Australia coach Eddie Jones dropped Wendell Sailor for today's match against England in one of five changes to the team that lost to France last week.
With Australia on six straight losses -- its worst run of results since 1969 -- Mark Gerrard comes in for Sailor on the right wing, Mat Rogers switches to flyhalf -- replacing Matt Giteau -- and Drew Mitchell fills the vacated left-wing berth.
Lock Hugh McMeniman will make his test debut, replacing Mark Chisholm, while Rocky Elsom makes way for Joe Roe at blindside flanker.
"Mat Rogers deserves another opportunity to start at flyhalf after a good performance against New Zealand and then finishing the game there last week," Jones said Thursday.
While Giteau is among the replacements, Sailor is not even on the bench. Lloyd Johansson, Tatafu Polata-Nau and Scott Fava are included, however.
"With Rogers at 10 and Morgan Turinui at inside center, Matt Giteau will give us plenty off the bench," Jones said.
Rogers impressed at flyhalf against New Zealand in September and moved to the position during the match against France.
"For comfort, put me at fullback, that would be the easy option but I'm really enjoying the challenge of playing flyhalf, I want to play there," Rogers said. "It makes it a hell of a lot easier when you want to be there and I certainly want to be there at No.10 at the moment."
Rogers said Australia's losing streak was not an extra spur for his team.
"I've got asked if I was motivated because we'd lost games, I'm motivated if we're winning or losing," Rogers said. "No one enjoys losing a game of rugby, particularly Australians. We're expected to win games, we haven't been doing it.
* Australia: Chris Latham, Mark Gerrard, Lote Tuqiri, Morgan Turinui, Drew Mitchell, Mat Rogers, George Gregan (captain); Matt Dunning, Brendan Cannon, Al Baxter, Nathan Sharpe, Hugh McMeniman, John Roe, Phil Waugh, George Smith
* Replacements: Tatafu Polata-Nau, Greg Holmes, Mark Chisholm, Scott Fava, Chris Whitaker, Matt Giteau, Lloyd Johannson
* England: Josh Lewsey, Mark Cueto, Jamie Noon, Mike Tindall, Ben Cohen, Charlie Hodgson, Matt Dawson; Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Phil Vickery, Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock, Pat Sanderson, Lewis Moody, Martin Corry (captain)
* Replacements: Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Louis Deacon, Chris Jones, Harry Ellis, Olly Barkley, Mark van Gisbergen
"Even if we had, we'd be going out expecting to win, so I don't think any of the players going on the field need any extra motivation. We're playing England at Twickenham, it's a game we want to win."
Jones also kept faith in captain George Gregan, whose recent performances have been criticized by former players and coaches as his team lost six games in a row.
"His experience as captain is very important for us at this stage of our development," Jones said. "He's like any other player -- his performance is under review and he's got to play well."
England coach Andy Robinson has recalled winger Ben Cohen, center Mike Tindall, scrumhalf Matt Dawson and prop Phil Vickery from England's 2003 World Cup-winning team and has also named prop Andrew Sheridan, lock Steve Borthwick and flanker Pat Sanderson.
RSS