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Cooper changes two for Aussies

By
Friday 16 Jun 2006

New Zealand team to play Australia

New Zealand coach Greg Cooper has made two changes to the team for their final pool match against Australia in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-21 World Championship at Stade Darragon, Vichy, France, on Saturday.

Auckland's Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a will start on the blindside flank in place of Canterbury's Michael Paterson, who moves to lock in place of Ryan Wilson of North Harbour.

Canterbury utility back Aaron Bancroft, who started at centre against England on Wednesday, will return to New Zealand on the weekend because of an ankle injury. He will be replaced by Waikato's Richard Kahui, who is currently playing for New Zealand Maori and will join the New Zealand Under 21 team following the Churchill Cup final in Canada on Sunday.

Bancroft's place in Sunday's match against Australia will be filled by Tasman's Robbie Flynn.

Cooper said that while New Zealand had won both its games so far in the competition, the team had to beat Australia to advance to the next stage of the competition.

"It was pleasing to record a good win against the Six Nations Champions, England. Now our focus is on Australia," Cooper said.

"This competition is reaching a crucial point and we know we will have to play well to secure victory and move to the next round," he added.

New Zealand: 15 George Pisi (North Harbour), 14 Lelia Masaga (Counties Manukau), 13 Robbie Flynn (Tasman), 12 Stephen Brett (Canterbury), 11 James Somerset (Auckland), 10 William Ripia (Waikato), 9 Alby Mathewson (Wellington), 8 Kieran Read (Canterbury), 7 Serge Lilo (Wellington), 6 Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a (Auckland), 5 Michael Paterson (Canterbury), 4 Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), 3 Michael Reid (North Harbour), 2 Hikawera Elliot (Hawke's Bay), 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Southland, captain).
Replacements: 16 Lance Po-Ching (Auckland), 17 Arden David-Perrot (Wellington), 18 Ryan Wilson (North Harbour), 19 Mikaele Tuu'u (Canterbury), 20 Taniela Moa (Auckland), 21 Miah Nikora (Wellington), 22 Lance MacDonald (Bay of Plenty)

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