Australia Makes Changes for Wellington Test

Australian Head Coach Michael Cheika has made changes to his lineup for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against New Zealand in Wellington.

Dumped Toulon fly half Quade Cooper has been recalled by Cheika. The move sees Cooper playing for the first time since Australia took on Uruguay in Birmingham during Rugby World Cup 2015.

The selection sees regular fly half Bernard Foley moving out one place to inside center. He is to do so in place of Matt Giteau who suffered a broken ankle against New Zealand in Sydney. Australia’s injury concerns were so severe that Giteau’s replacement, Matt Toomua was also injured.

Foley will form a new-look centers partnership with Samu Kerevi. The Fijian played for his country of birth in the 2012 World Rugby Junior World Championship. Now, though, he is a Wallaby. He replaces another Fijian, Tevita Kuridrani.

As expected regular first choice blindside Scott Fardy is back into the starting lineup. The benching of Fardy for the Sydney test was a point of hot discussion. It proved to have backfired as the Wallabies were not the same threat without him.

An additional change sees Rob Simmons missing out. The second-rower has been dropped with Adam Coleman of the Western Force taking his spot.

AUSTRALIA
15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Bernard Foley, 11 Dane Haylett-Petty, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (Capt.), 1 Scott Sio

Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Ala’alatoa, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Will Skelton, 21 Tevita Kuridrani, 22 Reece Hodge, 23 Nick Phipps