• Tools:
• Save |
• Print |
• E-mail |
• Most Popular |

Flanker Smith captains Wallabies

Adjust font size:

CARDIFF, Wales -- Flanker George Smith will captain Australia for the first time in their European Tour opener against Neath-Swansea Ospreys in Wales on Wednesday.

"Smithy will be captain. He's an experienced player. I think he deserves it and he's responded very well," said Wallabies coach John Connolly.

The 26-year-old ACT Brumbie has played 69 Tests and will be the 74th player to have captained the Australian national side.

"It's the first time I've been captain in my professional career, so it's a great honor," Smith said.

Australia play four Tests on their tour of Europe starting against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

Center Stirling Mortlock, expected to be captain for the tour in the absence of the rested George Gregan, will miss Saturday's clash against the Welsh as he recovers from knee surgery.

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

---

• Police: Mike Tyson arrested at L.A. airport
• Christian janitor died saving Muslim students
• 'Protectionism' the bogey at APEC
• LHC resumes 'God particle' hunt
• Satirists jailed for assault in Azerbaijan

• Irish PM to quit over payments scandal
• NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely
• Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra
• Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics
• BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan

• Recruiting suicide bombers (2:50)
• London was lucky (2:36)
• Cars in London rigged as bombs (3:48)
• Second explosives-packed car foun (2:32)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)