McMeniman moves back to lock for France Test
QR Reds forward Hugh McMeniman will move back to lock for the Test match against France in Paris, after playing in the backrow against England.
With Wallaby coach Robbie Deans reshuffling the forward pack to share the workload around, flanker Dean Mumm, prop Ben Alexander and No 8 Wycliff Palu come into the starting side.
Injured No 8 Richard Brown (knee and hand) and hard working prop Benn Robinson are rested, while lock Mark Chisholm moves to the bench to allow for the positional swap with McMeniman.
The backline is unchanged.
Wallaby skipper Stirling Mortlock will play his 75th Test in Paris. In achieving this mark, Mortlock will tie former centre Jason Little as the 10th most capped Wallaby in history.
The match is the fourth of the Wallabies Spring Tour, following matches against New Zealand at Hong Kong, Italy in Padova and last weekend’s Cook Cup Test against England, won 28-14 by the Wallabies.
It will be followed by the Wallabies’ 14th and final Test of the year, against Wales at Cardiff on Saturday week, before the tour concludes with a specially arranged midweek game against the Barbarians club at London’s Wembley Stadium on 3 December.
That match commemorates the Olympic Gold Medal won by the Wallabies at the 1908 London Games.
The team to play France at the Stade de France in Paris (kick off 9pm Saturday local / 6am Sunday Queensland time) is:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
14. Peter Hynes (QR Reds)
13. Ryan Cross (Western Force)
12. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) captain
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
10. Matt Giteau (Western Force)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
7. George Smith (Brumbies)
6. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Hugh McMeniman (QR Reds)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (QR Reds)
1. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
Reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
18. Mark Chisholm (Brumbies)
19. David Pocock (Western Force)
20. Sam Cordingley (QR Reds)
21. Quade Cooper (QR Reds)
22. Digby Ioane (QR Reds)
