Thursday 9 June 2016 11:46, UK
Australia coach Michael Cheika has opted for size in his team for Saturday's first Test against England after including hulking centre Samu Kerevi and powerful lock Rory Arnold among three new caps for the Brisbane clash.
Kerevi will partner Tevita Kuridrani in a heavyweight midfield, while the towering Arnold will provide the force alongside Rob Simmons' organisational ability in the second row.
Dane Haylett-Petty is the third debutant as Cheika resisted the temptation to unleash another big rookie back on Eddie Jones' side, with Fiji-born Taqele Naiyaravoro missing out on the matchday squad altogether.
Haylett-Petty, who plays at full-back for the Western Force, starts on the wing with Israel Folau retaining the No 15 jersey despite suggestions he could move into the centres.
The midfield partnership was Cheika's biggest selection conundrum given the absence of Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua through injury and incumbent inside centre Matt Giteau because of his French club commitments.
Christian Lealiifano would have offered the second playmaker option but has been absent from the Wallabies training camp to be with his wife for the birth of their child and he starts on the bench as back-up to fly-half Bernard Foley.
Scrum-half Nick Frisby is a fourth potential debutant, having earned a place among the replacements for the match at his home ground with some fine form for the Queensland Reds this season.
Arnold aside, Cheika has stuck largely with the pack that earned plaudits at last year's World Cup with David Pocock at No 8 alongside Michael Hooper at openside flanker.
Tighthead prop Sekope Kepu arrived late to the training camp and is relegated to the bench with Greg Holmes getting the start in the front row alongside skipper Stephen Moore and loosehead Scott Sio.
Cheika is looking forward to a bruising encounter with England, saying: "It's a contact sport and we love that. Respect to our opponents if they bring it on.
"We're up for it....the contact part of the game, the aggression. If that's what it means. I'm sure it's going to be a real ding dong on Saturday.
"I imagine that's what it means because you're not going to come out and do head high tackles. I don't think so at least! I think fair play to them, it's good stuff."
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 1Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 3 Greg Holmes, 4 Rory Arnold, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 David Pocock.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 James Horwill, 20 Dean Mumm, 21 Sean McMahon, 22 Nick Frisby, 23 Christian Lealiifano.
