- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Wallabies have announced the side that will take the field for their final match of the 2014 Spring Tour, to be played against England at Twickenham in London in the early hours on Sunday morning.
It is largely the team people expected to be named, and with Tevita Kuridrani unavailable due to a low-grade ankle injury, Test veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper has been selected at outside centre. Rob Horne earns his first Test starting position on the wing for the tour.
Lock Rob Simmons will play his 50th Test for Australia, the 25-year-old becoming the sixth Australian forward to reach the 50-game milestone in 2014, joining props James Slipper and Sekope Kepu, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, lock James Horwill and No. 8 Wycliff Palu.
His selection comes as part of a starting line-up which includes three changes to the team which played Ireland at Aviva Stadium at the weekend.
With Tevita Kuridrani unavailable due to a low-grade ankle injury, Test veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper has been selected at outside centre, which allows Rob Horne to earn a starting position on the wing.
The third change sees young gun Sean McMahon return to the starting XV at blindside flanker.
The starting line-up is otherwise unchanged with McMahon part of a back-row including captain Michael Hooper and Ben McCalman; locks Sam Carter and Rob Simmons; and a front-row of James Slipper, Saia Fainga’a and Sekope Kepu.
In the backs, Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley continue their playmaking partnership; Adam Ashley-Cooper joins Matt Toomua in the centres due to Kuridrani’s unavailability; with a back-three consisting of Israel Folau, Rob Horne and Henry Speight.
The Wallabies bench is yet to be finalised.
The match will be Australia’s final match of their five-game Spring Tour, which has also included games against the Barbarians, Wales, France and Ireland.
The Wallabies side to play England:
1. James Slipper
2. Saia Fainga’a
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Sam Carter
5. Rob Simmons
6. Sean McMahon
7. Michael Hooper
8. Ben McCalman
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Rob Horne
12. Matt Toomua
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Henry Speight
15. Israel Folau
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.