Australian Mat Rogers was given an easy passage into the fullback position yesterday when incumbent Chris Latham was ruled out of the opening game of the cup.
Latham was still recovering from a bout of pneumonia and was not considered for Friday night's clash with Argentina at Telstra Stadium.
Stirling Mortlock's unavailability
due to a stomach bug meant the only other contender for the fullback berth, Matthew Burke, was selected at centre.
"We've been doing a lot of testing on Chris since he was admitted to hospital after the Tri-Nations series and the data is telling us that he's not ready to play just yet," Australian team doctor Martin Raftery said.
The other major team news was the selection of tighthead prop Al Baxter, who earned his first starting cap after making his test debut against the All Blacks in August.
Queenslander Nathan Sharpe replaces Dan Vickerman in the second row and David Lyons fills the No 8 spot vacated by the injured Toutai Kefu.
Forward Matt Cockbain, a member of the 1999 World Cup side, returned for the first time since the end-of-season tour last year.
"It's a young and exciting pack," coach Eddie Jones said. "Playing Argentina is one of the great challenges for a forward and we've been working very hard on our scrum."
Latham is expected to be available for selection again next week.
The Argentine side will be named today.
Australia: Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Matt Burke, Elton Flatley, Joe Roff, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt), David Lyons, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Nathan Sharpe, David Giffin, Al Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Bill Young. Res: Jeremy Paul, Ben Darwin, Dan Vickerman, Matt Cockbain, Chris Whitaker, Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri. * Keith Wood is back to lead Ireland for the 32nd time on Saturday when they play their opening match against Romania.
"It's been a frustrating year of injuries," the hooker said yesterday when Ireland named their lineup for the game in Gosford.
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Sidelined with shoulder, neck and leg injuries, Wood has played just six of Ireland's 24 matches since the start of 2002.
He is now set to appear in his 54th test and become the fourth Irishman to play in three World Cups, the others being Brendan Mullen, Neil Francis and Terry Kingston.
The other three teams in pool A are Australia, Argentina and Namibia.
Ireland: Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll, Kevin Maggs, Denis Hickie, David Humphreys, Peter Stringer, Marcus Horan, Keith Wood (capt), Reggie Corrigan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Paul O'Connell, Victor Costello, Keith Gleeson, Anthony Foley. Res: Shane Byrne, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Alan Quinlan, Guy Easterby, Ronan O'Gara, John Kelly.
* England named a full-strength side for their match against tournament debutant Georgia on Sunday in Perth.
There is only one change in the starting lineup from the side who beat Australia 25-14 in June in Melbourne, with Matt Dawson taking Kyran Bracken's place at halfback.
Coach Clive Woodward denied Dawson had the inside running for the role at the base of the scrum.
"It is a strong team, but I am sure Kyran will play on Sunday as well. We have to choose one of them and we are very lucky to have both of them. We fully intend to use the bench this weekend.
England: Josh Lewsey, Jason Robinson, Will Greenwood, Mike Tindall, Ben Cohen, Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Dawson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back, Richard Hill, Ben Kay, Martin Johnson, Trevor Woodman, Steve Thompson, Phil Vickery. Res: Mark Regan, Jason Leonard, Danny Grewcock, Lewis Moody, Kyran Bracken, Paul Grayson, Ian Balshaw.
- AGENCIES
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Australian Mat Rogers was given an easy passage into the fullback position yesterday when incumbent Chris Latham was ruled out of the opening game of the cup.
Latham was still recovering from a bout of pneumonia and was not considered for Friday night's clash with Argentina at Telstra Stadium.
Stirling Mortlock's unavailability
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