Samu, Fainga’a axed
WELLINGTON: Australia coach Dave Rennie has dropped No 8 Pete Samu in a looseforward reshuffle for tomorrow’s second Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand in Auckland while hooker Folau Fainga’a has also been axed after struggling with his lineout throwing in Wellington.
Brandon PaengaAmosa will win his fifth cap in the middle of the front row while Ned Hanigan has been named to start at blindside flanker, shifting rookie Harry Wilson to No 8.
Fainga’a’s failure to hit his lineout targets early in last weekend’s 1616 draw cost the Wallabies points and Rennie said he was a ‘‘casualty’’ of that.
‘‘Obviously the lineout didn’t function as well last week,’’ the New Zealander said yesterday.
‘‘We’ve had a big focus on earning the right to play.’’
PaengaAmosa edges out reserve hooker Jordan Uelese for the match, despite his own throwing troubles for the Reds during Super Rugby AU.
‘‘He’s certainly a very strong scrummager as well, Brandon, a good athlete and we think he’s the right man for the job this weekend,’’ Rennie said.
While Samu had some decent carries in Wellington, Rennie said he had not met standards, adding Hanigan would help stiffen the lineout.
‘‘He’s got a good skillset and provides a point of difference for us at six,’’ he said.
There is no change to the backline but centre Jordan Petaia has been named on the bench after recovering from a hip flexor injury, tipping out uncapped first fiveeighth Noah Lolesio. Reds skipper Liam Wright replaces reserve loosie Rob Valetini.
Rennie is expecting a backlash from the All Blacks.
‘‘You play the All Blacks and you’re a couple of cogs off, you get hammered — as we’ve seen with a number of the best sides in the world,’’ Rennie said.
‘‘We need to make sure that we’re stepping up our game and can deal with the intensity.’’ — Reuters