KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - The Wallaby selectors have officially slammed the door shut on Jeremy Paul, yesterday declaring the 72-test veteran hooker had next to no chance of making Australia's 30-man squad for the rugby World Cup.
Coach John Connolly admitted Paul was a long way "down the pecking order"
after NSW Waratahs hooker Adam Freier was named to replace the injured Stephen Moore for Saturday night's Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Sydney, with fellow Queensland Red Sean Hardman promoted to the bench.
Paul, the John Eales Medallist just two years ago as the Wallabies' player of the season, has been on the outer since the start of Australia's 2007 test campaign, missing out to Moore, Freier, Tatafu Polota-Nau and now Hardman.
The New Zealand-born 30-year-old was expected to meet Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill this week in a last-ditch effort to gain an early release from his Wallabies contract in order to link up with Gloucester in the English premiership.
The Wallabies and ARU were initially reluctant to let Paul go, fearing they might need him for the World Cup in the event of a spate of untimely injuries.
Asked why they'd had a sudden change of heart, Connolly said: "Probably because Jeremy missed all the [Australia] A games.
"He didn't play in any of the A games. He's been out of rugby now since May 2, so it's quite a while and we think it's time to move on."
Amid speculation Paul is experiencing personal troubles off the field, Connolly refused to say whether he and fellow Wallabies selectors Scott Johnson and Michael O'Connor suspected the 1999 World Cup winner's heart was no longer in it.
"That's for Jeremy to decide. I'm not sure but we've made our decision," Connolly said.
Australia have made three changes to their starting 15 for the South African test.
Stephen Hoiles and Freier have replaced the injured pair Wycliff Palu and Moore while Mark Gerrard was called in for suspended winger Lote Tuqiri in the only changes to the side who beat New Zealand in Melbourne last weekend.
Hoiles was given the nod ahead of David Lyons for the No 8 position after Palu was ruled out with a shoulder injury that threatens his place in this year's World Cup. Lyons was picked on the reserves bench.
Moore was ruled out with a sternum injury, allowing Freier the opportunity to make his first appearance in the starting 15 this season and elevating Australia A hooker Hardman to the bench.
Tuqiri was handed a two-match ban for missing a training session after a night out drinking.
Gerrard took his place on the right wing while Drew Mitchell was added to the substitutes.
Stephen Larkham will earn his 100th test cap after being chosen at first five-eighths, joining George Gregan and David Campese as the only Australians to achieve the milestone.
The test will also mark the last occasion Larkham and halfback Gregan will play a test on home soil, with the pair planning to retire after the World Cup in France this year.
"They are virtually icons of Australian sport," Connolly said.
"We've just been so blessed in this country to have such incredibly consistent players playing in two of our key positions over the past 12 or so years.
"I'm sure they will receive a fitting farewell from supporters in what is such a crucial test for the Wallabies."
Backs Ruan Pienaar and JP Pietersen were the only Springboks from last month's Tri-Nations win against Australia named yesterday.
Coach Jake White was forced to make a late change to his original selection after prop Cobus Visagie suffered a dislocated elbow at training.
White said the injury would rule Visagie out of South Africa's two remaining Tri-Nations games. However, he would not speculate on the extent of the injury and whether it would force the prop to miss out on the World Cup.
With Visagie unavailable, Jannie du Plessis was selected for his test debut. He is the only uncapped player in the run-on side, although his brother, Bismarck, yet to make his test debut, was chosen on the bench.
The reserves included another uncapped player in back Peter Grant.
Telstra Stadium, 10pm Saturday
AUSTRALIA
15. Julian Huxley
14. Mark Gerrard
13. S Mortlock (c)
12. Matt Giteau
11. A Ashley-Cooper
10. Stephen Larkham
9. George Gregan
8. Stephen Hoiles
7. George Smith
6. Rocky Elsom
5. Daniel Vickerman
4. Nathan Sharpe
3. Guy Shepherdson
2. Adam Freier
1. Matt Dunning
Reserves: S Hardman, A Baxter, H McMeniman, D Lyons, P Waugh, S Staniforth, D Mitchell.
SOUTH AFRICA
15. Bevin Fortuin
14. Breyton Paulse
13. Waylon Murray
12. Wynand Olivier
11. JP Pietersen
10. Derick Hougaard
9. Ruan Pienaar
8. Bob Skinstad (c)
7. P Wannenburg
6. W van Heerden
5. Johann Muller
4. Johan Ackermann
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Gary Botha
1. CJ van der Linde
Reserves: B du Plessis, E Andrews, A van den Berg, J Cronje, M Claassens, P Grant, J Pretorius.
- AAP
