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The Wallabies have returned to a full strength line-up after resting the majority of their starting players from last week’s Test against France, but Michael Cheika has neglected to recall Lopeti Timani, dropping him to the bench to make room for Dean Mumm in the starting side.
Cheika said just a fortnight ago that Timani’s form had made him too hard to drop, but appears to have changed his mind ahead of the match against Ireland.
“Timani has done absolutely nothing wrong,” said Cheika.
“We want to focus a little bit more on our lineout this week and the threat that Ireland might pose there – they’re very good in that area.
“Dean brings a lot of experience and quality in that area – but then we’ll probably lose a bit of Lopeti’s ball carrying too.
“It’s six of one, half a dozen of the other but we decided that was probably an important thing for this game and that’s how we’ll run.”
Timani was one of the players rested from last week’s match against France.
Quade Cooper was named to play in that Test but was withdrawn before the match started due to injury, however, he has been named to make his return as part of an extended bench.
Stephen Moore will return to his usual role as captain after David Pocock filled in for him last week, and will play his 116th Test, becoming equal-second on the Wallabies’ most-capped list alongside Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nathan Sharpe.
The game against Ireland is expected to be the toughest so far this tour, with the men in green defeating the All Blacks less than a month ago in Chicago.
Wallabies team to play Ireland
1. Scott Sio (28 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (115 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (75 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (8 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons (69 Tests)
6. Dean Mumm (55 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (63 Tests)
8. David Pocock (64 Tests)
9. Will Genia (74 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (40 Tests)
11. Henry Speight (9 Tests)
12. Reece Hodge (8 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (43 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (12 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (50 Tests)Reserves (one to be omitted)
Tolu Latu (2 Tests)
James Slipper (84 Tests)
Allan Alaalatoa (8 Tests)
Kane Douglas (29 Tests)
Lopeti Timani (5 Tests)
Sean McMahon (13 Tests)
Nick Phipps (51 Tests)
Quade Cooper (65 Tests)
Sefanaia Naivalu (4 Tests)
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.