Not team’s fault, says KD
AUSTRALIA coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to his starting side for tomorrow’s Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand, including giving utility James O’Connor his first test start since 2013.
It also marks O’Connor’s first start in the centres following a 45-test international career that has covered nearly every position in the backline.
He returns after bad behaviour, including alcohol and drug incidents, saw him fall out of favour with the national team.
In other changes announced yesterday, Allan Ala’alatoa will play a test for the first time this year.
Ala’alatoa is joined in the front row by hooker Tolu Latu with Folau Fainga’a shifting to the reserves while Nic White partners Christian Lealiifano in the halves.
It will be the first test start for White and Leali’ifano as a halves pairing but the combination has a long history following several seasons as chief playmakers at the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby.
For New Zealand, Ardie Savea will start a test for the first time on the blindside flank while Jack Goodhue and Anton Lienert-Brown will combine in midfield.
Out-of-form captain Kieran Read has held his place at No.8, meaning Savea — New Zealand’s best loose forward — has to take on an unaccustomed role to be accommodated in the All Blacks starting line-up.
The selectors have continued shuffling of midfield roles in naming Lienert-Brown at inside centre and Goodhue at outside centre with specialist inside centre Ngani Laumape on the bench.
Dane Coles returns to the starting line-up at hooker, displacing Codie Taylor who drops to the bench. Coles was New Zealand’s No.1 rake until injuries sidelined him for almost a year, giving Taylor to take the starting role. KEVIN Durant has absolved the Golden State Warriors of any blame for his achilles injury that will likely force him to sit out the 2019-20 season.
“Hell, no. How can you blame (the Warriors)? Hell, no,” Durant told Yahoo Sports in his first interview since suffering the injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June.
Durant returned to the court for Game 5 after missing nine straight post-season games with a right calf strain.
“I heard the Warriors pressured me into getting back. Nobody never said a word to me during rehab as I was coming back. It was only me and (trainer) Rick (Celebrini) working out every day,” he said. “Right when the series started, I targeted Game 5. Hell, nah. It just happened. It’s basketball. Nobody was responsible for it. It was just the game.”
Durant has moved on from the Warriors, signing a fouryear, $243 million contract to play for the Brooklyn Nets when he returns. He spent three seasons with the Warriors, winning two NBA championships.