Loss of Mortlock body blow for Wallabies

The Wallabies have suffered a massive blow ahead of Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup test with skipper Stirling Mortlock forced out with concussion.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been bracketed with Daniel Braid at openside flanker and will make his own call on his fitness before the Sydney test.

But Mortlock, Australia's line-breaking centre, has failed to recover from the nasty shoulder charge he copped to the head from Springboks lock Bakkies Botha during last weekend's Tri Nations test in Perth and has been scratched from the test against the All Blacks in Sydney.

"Stirling was concussed last weekend, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said last night.

"We had hoped that, with time, the symptoms would resolve themselves, but that has not happened soon enough for this match, so we have made the call early."

Openside flanker George Smith will replace Mortlock as skipper and Ryan Cross is expected to be named at centre when Deans reveals his Wallabies side today.

Mortlock's withdrawal has enhanced the All Blacks' chances of drawing first blood in the Bledisloe Cup series.

It will also allow rookie centre Richard Kahui to feel more comfortable about his chances of performing to expectations against the Wallabies.

All Blacks backs coach Wayne Smith said the Kahui call was tactical, but would not elaborate. "We just feel for this game, this opposition, on this track, he is the right selection."

McCaw, who has made a miraculous return from an ankle injury two weeks earlier than expected, trained with the All Blacks in a wet and windy Wellington yesterday but has been bracketed with Daniel Braid.

Henry said it was 50-50 whether McCaw would play and indicated it would be left to the skipper to decide whether he was ready to battle George Smith and Phil Waugh.

"He has to feel like he is going to be competitive. He is playing against two of the best sevens in the world, in Smith and Waugh, and he doesn't want to be disadvantaged in that competition.

"If he thinks he can be competitive he will play."

Other changes see the return of lock Brad Thorn and prop Greg Somerville after Thorn was banned for the second Springbok test and Somerville strangely not wanted.

Anthony Tuitavake also replaces Rudi Wulf on the wing with Smith again suggesting it was tactical but not wanting to explain any further least it give the Wallabies a leg up.

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis, Jerome Kaino, Daniel Braid/Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Conrad Smith.

- © Fairfax NZ News