The 35-year-old Samo scored a try on the wing in Australia's
costly 67-5 win over the United States that left the Wallabies reeling with a
number of backline injuries.
Pat McCabe (shoulder), Kurtley Beale (hamstring), Digby
Ioane (broken thumb), Rob Horne (broken cheek) and Anthony Faingaa, who was
knocked out against the US, are all on the sidelines, leaving the rampaging
number eight Samo to start out wide for the match in Nelson.
"It's a position he's familiar with," Deans said
of Samo's role. "He started on the wing and as recently as last weekend
you saw him there.
"He's a remarkable athlete. He's 35, I understand, and
he can still run really fast." Samo's pace was on show in the Wallabies'
25-20 Tri-Nations victory over the All Blacks in Brisbane when he burst clear
and outsprinted winger Cory Jane and fullback Mils Muliaina to the line to
score a memorable 65-meter try.
Samo will run outside Adam Ashley-Cooper after the versatile
back was shifted from the wing to center.
Despite the injury crisis, Deans was confident of more
options when the quarterfinals begin on Oct. 8.
Autralia are expected to finish second in Pool C after their
earlier 15-6 loss to Ireland and play the winner of Pool D — likely to be world
champions South Africa — in Wellington.
"We've got four backs coming back to us next week so it
shouldn't be an issue going forward, unless we have a train smash this
weekend," he said.
Deans may well have his fingers crossed.
Due to World Cup rules that only allow teams to replace
injured players that have been definitively ruled out of the tournament, the
New Zealander has only two backs at his disposal on the bench for Saturday — Will
Genia and Nick Phipps, a pair of scrumhalves.
"They're both pretty able to that end," Deans said
when asked about the likelihood of their playing out of their favored positions
should further injuries strike.
"Will (Genia) is clearly able, he's a good organizer,
he's got good speed. Nick Phipps has got a sevens background so he's played in
nearly every role as well.
"That's the way we tend to approach our work anyway. We
don't stick to the traditional role-play of numbers on backs." Loose
forward Wycliff Palu was ruled out of the tournament earlier this week after he
suffered a hamstring injury, though the decision on a replacement for the
number eight may not be made until after the Wallabies finish pool play.
There was some good news for Deans, though; with openside
flanker David Pocock returning to the side after missing games against Ireland
and the US with a back injury.
Berrick Barnes, who impressed when he came on as a
replacement against the US, also makes his first start of the tournament at
inside center for the match, where he teams with Ashley-Cooper, who scored a
hat trick of tries in seven minutes last week.
Captain James Horwill is back in the starting side after
missing the US match to rest a nagging shoulder injury, while utility back
James O'Connor and Scott Higginbotham will also start after recovering from a
hamstring and back complaint respectively.
