Weakened Wallabies out for pride

New Zealand v Australia: AUSTRALIA COACH Robbie Deans has made five changes to his Wallabies team for tomorrow morning's Bledisloe…

New Zealand v Australia:AUSTRALIA COACH Robbie Deans has made five changes to his Wallabies team for tomorrow morning's Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong.

Wing Drew Mitchell, number eight Richard Brown, flanker Dean Mumm, lock Mark Chisholm and scrumhalf Luke Burgess were all added to the side that lost the last game to New Zealand in Brisbane last month.

Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu, Hugh McMeniman and James Horwill were left out because of injuries, while scrumhalf Sam Cordingley was demoted to the bench.

Uncapped flanker David Pocock was also included among the reserves, along with inside centre Berrick Barnes who has not played since injuring his shoulder in South Africa in August.

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As holders, New Zealand have already retained the Bledisloe Cup for another season after winning two of their three meetings with the Wallabies, but Deans said the Australians were still desperate to win their first clash in Asia.

"While we'd obviously have liked the Bledisloe Cup series to have still been alive, the chance to gain a Test win against New Zealand remains and that is an opportunity to be cherished."

But Deans denied he was targeting New Zealand star Dan Carter after naming a physical midfield. Deans has lined up captain Stirling Mortlock and Ryan Cross opposite Carter, who has been shifted to inside centre.

Mortlock remains at number 12 despite the return to fitness of playmaker Barnes.

"It's a decision we made some time ago. It's not something that's just been settled of late and it's not something that's been settled on in response to the All Blacks combination," Deans said.

"We've been preparing for a while. Berrick is rehabbing from a shoulder operation. He's in a situation where he can play again but we're just managing his re-entry into Test rugby off the bench."

For their part, New Zealand were forced to make a late change when fullback Mils Muliaina pulled out after his wife gave birth. Muliaina was to start the match despite remaining in New Zealand for the birth of his first child, a son Max, who was born on Tuesday.

Auckland utility player Isaia Toeava was promoted from the bench to start at fullback while Wellington's uncapped Cory Jane joined the replacements.

NEW ZEALAND: Toeava; H Gear, Smith, Carter, Sivivatu; Donald, Cowan; Woodcock, Hore, Tialata, Thorn, Williams, Kaino, McCaw (capt), So'oialo. Replacements: Mealamu, Somerville, Boric, Thomson, Weepu, Nonu, Jane.

AUSTRALIA: Ashley-Cooper; Hynes, Cross, Mortlock (capt), Mitchell; Giteau, Burgess; Robinson, Moore, Baxter, Chisholm, Sharpe, Mumm, Smith, Brown. Replacements: Freier, Dunning, Waugh, Pocock, Cordingley, Barnes, Turner.

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).

Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland), Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).