Lote Tuqiri has again been overlooked in the Wallabies side to face France in Saturday’s Test match at ANZ Stadium.
Australia coach Robbie Deans made nine changes to the side that beat Italy 34-12 in Melbourne last week, but the rugby league convert was not one of them.
Captain Stirling Mortlock, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Richard Brown, Nathan Sharpe, Stephen Moore, Al Baxter and Benn Robinson were all named in the starting side on Tuesday having been rested against Italy.
Teenage sensation James O’Connor, Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, David Pocock, Peter Kimlin, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander and Pek Cowan all made way.
O’Connor, Cross, Pocock, Polota-Nau and Alexander move reserves bench, while Hynes, Cooper, Kimlin and Cowan have all been omitted from the squad, along with Tuqiri and fellow convert Timana Tahu.
“This is the combination we feel will serve us best this weekend,” Deans said.
“We got a lot out of last week’s game in Melbourne and certainly weren’t disappointed with the effort of any of the players involved.
“That outing has allowed us to broaden our depth in terms of exposing other players to Test match conditions.
“We will see the benefits of that moving forward.”
The nine returning players bring with them a collective total of 397 caps, adding a considerable amount of experience to the side that beat Italy.
Australian team: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Josh Valentine, Ryan Cross, James O’Connor.
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