Waratahs back-rower Jack Dempsey has been named in the starting line-up for Saturday’s Test against Wales.
Jack Dempsey has put his injury hell behind him after being named in the Wallabies starting line-up for the first time in over a year against Wales on Sunday.
The 24-year-old back-rower will fill the blindside flanker spot ahead of Ned Hanigan in one of four changes made by coach Michael Cheika to the team that lost to the All Blacks in Japan two weeks ago.
Dempsey was sidelined for almost 12 months when he sustained nerve damage after his hamstring was ripped from the bone in a match against the Barbarians just before last year’s spring tour.
He made a cameo appearance off the bench in Yokohama but will make his first Wallabies start since the memorable win over New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in October 2017.
The tough-tackling 24-year-old will add some beef to a pack that has struggled at set-pieces in recent weeks.
Abrasive hooker Tolu Latu gets the nod ahead of Folau Fainga’a, who drops out of the squad, with veteran rake Tatafu Polota-Nau added to the reserves bench for the Principality Stadium encounter.
Lock Adam Coleman has recovered from the groin problem that forced him out of the 37-20 defeat by New Zealand in Yokohama and is restored to the team ahead of Rob Simmons.
Samu Kerevi is rewarded for a strong showing in Japan off the bench with the starting outside centre spot alongside Kurtley Beale.
Israel Folau moves to the wing with Sefa Naivalu dropping out of the 23-man squad.
Veteran centre Adam Ashley-Cooper misses out with Matt Toomua preferred on the bench to the 34-year-old.
Wallabies team to play Wales:
Dane Haylett-Petty, Israel Folau, Samu Kerevi, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Jack Dempsey, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Allan Alaalatoa, Tolu Latu, Scott Sio. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Ned Hanigan, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.
Waxhead
Guest
No myths In Brief. Australia are No 7 in world and heading south. Where's your evidence that our players/team/coach are better than the baggers say? Is it the 2018 season results or those from 2017? Support continues as always but that does not mean we expect success. We now see that success can only come with significant change.
terrence
Roar Rookie
petaia for beale and paia'aua for foley..
Dan in Devon
Guest
Will be close for 50 mins but I think Wales have a better bench. Williams and Biggar on the bench provide good back line options; the have some good forwards to come on too.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
If the Welsh play smart in the backline North will destroy Foley and Beale, and Halfpenny will tear Kerevi up.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
We could have James Hanson if Cheika prioritised lineout throwing over muscle in his hookers.
In Brief
Guest
Just read a few comments - I know you guys mean well, but really, you need to ask the question if you are believing your own myths. A lot of the players you hate are much better than you think and the players you want to be in the team would not add much. Time to cut some slack and offer some support.
In Brief
Guest
- the 'brain explosion' was a non event, simple. .
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Cheika's selections are all over the shop. Rob Simmons basically had his best ever game in a wallabies jersey and doesn't start. Naivalu gets dropped scoring a try and from memory no defensive issues. Latu gets a run after another yellow and the guy CANNOT throw. The seemingly randomised selections would be putting off players like Simmons who was hounded before that match to pick his game up. He did that and is still dropped. What kind of message is that sending?
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
what about Naivalu? That guy scored a try and did nothing wrong and is dropped.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I actually don't agree, I don't see Wales threatening that much. Halfpenny' boot could be the difference, but don't see it as super comfortable. It will be an indictment on awakes id they lose to this Wallabies team.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Yeah, but I feel like Simmons should start or be out of the 23. He doesn't really offer anything off the bench, but if he started he could ensue our line out worked as well as possible against the best defensive line outs of the opposition. Latu' line out throwing was diabolical last match also.
Dan in Devon
Guest
Wales are building some depth and look stronger defensively. Hard to see how the Wallabies can win this. Should be a comfortable win in the end to Wales.
Gary
Guest
" just " is a relative term , like " I am just about finished" that sort of thing. :)
cinque
Roar Rookie
That's if you want all your impact at the end. Simmons, Hanigan & Toomua are not impact players. I like Beale as a "finisher", though there is the real danger that he will see himself as a being sent out to win the game and be even more of a headless chook. I like the selected finishing front row as a unit, a mix of power and old heads.
Craig
Guest
Incorrect.By " he " Fionn means Cheika as he approves of Larkham .Stop shifting blame to others when Michael Cheika is head coach. The buck stops with him. Right ?
Paul D
Roar Rookie
By "he" you mean the attack coach right? Larkham?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Yeah, BPA and Banks should both feel very aggrieved.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Really? I think being a finisher is what he is suited to, if he has any place in international rugby. He is an x-factor player, not one solid in all, or even most, aspects of hooker play.
MitchO
Guest
Sio, Tupou, Alan A and Kepu are all better than Slipper. BPA should feel hard done by but if TPN is fresh then I'd persist and Latu has a test hooker in him somewhere. I'd prefer Toomua as a starter at 12 but Cheika loves KB and made him promises it seems that if comes back to Australia he will start rather than just finish. Sefa looked better than MK last start but there is only room for one of them. But Sefa can cover 13 whereas MK can't.
graymatter
Roar Rookie
Spot on Russ. And enough of this rubbish about no depth! Hamish Stewart is right now a better 5/8 prospect than Foley. I would pick him today. His performance in the NRC warrants a debut on this tour! Similarly with Jordan Petaia - Should be in the 23. Beale, Foley, Hannigan and Phipps have little justifiable claim to be in the squad let alone the match day 23 based on their most recent non-performances! The sensible thing would have been to leave them at home - Not for a well deserved rest - But so they can take a good long hard look at themselves. Again the clown has demonstrated that he is the master of the missed opportunity!