Australia Name Team for New Zealand

Australia has named a vastly experienced team to face New Zealand on Saturday. The Oceania rivals are to meet in the opening fixture of the 2016 Rugby Championship. They are also to be competing for the Bledisloe Cup.

Stephen Moore will captain the team from hooker. Joining him with more than 100 test caps will be the France-based pairing of Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper. Also starting from the Top 14 is scrumhalf Will Genia.

Kane Douglas returns to the second row after missing the June tests with injury, and Ben McCalman starts on the flank with Scott Fardy left in the reserves. Brumbies prop Allan Ala’alatoa is set to make his test debut on the bench, replacing Exeter-bound Greg Holmes in the match day squad.

AUSTRALIA
1 Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Kane Douglas, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 David Pocock, 9 Will Genia, 10 Bernard Foley, 11 Dane Haylett-Petty, 12 Matt Giteau, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 15 Israel Folau

Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Ala’alatoa, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Scott Fardy, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Rob Horne