Michael Cheika has made six changes to his Wallabies side to face Italy on Saturday following the team’s shock loss to Scotland last weekend.
Stephen Moore is back as the side’s captain and hooker, while last week’s debutant Eto Nabuli has lasted just one game in the green and gold, being replaced on the wing by Sefa Naivalu.
Tevita Kuridrani has also been cut from the side that failed to beat Scotland, with Rob Horne coming into the side at outside centre for what will be his first Wallabies appearance since June 25 last year, but the rest of the backline has remained unchanged.
Israel Folau and Dane Haylett-Petty have both retained their positions at fullback and on the wing respectively, Karmichael Hunt will play his third straight game at inside centre, and Will Genia and Bernard Foley remain the side’s halves.
In the forwards, Moore is one of four new inclusions. Lopeti Timani has replaced Scott Higginbotham at number 8, Rory Arnold has come into the second row in place of Sam Carter and Scott Sio will start in the front row with Tom Robertson dropping out.
Allan Alaalatoa and Adam Coleman have both retained their places in the front and second row respectively, and the Waratahs duo of Michael Hooper and Ned Hanigan will start for the third time this month in the back row.
As has been his habit this June Test window, Cheika only revealed his starting XV, and will name his bench tomorrow.
1. Scott Sio (31 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (119 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (11 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (11 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (11 Tests)
6. Ned Hanigan (2 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (67 Tests)
8. Lopeti Timani (6 Tests)
9. Will Genia (77 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (44 Tests)
11. Sefa Naivalu (6 Tests)
12. Karmichael Hunt (2 Tests)
13. Rob Horne (33 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (16 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (54 Tests)
The Wallabies have a strong record against Italy, having never lost to them in 16 meetings between the two sides. However, the pressure is on Cheika’s side to put in a dominant performance after a lacklustre effort against the Scots in Sydney.
The game against Italy will kick-off at 3pm (AEST) on Saturday from Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, and you’ll be able to follow all the action with our live coverage and highlights right here on The Roar.
Steve cooper
Guest
You cannot leave Cooper out. At international level there has to be the element of the unexpected. Wallabies are all good fit players for sure but you need the unexpected to win these days.
graymatter
Roar Rookie
Its not an axe. It's a hatchet wielded by a one-eyed lunatic whose judgement is too often made in the heat of battle. A calmer more rational assessment would have seen a surgical removal of non performers like Hannigan and the retention of Kurindrani and Higginbotham. What did we get instead - the promtion of two mates from the blue room. One who has played very little to warrant selection based on performance in Dempsey and another who offers no improvement in Horne. The Hatchet job continues!
baz
Guest
skelton? did you actually watch any SR this year? and what about Fardy - he has had a great year. Also interesting you had genia in your team based on SR form - huh?
baz
Guest
agree - compare England pre post a new coach. same stock of players, but undefeated with Eddie. The coach and his selections matter
baz
Guest
best for australian rugby cannot be a team reliant on the tahs who have been poor all season, and soundly beaten by all, including Oz conference leaders - brumbies who have 3 plyers v 7, tell me how that is best?
baz
Guest
agree - 3 brumbies despite dominating oz conference. old brumbies - "not kept as leaving"; young brumbies "too early in their career" yet same rules do not apply to tahs - sick of cheika
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
There was a lazy 7 standing next to him as well that wandered off in the wrong direction.
jeznez
Roar Guru
He was in my class at school and we caught up during our 20 year reunion back in 2010. Had a great chat back then about how his development programs and selection models were working. Was very interesting to hear him telling me that with the youth/academy selections he was very focussed on physical attributes, getting the parents/aunts/uncles/grandparents of potential recruits to complete questionnaires and studies so they could try to get a handle on how the kids would develop physically. Focus was on identifying the kids with the right attributes young so they could invest the time in them and get great results once they'd developed. He was copping a huge amount of flack from the parents who believed their kid was the best player in the team but that he could tell were unlikely to be able to handle the rigour of professional rugby down the track. Has been a long road, so pleased to see the fruits of his labour really paying off for rugby in WA and for Australia.
ken
Guest
No Dave S, Shane D is saying Hooper doesn't have a presence at all .You read it all wrong. . " Folks get hung up on the ‘how many turnovers’ stat " 1 A 7 disrupts opposition breakdown ball. 2 How many times he is there to slow it down. 3 How often is the opposition having to commit players to clean him out. Hooper does none of the above.
ken
Guest
But Daveski, he gave the Scots more points than he did his own team and if you think they were hard kicks you have no idea about quality rugby union kickers.
DaveR
Guest
So now we at last have the Wallaby line-up that should have played Scotland. One game too late.
Karl Knuth
Guest
1. Sio 2. Moore 3. Allaatoa 4. Arnold 5. Coleman 6. Timani/Hardwick 7. Hooper 8. Higginbotham 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Naivalu 12. Hodge 13. Kurindrani 14. Folau 15. Hunt Italy is the kind of team Cooper can exploit with his long passing/short kicking game. Plenty of muscle through the forwards and plenty of pace and finishing ability out wide. Also thought Rona might've been ahead of Horne when it came to outside centres.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Now there's a name if anyone is looking for a coach. Dwayne Nestor. The man responsible for Rugby WA's development program and coach of the Perth Spirit.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Now there's a name if anyone is looking for a coach. Dwayne Nestor. The man responsible for Rugby WA's development program and coach of the Perth Spirit.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
That would be the Georgina Robinson that comes to Perth to cover the Force V Tahs game and doesn't include anything on the Force or Rugby WA in her report on Fox Sports even though to get to the ground the Tahs were training on she had to drive straight past Rugby WA's magnificent training facility and the adjacent and equally spectacular UWA Sports Park where the Force train. And yes she knew. I personally invited her and emailed her directions.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Beale is one of Cheika's pet Tahs so he'll be squeezed in somewhere.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Peter I'm saying Cheika pushed for it. I am saying I think people from one state pushed for Cheika to move into that role at a time when we did have a coach.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Made effective carries and good meters in tight. Made lots of tackles. Hit rucks.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
I'd rather know I don't belong on the NDIS than live a lifetime wondering if life gets better, Nick.
Dave_S
Guest
Shane well expressed. The thing with Hooper, whatever it is he is doing, it requires the opposition to take account of him. Eyes on Hooper means eyes off someone else. The WBs enjoy 80 min of eyes on Hooper.