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Wallabies team to play England: Timani, Naivalu to start, Mumm benched

1st December, 2016
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Australia's Sefanaia Naivalu. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)
1st December, 2016
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Australian coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to his starting side for the final Test of the year against England at Twickenham in the early hours of Sunday morning (AEDT).

Inexperienced but impressive young guns Lopeti Timani and Sefania Naivalu have been named among the starters in a decision that is certain to bring a smile to the faces of many a Wallabies fan.

Naivalu comes into replace Henry Speight after an impressive burst of play when he was brought on the field last week against Ireland, including scoring what was nearly a match-winning try.

Dean Mumm is the man who has made way for Timani’s return, after he was controversially named to start in preference to Timani last week.

“He’ll give us a lot of punch and strength in attack and defence,” said Cheika of Timani.

“That extra weight he’s got, his ball carrying and strong defence. It’s going to be a very physical game and he’s fresh now after a couple of weeks off and ready to go. I think we’ll need that extra grunt in there for this game.”

Speight and Mumm have both been retained on the bench.

Kane Douglas is another inclusion to the starting side, replacing Rory Arnold at No.4, while Will Genia is absent from the squad entirely, unable to secure a release from his commitments with Stade Francais.

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Nick Phipps has been named to start as Genia’s replacement.

Wallabies team to play England

1. Scott Sio (29 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (116 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (76 Tests)
4. Kane Douglas (30 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons (70 Tests)
6. David Pocock (65 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (64 Tests)
8. Lopeti Timani (5 Tests)
9. Nick Phipps (51 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (41 Tests)
11. Sefanaia Naivalu (5 Tests)
12. Reece Hodge (9 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (44 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (13 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (51 Tests)

Reserves
16. Tolu Latu (3 Tests)
17. James Slipper (85 Tests)
18. Tom Robertson (6 Tests)
19. Dean Mumm (56 Tests)
20. Sean McMahon (14 Tests)
21. Nick Frisby (4 Tests)
22. Quade Cooper (66 Tests)
23. Henry Speight (10 Tests)

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