Australia axe for Giteau

Published: Tuesday, 19. July, 2011 in category Australia
Giteau: Axed from the Australia squad

Coach Robbie Deans has wielded the axe after the 32-23 defeat to the Pacific Islanders at ANZ Stadium, making seven changes to his side.

Giteau is the highest-profile omission with the 28-year-old - who makes way for preferred fly-half Quade Cooper - failing even to make the bench.

Scrum-half Will Genia also returns - in place of Nick Phipps, who drops to the bench - alongside Reds team-mate Cooper after the duo were rested in the wake of their Super 15 success a fortnight ago.

The Wallabies backline is further strengthened with full-back Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor also included.

In the forwards, flanker David Pocock and second-rowers James Horwill and Rob Simmons return to the line-up.

They replace Matt Hodgson and Nathan Sharpe, who drop to the bench, while Sitaleki Timani also misses out completely.

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Anthony Fainga'a.