Emirates Western Force flanker David Pocock will lead the Wallabies into their weekend’s Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney.
Pocock will be joined in the Australian forward pack by WA teammate Nathan Sharpe, who is gearing up for his final Test series before retiring.
The Wallabies’ line-up has seen numerous changes from the one that defeated Wales during the recent inbound Test series, with Dave Dennis earning a second international start at blindside flanker, Scott Higginbotham starting at No.8 and a return to the midfield for Anthony Fainga’a.
Higginbotham, who started at blindside flanker during Australia’s most recent 20-19 win over Wales, takes over from the injured Wycliff Palu at the back of the scrum.
Dennis made his debut against Scotland at Newcastle in June, and was then employed from off the bench during all three Tests against Wales.
Fainga’a, who made an impact off the bench in all three Tests against Wales, slots in for the injured Pat McCabe.
Berrick Barnes, who was man of the match in consecutive Tests against Wales, retains the flyhalf role, working outside of halfback and newly appointed Wallabies vice-captain, Will Genia.
After making a successful return to the Test arena in the third game against Wales, and having rehabilitated a rib cartilage injury in the time since, Kurtley Beale retains his position at fullback. He will be supported by the versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper and Digby Ioane in the back three.
The experienced NSW winger Drew Mitchell makes a welcome return from injury to play in his first Test since the pool phase of last year’s Rugby World Cup, taking up the bench spot vacated by Fainga’a.
Up front, the New Zealand-schooled Sitaleki Timani gets a first chance to test himself against the All Blacks in the pack. The former Auckland Grammar student is one of two Kiwi-educated Wallaby forwards, alongside the former Wesley College, New Zealand Schools and Under-21 rep Sekope Kepu.
Kepu, who has specialised at tighthead prop this year, is one of just two survivors amongst the run on group from Australia’s starting forward pack when the two teams last met, in October’s Rugby World Cup semi-final last year. He played loosehead on that occasion.
Pocock is the other, while hooker Stephen Moore and evergreen loose forward Radike Samo are on the bench this time, having played starting roles in Auckland.
While the Wallabies have enjoyed continuity in selection through June’s Wales Tests, just 13 of the 22 players named today featured in the Rugby World Cup semi-final between the two teams.
Saturday night’s match marks the commencement of the new four-way competition, which has replaced the Tri Nations. It is also the next chapter of a Bledisloe Cup story now entering its 82nd year.
The Wallabies last won a Bledisloe Cup series outright in 2001.
This year sees the first three-match series for the trophy since 1998, having been played over two or four match ties in the time since with – as occurred last year – the holder retaining the trophy if the series ended up all square.
The Wallabies team to play New Zealand in The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup opener at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night (kick-off: 8pm AEST) is:
15. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
7. David Pocock (Emirates Western Force, captain)
6. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Emirates Western Force)
4. Sitaleki Timani (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. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
19. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
20. Michael Hooper (Brumbies)
21. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
22. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs)