Wallabies recall Smith for last test
Source: Agencies |
July 5, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
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A DOZEN years after marking his 21st birthday by helping Australia clinch the 2001 series against the British and Irish Lions, George Smith has been recalled as the Wallabies bid to replicate that come-from-behind series win.
Smith has recovered from a left knee injury that kept him out of the first two tests of the series and forced his way into coach Robbie Deans' squad for the third test in Sydney tomorrow at the expense of Michael Hooper on the openside flank. His 111th test - and first since he first retired from international rugby after a test in Wales in 2009 - will come a week before he turns 33.
"In terms of rugby it's the ultimate for me. To be selected in the starting XV for this decider, there's nothing higher for me," Smith said. "I'm very pleased that Robbie's gone my way in terms of selection - Michael Hooper and Liam Gill played extremely well in the last two games but to get this opportunity is huge for me."
Deans said it was a "pretty straightforward" decision to select Smith when he was fit enough to play.
Smith for Hooper is the only change to the Wallabies starting lineup which won the second test 16-15 last weekend to level the series.
Smith has recovered from a left knee injury that kept him out of the first two tests of the series and forced his way into coach Robbie Deans' squad for the third test in Sydney tomorrow at the expense of Michael Hooper on the openside flank. His 111th test - and first since he first retired from international rugby after a test in Wales in 2009 - will come a week before he turns 33.
"In terms of rugby it's the ultimate for me. To be selected in the starting XV for this decider, there's nothing higher for me," Smith said. "I'm very pleased that Robbie's gone my way in terms of selection - Michael Hooper and Liam Gill played extremely well in the last two games but to get this opportunity is huge for me."
Deans said it was a "pretty straightforward" decision to select Smith when he was fit enough to play.
Smith for Hooper is the only change to the Wallabies starting lineup which won the second test 16-15 last weekend to level the series.
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