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Wallabies team for Bledisloe 2: Quade Cooper to start at flyhalf, Foley inside centre

25th August, 2016
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25th August, 2016
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Quade Cooper will play for the Wallabies for the first time since the Rugby World Cup last year, starting the game at flyhalf, while Bernard Foley will partner him at inside centre.

Michael Cheika has shaken things up in naming his second Wallabies team for the Rugby Championship, dropping lineout general Rob Simmons from the 23 entirely and playing Samu Kerevi at outside centre. Ben McCalman hasn’t been spared either, with Scott Fardy coming back into the side at number 6.

McCalman hasn’t been named on the bench either, with Will Skelton coming off the bench.

Reece Hodge could make his debut off the bench, having been named in jersey 23.

Tevita Kuridrani is off the bench, and Adam Coleman comes into the starting lineup to replace Simmons at lock.

There’s still no luck for Drew Mitchell, who hasn’t been named in the 23, but Dean Mumm retains his spot after a promising game off the bench last Saturday.

Another talking point is the fact that the Pooper combination – Michael Hooper at openside flanker and David Pocock at number 8 – has been retained for Bledisloe 2.

But there’s no doubt that the biggest talking point is the fact that Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley will play in tandem for the first time. (Click to Tweet)

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In years gone by, Cooper’s success has been when he is paired with a hard-running inside centre like Kerevi, who occupies the outside centre role, or Anthony Fainga’a.

It will be a completely different dynamic for Cooper here, sharing the load with Foley in organisation, kicking and leadership around the park.

The match will be Cooper’s 59th for Australia, after he returned to Australian rugby midway through this year after opting not to continue with Toulon in France.

He will reignite his partnership with former Reds teammate Will Genia, and Wallabies fans will be hoping for some of that old magic will return.

Wallabies team to play All Blacks at Westpac Stadium

1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Kane Douglas
5. Adam Coleman
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Dane Haylett-Petty
12. Bernard Foley
13. Samu Kerevi
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Israel Folau

Reserves
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Allan Ala’alatoa
19. Dean Mumm
20. Will Skelton
21. Nick Phipps
22. Tevita Kuridrani
23. Reece Hodge

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What dod you make of this team? Can it defeat the All Blacks?

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