A nagging calf strain to HSBC Waratahs hooker Adam Freier has seen him withdraw from Saturday’s historic Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks in Hong Kong.

Freier sustained the injury towards the end of Thursday’s training and after still being hampered a day later, the decision was made to bring fellow Waratah Tatafu Polota-Nau onto the bench.

Polota-Nau, who made his Test debut against England at London on the Wallabies’ 2005 Spring Tour, will be featuring in his ninth Test match should he take the field.

Five of those caps have been earned this year, including the Tests against New Zealand at Sydney and Auckland where the Parramatta hooker appeared off the bench.

The Wallabies completed their preparations for their Spring Tour opener with the captain’s run this afternoon at Hong Kong International Stadium.

The All Blacks have also been forced into one change, with fullback Mils Muliaina remaining in New Zealand following the birth of his first baby. His place in the starting line-up has been taken by Isaia Toeava, with Cody Jane coming onto the bench.

2008 BLEDISLOE CUP – MATCH 4
AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND
Saturday, 1 November 2008 (Kick-off 4:35pm HKT, 7:35pm AEDT)
Hong Kong International Stadium
AUSTRALIA
1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood, HSBC Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
3. Al Baxter (Northern Suburbs, HSBC Waratahs)
4. Mark Chisholm (Randwick, Brumbies)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Force)
6. Dean Mumm (Sydney University, HSBC Waratahs)
7. George Smith (Manly, Brumbies)
8. Richard Brown (Force)
9. Luke Burgess (Eastern Suburbs, HSBC Waratahs)
10. Matt Giteau (Force)
11. Drew Mitchell (Force)
12. Stirling Mortlock [c] (Gordon, Brumbies)
13. Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs, Force)
14. Peter Hynes (Reds)
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs, Brumbies)
Reserves
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta, HSBC Waratahs)
17. Matt Dunning (Eastwood, HSBC Waratahs)
18. Phil Waugh (Sydney University, HSBC Waratahs)
19. David Pocock (Force)
20. Sam Cordingley (Reds)
21. Berrick Barnes (Reds)
22. Lachie Turner (Eastwood, HSBC Waratahs)

NEW ZEALAND
1. Tony Woodcock (North Harbour, Blues)
2. Andrew Hore (Taranaki, Hurricanes)
3. Neemia Tialata (Wellington, Hurricanes)
4. Brad Thorn (Tasman, Crusaders)
5. Ali Williams (Tasman, Crusaders)
6. Jerome Kaino (Auckland, Blues)
7. Richie McCaw [c] (Canterbury, Crusaders)
8. Rodney So’oialo (Wellington, Hurricanes)
9. Jimmy Cowan (Southland, Highlanders)
10. Stephen Donald (Waikato, Chiefs)
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato, Chiefs)
12. Dan Carter (Canterbury, Crusaders)
13. Conrad Smith (Wellington, Hurricanes)
14. Hosea Gear (Wellington, Hurricanes)
15. Isaia Toeava (Auckland, Blues)
Reserves
16. Keven Mealamu (Auckland, Blues)
17. Greg Somerville (Canterbury, Crusaders)
18. Anthony Boric (North Harbour, Blues)
19. Adam Thomson (Otago, Highlanders)
20. Piri Weepu (Wellington, Hurricanes)
21. Ma’a Nonu (Wellington, Hurricanes)
22. Cody Jane (Wellington, Hurricanes)

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