Tom Donnelly was the surprise inclusion in the New Zealand team to take on Australia this weekend - and no one was more shocked than the lock himself. The 27-year-old will make his international debut in the dead rubber of the Tri Nations in Wellington on Saturday, after replacing rookie lock Isaac Ross in the starting line-up. Donnelly's call-up is one of five personnel changes and two positional switches made by coach Graham Henry to the team that started in last weekend's defeat against South Africa - which saw the All Blacks relinquish their crown.
"I sort of thought I might be a shot on the bench this week but didn't think I'd be starting. I'm on top of the world, on cloud nine really," he said. Henry added: "At this moment in time we think he may give us a bit more composure. He hasn't played a lot of rugby and is pretty fresh coming in." Meanwhile, the Australia coach Robbie Deans is not one to dwell on the past, particularly when it comes to the Wallabies' history of poor form in New Zealand.
The Australians have not defeated the All Blacks on their home soil since a 23-15 victory in Dunedin in 2001 and hope to change that on Saturday. "I guess the one thing you get with a young group is they are not too burdened by the past," said Deans. "They are aware of it and are aware of the pride the All Blacks take in their game because you don't get a performance history like theirs without that."
The Wallabies went close to breaking their drought in Auckland at the start of the series, leading at half-time before the New Zealanders rallied to edge home 22-16. But the Australians are buoyant after their strong performance against the Boks two weeks ago which saw them upset the world and eventual Tri Nations champions 21-6. * PA Sport
