Australian Schoolboys name Test team to play New Zealand

Cameron Mitchell, who will captain the Australian Schoolboys against New Zealand Schools, is presented with his Test jersey by Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock

Ipswich Grammar speedster Kenneth Robertson has sealed a berth in the Suncorp Australian Schoolboys team to play New Zealand Schools at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth on Friday.

Robertson only joined the squad last week for the New Zealand leg of the Pacific tour after Nicky Price was forced out with illness following the two-game visit to Tonga.

Two tries in his opening match against Wairarapa Bush Schools and another solid performance in the midweek loss to Hurricanes Schools earned Robertson a start for the Test to decide the Trans Tasman Shield.

Another late reinforcement, hooker Chris Edwards, has also won selection after being called in to cover an injury following the Test win over Tonga Schools in Tongatapu on September 29.

The Australians have won three of their previous four matches on tour and end their trip with a defence of the trophy they collected last year when downing the Kiwis for the first time at Schoolboys level in 10 years.

A 23-17 victory at St Joseph’s College in Sydney last October included a try by current NSW Waratahs centre Robert Horne.

Wallabies rookie James O’Connor was also part of the victorious 2007 squad.

The win was the first for an Australian Schoolboys team over New Zealand since 1997 and just their sixth victory against their arch rivals since 1978.

The match tomorrow will kick off at noon (NZ time).

SUNCORP AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLBOYS

1 Salesi Manu

2 Chris Edwards

3 Josh Daley

4 Nick Buchanan

5 Luke Jones

6 Eddie Quirk

7 Kotoni Ale

8 Jarrod Butler

9 Eddie Bredanhann

10 James Ambrosini

11 Kenneth Robertson

12 Michael McDougall

13 Cameron Mitchell (c)

14 Dom Shipperley

15 Tyler Stevens

NEW ZEALAND SCHOOLS

1 Willie Afuvai

2 Ben Funnell

3 Jeff Allen

4 Kane Barrett

5 Blade Thomson

6 Luke Whitlock

7 Joseph Tupe

8 Carl Axtens

9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow

10 Kane Adams

11 Glen Robertson

12 Rhys Llewellyn

13 Julian Savea

14 Star Timu

15 Charlie Ngatai