George Smith Skippers the Wallabies versus Canada

George Smith 75th captain for the Wallabies against Canada in their final Pool B match at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux on Saturday 29 September with a KO 1400 BST.

With a quarter-final spot already , and a quarter-final match against either England or Tonga to be played a week later, Wallaby coach John Connolly has chosen to rest most of his senior players. Connolly also decided to rest fly half Berrick Barnes, with veteran Stephen Larkham’s injury woes, so Julian Huxley will start at number 10. The game sees Al Baxter become only the second prop in Wallabies history to reach 50 Tests, whilst prop Greg Holmes returns to the starting 15 for the first time in 2007, as do hooker Adam Freier and back rower David Lyons, who starts after suffering deep vein thrombosis.

In the backs, Sam Cordingley gets his first start at 9, with George Gregan one of only two backs named on the reserves bench. Cameron Shepherd, will make his RWC debut at full back after joining the team as an injury replacement for Mark Gerrard and Scott Staniforth has been named at inside centre, despite nursing a shoulder injury, and will be given until Friday to prove his fitness.

Australia Team V Canada

Backs: Cameron Shepherd, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Scott Staniforth, Lote Tuqiri, Julian Huxley, Sam Cordingley.
Forwards:Greg Holmes, Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Hugh McMeniman, George Smith(C),David Lyons.

Replacements: Sean Hardman, Guy Shepherdson, Rocky Elsom, Phil Waugh, Stephen Hoiles, George Gregan, Chris Latham.

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