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The Wallabies starting XV that will line up in Saturday’s 2012 Spring Tour opener against France has been named, with Sekope Kepu and Kane Douglas rewarded with starting spots after strong Bledisloe Cup performances from the bench.
After an eye-catching performance against the All Blacks, Douglas will start in the second row in place of the injured Sitaleki Timani, while Kepu replaces James Slipper in the front row.
Dave Dennis will has also been named in the starting XV in place of Scott Higginbotham, with Radike Samo being named on the bench.
Brumbies forward Stephen Moore will return from injury via the bench and will become Australia’s most-capped hooker when he earns his 73rd Wallabies cap.
The only other changes to the squad that faced New Zealand in October were Rob Simmons and Berrick Barnes, who come in for Timani and Drew Mitchell respectively.
The match, which will be played on Sunday morning at 7.00am AEDT, will feature the IRB’s new trial rules that allow 23-man squads to cater for an additional replacement prop forward, allowing Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to hand NSW forward Paddy Ryan his Test debut.
Injured quartet Digby Ioane (knee), flanker David Pocock (knee), prop Ben Alexander (wrist) and lock Timani (lower back) have all trained strongly since the Wallabies arrived in Paris last Sunday, and could be available for next weekend’s clash with England at Twickenham.
Wallabies squad vs France, Sunday 7am AEDT
15. Mike Harris (Queensland Reds)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
13. Ben Tapuai (Queensland Reds)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Nick Cummins (Western Force)
10. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
9. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
7. Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs)
6. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force, captain)
4. Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs)
3. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Reserves
16. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Paddy Ryan (NSW Waratahs)
19. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
20. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
21. Liam Gill (Queensland Reds)
22. Brett Sheehan (Western Force)
23. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
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.