Australia Center Rob Horne Ruled Out of Tri-Nations With Elbow Fracture

Australia center Rob Horne will miss the rest of rugby’s Tri-Nations championship after scans revealed a small fracture in his right elbow.The 20-year-old, who made his sixth appearance for the Wallabies in a 49-28 defeat to New Zealand in Melbourne, also has ligament damage, the Australian Rugby Union said in a statement.Horne will require surgery for the injury, which also includes ligament damage, and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Wallabies said Sunday.“It’s bad luck for Rob, but he’s made an encouraging start to his international career, starting in every Test that we’ve played this year,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said in the statement. Horne’s place in the 24-man Australia squad has been taken by Queensland Reds loose forward Scott Higginbotham.Ben McCalman, and winger Cameron Shepherd have been added to the squad to play New Zealand on Aug. 7 in Christchurch.The All Blacks lead the championship with 15 points after three straight wins. Australia has four points from two matches, while South Africa has lost all three of its games.

Pressure is on Joe Rokocoko.

Joe Rokocoko,The New Zealand star, has admitted he is under pressure ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations clash with Australia in Melbourne. He missed his side's most recent match of the competition with a hamstring injury, but is back in the starting XV for the trip to Melbourne on Saturday. However, coach Graham Henry has interested to play the most experienced Rokocoko, but he is fully aware of what is expected of him if he is to keep his place in the side.Too polite but congratulatory for his team mates, Rokocoko joked that his reinstatement was unlikely to draw unanimous cheers."I'm just used to it. I'm the man most wanted at the moment in New Zealand, they'll take my head off," Rokocoko said. "It's not only Dagg, there's another 1000 wingers in New Zealand ... This is just the first tier of guys that are coming up in their careers." "If I know I can't do the black jersey justice and play to my best, then it's a better option for me to leave and carry on." he said."Obviously the World Cup (in 2011) is going to be a major goal. The main goal is just getting on this team."Henry added: "Obviously he's under pressure. There's other guys playing well in that position. We've gone for the guy who's been there and done it and done it well in the past.""Any ball that goes behind, our eyes just light up because we get excited it's our chance to get into the game."

Barnes replaces suspended Cooper for Wallabies

Australia's forgotten man Berrick Barnes has been recalled to the starting line-up for Saturday's Tri-Nations game against New Zealand in Melbourne. Barnes, who has endured a dramatic fall from vice-captain to bench player this season, will make his second start of the Test campaign at inside centre in the absence of suspended playmaker Quade Cooper. Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes will combine in the Australian backline for the first time this year in Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against New Zealand.With Quade Cooper unavailable through suspension, Giteau moves in one position to five-eighth while Barnes gains his second start of 2010 at inside centre. Only Stephen Larkham (87) and Michael Lynagh (64) have appeared mores times as a fly-half for Australia than Giteau, who has played 39 of his 82 Tests in the position. Barnes has played 17 of his previous 23 Tests as an inside centre, replacing Giteau in that position for the final eight minutes of last Saturday's Tri Nations opener in Brisbane. Faingaa has been named on the reserves bench alongside twin brother Anthony, who earlier appeared for the Australian Barbarians in both of their tour matches against England. It is not all bad news for the Faingaa family on the selection front, with Saia's twin brother Anthony in line to make his Test debut after being elevated to the bench. Should the Faingaas take the field, they will become the 40th set of brothers to have appeared for Australia in Test matches.The only other change to the bench sees Matt Hodgson return from a groin strain at the expense of his Western Force team-mate Ben McCalman.The night will be a special one for lock Nathan Sharpe as he ties the Australian record held by former skipper John Eales for the most caps earned by a Wallabies second rower. Sharpe, who made his debut against France in Melbourne eight years ago, will be lining up in his 84th Test.

Australia: Adam Ashley Cooper, James O'Connor, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Salesi Maafu, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom (capt), David Pocock.

Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess, Anthony Faingaa, Kurtley Beale.