Australia’s dire injury situation has forced them to wind back the clock and name loose forward Radike Samo on the right wing for tomorrow afternoon’s match against Russia.

The 35-year-old Samo, who last started on the wing for the ACT Brumbies in 1999, will become the first player to start as a forward and a back at the same Rugby World Cup.

In announcing one of Australia’s most makeshift line-ups in recent history, including two scrum halves as the only backs on the bench, coach Robbie Deans conceded the injury toll meant he had no option but to hand Samo the No. 14 jersey.
 
James O’Connor, who has been named at fullback, said while the mounting injuries are a concern for the team, he is personally excited by the new-look line-up.

The 21-year-old believes Samo, who has taken his right wing position, will use his 117kg frame and surprising ball skills to run amok against the Russian defence tomorrow.

The Wallabies takes on Russia tomorrow at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, the IRB is under fire after a Samoa player was fined $10,000 for wearing a branded mouth guard.

Samoan winger Alesana Tuilagi wore the offending non-approved mouth guard in the side's 27-7 win over Fiji on Sunday.

Teammate Eliota Sapolu, who got in hot water for tweets - criticising the short turnaround between games for Tier two teams, once again turned to Twitter condemning the decision.

The decision comes as England avoided sanctions from the IRB by suspending two coaches for Saturday's Scotland match, because they switched the ball during kicks against Romania.

Samoa will play against South Africa at 7.30pm.


Story by: Dreu Vukailagi