Horne on the other flank.
Hanson had appeared an automatic choice after the hooker’s curse claimed Tatafu Polota-Nau (ankle) for the second time this year but Fainga’a’s reliability in the scrums and lineouts was preferred against a Boks pack that unsettled the All Blacks in Wellington.
But the fact Bismarck du Plessis, seen as the best No.2 in the world, is on the South African bench, contrasts the rivals’ fortunes.
Fainga’a has lived a bench-warming existence since making his international debut in 2010, starting seven of his first 11 Tests, before sitting behind Stephen Moore and Polota-Nau for 18 straight.
And that doesn’t include several more when left a frustrated unused reserve by Robbie Deans.
But Ewen McKenzie views Fainga’a’s flexibility as a fast-striking scrummager under pressure as a key to Australia winning clean ball off their feed.
“We’ve been really impressed with the effort he has put in off the field recently, and he’ll be determined to make the most of this opportunity,” McKenzie said.
The set-piece is always an important area of focus for us, even more so when you play South Africa, and we know the outcome of the scrum and line-out will be crucial to the final result.”
Not since 2006, when John Connolly experimented leading into the 2007 World Cup, has Australia resorted to five different starting hookers in a calendar year.
McKenzie has also recalled veteran prop Benn Robinson, left out of the squad for the first seven Tests of 2014, on the bench ahead of Pek Cowan due to his experience and loose-head nous.
Benn is someone who we have always said wasn’t out of the selection picture, and we’ve been pleased with the improvements he has made,” the coach said.
Will Genia was overlooked for a bench spot with Nic White kept among three backs in a 5-3 split.
A match-winner in Perth, Horne has lost out with faster wing specialist Tomane now recovered from a hamstring injury.
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper. Res: James Hanson, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne.
THE WALLABIES HOOKER CRISIS IN 2014
Stephen Moore (knee reconstruction) – lasted three minutes in year’s first Test in June
Tatafu Polota-Nau (knee and ankle) – started twice before busting his knee, then lasted 40 minutes in return
Nathan Charles (shoulder surgery) – ran on for both Bledisloe Tests before another injury struck
James Hanson – No.4 in the pecking order has been left on the bench against the Springboks
Tolu Latu (broken arm) – injured just days after joining the Wallabies camp in August
Saia Fainga’a – sixth choice a month ago, now starting on the weekend in Cape Town.
