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Monday, 8 July, 2002, 14:39 GMT 15:39 UK
Kefu back for Wallabies
Kefu's powerful charges are crucial to Australia
Australia number eight Toutai Kefu has been declared fit for Saturday's Tri-Nations opener against New Zealand after recovering from a broken hand.
The powerful Queensland forward looked likely to miss the Christchurch showdown after surgery two weeks ago to insert a plate and pin into his left hand.
But Kefu is now almost certain to start against the All Blacks, with hooker Jeremy Paul and prop Ben Darwin also likely to bolster the Wallabies pack after shaking off injuries. None of the trio featured against France recently, when Australia completed a 2-0 series win with a 31-26 victory in Sydney.
Reserve hooker Brendan Cannon, who suffered knee ligament damage in the second Test and was left out of an initial squad of 26, has also recovered sufficiently to be considered. While David Lyons excelled in Kefu's absence against France, Australia coach Eddie Jones indicated on Monday that Kefu would resume in the pivotal back-row role. "He's a class player and certainly in a pack where we don't have a huge amount of experience he's a very important player," Jones said. "We imagine today he'll be 100%; his hand's in place, it's knitted well, it's just a matter now of him getting used to it." Kefu's return is a psychological boost given his heroics in last year's Tri-Nations decider, when his last-minute try in Sydney ensured Australia retained the trophy and the Bledisloe Cup.
Jones is now set to select from a full squad, with centre Matt Burke also free of a shoulder injury and wing Ben Tune ready for his first start of the season. Rugby league convert Wendell Sailor is set to make way for Tune, who has proved a consistent performer against the All Blacks in the past.
But Jones admits the decision between the two is "tough", with Sailor likely to make the trip as a travelling reserve if he is not in 22 announced on Wednesday. "Wendell's done very, very well and we're extremely pleased with the way he's going," Jones said.
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