Tune back for Wallabies
November 22, 2001

Winger Ben Tune has forced his way back into the Wallaby starting line-up for first time in two years for this weekend's Test against Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

The last time Tune played for Australia was at the same venue for the World Cup final in 1999 against France.

Tune was one of three changes to the Wallabies as coach Eddie Jones looks for answers following successive losses to England and France. Tune's 41st cap comes at the expense of the unlucky Chris Latham on the wing.

Brumbies lock Justin Harrison has been replaced by Queensland's Matt Cockbain, while Reds flyhalf Elton Flatley replaces the injured Nathan Grey at inside-centre.

And the Kefu brothers - Steve and Toutai - will become the first brothers to play for Australia at the same time since Andrew and Cameron Blades propped the Wallaby front-row in one Test against England in 1997. The 22-year-old Steve will take Flatley's spot on the bench.

Tune seized his opportunity in Marseille with hard running and a last second try in a bright 30 minutes on the field.

Until last week, injuries since the World Cup had restricted Tune to little more than 40 minutes of Test rugby from three appearances off the bench last year. Shoulder, knee and ankle injuries kept him out of most of 2000 and all of this season's Test series but he had faith he would return.

"I'm thrilled, it was a goal that I set myself for the tour," the 24-year-old said. "Realistically, the fact Herbie (Herbert) went home made that more possible than it would have been. Nevertheless, I got the opportunity and I'm very grateful.

"You don't get too many opportunities on a tour like this. When you're not in the Test team, it's hard to show what you've got. The fact I got close to half a game against France meant that I could show that at that level I could still perform well.

"Realistically it wasn't going to happen for the England game. Once Herbie went home it opened up a few avenues."

Cockbain's selection ahead of Harrison comes after the Wallabies were ambushed early in both Test losses by the strength and pace of the England and French packs.

"We felt he would be more physical at the breakdown in the early part of the game," Jones said.

Australia: Matt Burke, Ben Tune, Graeme Bond, Elton Flatley, Joe Roff, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt), Toutai Kefu, Phil Waugh, Owen Finegan, David Giffin, Matt Cockbain, Ben Darwin, Michael Foley, Nick Stiles. Reserves: Brendan Cannon, Rod Moore, Justin Harrison, George Smith, Chris Whitaker, Steve Kefu, Chris Latham.

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