Shock as Aussies kick Foley to curb

Brisbane – Bernard Foley was dropped in a major backline shake-up by the Wallabies yesterday, who got a big boost with Israel Folau and David Pocock both declared fit for their clash against the Springboks tomorrow.

Australia have lost six of their past seven games, and ceded the Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand for the 16th consecutive year after a 40-12 hammering in Auckland and a 38-13 thrashing in Sydney.

Coach Michael Cheika has been under mounting pressure to fix his misfiring team and responded by relegating the ever-present Foley to the bench for the mustwin Rugby Championship match in Brisbane.

Cheika admitted it was tough telling the 60-Test veteran he was not in the starting line-up.

“Not easy, obviously, but we sat down and had a good talk about it and he’s certainly no dummy spitter, going by the way he trained today,” Cheika said.

“He’s still going to have a big part to play, finishing the game without a doubt.”

Kurtley Beale was selected to start his first Test in the No 10 jersey since 2014 with the 76-Test veteran directing the show from flyhalf, with the experienced Matt Toomua promoted to inside centre.

In a further change to the backs, Folau returns after an ankle injury ruled out him out of the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland. The star fullback only returned to light training this week.

“I’m not looking to mix and match for the sake of it. Right today, this is the best combination,” said Cheika.

Key backrower David Pocock also defied the odds to be selected after being in doubt with a neck injury.

Brumbies lock Rory Arnold will start in the second row for his first Test of 2018 while “Tongan Thor” prop Taniela Tupou has overcome a hamstring complaint to take his place on the subs’ bench. –