Australia lose David Pocock and Israel Folau for Scotland World Cup clash
Friday 16 October 2015 16:18, UK
Australia No 8 David Pocock and full-back Israel Folau have been ruled out of the World Cup quarter-final against Scotland on Sunday.
The news is a major blow for the Wallabies - both have been key men in their progress to the last eight.
Coach Michael Cheika delayed announcing his starting line-up to give Pocock (calf) and Folau (ankle) time to prove their fitness after sustaining injuries in the Pool A-deciding win last week over Wales.
He revealed later Friday that Ben McCalman would replace Pocock at No 8 and Kurtley Beale would come in for Folau at full-back.
Michael Hooper will return at openside at Sean McMahon's expense after missing the Wales match because of a suspension. Rob Simmons, so impressive off the bench against Wales last week, has won a starting place in the second row, which means Exeter's Dean Mumm drops to the bench.
The promotion of Beale to the starting XV means the mercurial Quade Cooper comes onto the bench. The fly-half has played just once so far, against Uruguay, when he kicked five conversions but was also sin-binned.
Skipper Stephen Moore and centre Matt Giteau are set to earn their 100th Test caps in the match.
The Wallabies have arguably been the most impressive team in the tournament so far. They were outstanding in their Pool A victories over England Wales in particular.
They are hot favourite to beat the Scots, but Cheika dismissed that.
"We don't think we are (favourites)," Cheika said. "No one was saying that about us a few months ago.
"By the nature of the tournament and the stage this game is at, I think this will be our toughest match.
"That is no disrespect to the other teams we have played, but there is no doubt in my mind and my team's mind this will be the most difficult game so far."
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 1 Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Kane Douglas, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Ben McCalman,
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Quade Cooper
