Australia v England, Perth, June 12
Giteau ruled out of England clash
Scrum.com
June 11, 2010
Australia centre Matt Giteau looks for a gap, Australia v Fiji, Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australia, June 5, 2010
Matt Giteau has been ruled out of Saturday's clash with England © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Tournaments/Tours: England tour
Teams: Australia | England

Australia centre Matt Giteau has been ruled out of Saturday's meeting with England in Perth by a hip injury.

Giteau was due to start in the No.12 jersey alongside Reds playmaker Quade Cooper, with his place in the side now going to the Waratahs' Berrick Barnes.

Peter Hynes comes onto the bench in place of Barnes, who was deposed from the Test side by the in-form Cooper, with Giteau moving into midfield.

Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom remained confident that there would be no major disruption to their preparations. Barnes and Cooper have played together on a number of occasions for the Reds, prior to Barnes' jump to New South Wales.

"You wouldn't say it's ideal but the way we train and practice it's very much a squad focus so guys can slot in and out," he said. "And Berrick is no slouch, it's not as though we don't have confidence in him."

Fullback James O'Connor has inherited the kicking duties from Giteau, although both Barnes and Cooper offer able backup.

O'Connor's place in the side was sealed with a superb 25-point haul for the Australian Barbarians against England in midweek, including a hat-trick of tries. Kurtley Beale starts on the bench after scoring a brace in a comfotable win over Fiji last weekend.

© Scrum.com

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.