Australiatook the first Test 27-19 and have kept the faith in the same XV but Deans faces an anxious wait over the fitness of one of his props. Tight-head Sekope Kepu strained a tendon in his forearm on Saturday but coach Robbie Deans is optimistic.
“We are hopeful that Keps will be good to go, but we do have a contingency plan in place if we need it,” Deans said. “There are five props in the group we have with us in Melbourne so we saw no need in bringing anyone extra in.”
Australia: A Ashley-Cooper; C Vuna, R Horne, P McCabe, D Ioane; B Barnes, W Genia; B Robinson, T Polata Nau, S Kepu, R Simmons, N Sharpe, S Higginbotham, D Pocock (captain), W Palu
Replacements: S Moore, B Alexander, D Dennis, M Hooper, N White, A Faingaa, M Harris
