Rathbone predicts tight tussle for Under 21s in Mendoza
Wallaby winger Clyde Rathbone knows better than anyone what the Australian Under 21s will be up against when
they take on South Africa in the Final of the IRB World Championship in Mendoza on Saturday
(6:40am Sunday AEST).
Rathbone was the architect of Australia's downfall in the Final three years ago when he captained South
Africa to a hard-fought 24-21 victory over Australia in South Africa.
Leading a team full of current Springboks, Rathbone scored a try to help break an Australian U21s team that
included current Wallabies Matt Giteau, Matt Henjak, Mark Gerrard, Mark Chisholm, Nic Henderson and Morgan
Turinui.
It was the second of three straight years when Australia was beaten in the Final to finish runners up in
the Under 21 Championship.
Tomorrow morning the Chris Hickey coached Australian team will face a South African team determined to
ensure that the men in gold continue to play the bridesmaid role.
Hickey named his team this morning, making just one change to the side that defeated France in the Semi
Final. Eastwood prop Alex Walker comes into the starting side, with Ben Alexander moving onto the bench.
Rathbone predicted a tight final.
"Both teams will be wanting to win it just as badly as the other, so there will be no shortage of passion
in the match," Rathbone said.
"Having been lucky enough to win an Under 21 World Championship, I know how much it means to the players
and the team to win it.
"It will be a tough battle for both teams. In a match like this it is really important for a team to keep
its composure, so whichever side does that best will probably take it out."
Ironically, Rathbone is now teammates at the Brumbies with several of the outside backs who will play in
tomorrow's final. Brumbies winger Henari Veratau and centre Adam Ashley-Cooper are in the starting lineup,
while fullback Ben Batger is on the bench.
Fox Sports 2 will broadcast a one hour highlights package
of the match at 1:30pm on Sunday (AEST)
Australian U21s Team
| Starting Line-up | Reserves |
| 1 Benn Robinson | 16 Geoff Abram |
| 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau | 17 Ben Alexander |
| 3 Alex Walker | 18 Pat O'Connor |
| 4 Richard Stanford | 19 Shane Udy |
| 5 Dean Mumm | 20 Dominic Fuller |
| 6 Ben Mowen (c) | 21 Scott Daruda |
| 7 Julian Salvi | 22 Ben Batger |
| 8 Leroy Houston | |
| 9 Nic Berry | |
| 10 Daniel Halangahu | Coach: |
| 11 Digby Ioane | Chris Hickey |
| 12 Lloyd Johansson | |
| 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper | Assistants: |
| 14 Henari Veratau | Andrew Friend |
| 15 Cameron Shepherd | Ben Whitaker |
Australia's record at Under 21s World Championships
2000 - 3rd
Australia came in 3rd place after defeating England by 44-24 in the 3rd/4th playoff in Albany, NZ.
2001 - 2nd
Australia hosted the tournament at the Sydney Showgrounds, but were beaten 30-13 in the Final by a
New Zealand team that featured Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina.
2002 - 2nd
Australia were runners up again, this time going down to the Clyde Rathbone led South Africans by 24-21 in
the Final at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The Australian team featured current Wallabies Matt Giteau,
Matt Henjak, Mark Gerrard, Mark Chisholm, Nic Henderson and Morgan Turinui.
2003 - 2nd
Runners up for the third year in a row, Australia went down to New Zealand 21-10 in the Final Kassam
Stadium, Oxford. The Australian team featured current Wallabies Mark Gerrard, Rocky Elsom and Stephen
Moore.
2004 - 4th
New Zealand won the title in Glasgow last year. Australia were knocked out in the semis by Ireland before
going down 44-10 to South Africa in the 3rd/4th playoff.
| 
