Thursday 6 August 2015 07:27, UK
Openside flankers Michael Hooper and David Pocock have both been named in Australia's starting line-up for the Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.
It will be the first time the back-row pair will have started a Test together, with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika assembling a mobile pack, indicating an intention to play a high-paced game.
Hooper has won the right to the No 7 jersey with Pocock at No 8 and Scott Fardy taking the blind-side berth.
"Australian rugby is very fortunate to have some quality flankers competing for the No 7 jumper," Cheika said.
"Both players have been in outstanding form for club and country this season and have shown their class in sharing the spot in the first two matches.
"They now have an opportunity to start a Test together which they are very excited about."
Cheika has shaken up his forward pack for the final-round clash between the only two unbeaten sides in the competition that also includes South Africa and Argentina.
The match also doubles up as the opening Bledisloe Cup game between Australia and New Zealand, with the return fixture a week later in Auckland.
Locks James Horwill and Dean Mumm, together with prop Scott Sio, have been promoted to the starting 15 with Mumm's inclusion forcing the relegation of Will Skelton to the bench for the first time this season.
In the backs, Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps remain the preferred half-back pairing while Matt Giteau returns from injury to replace Matt Toomua in a midfield partnership with Tevita Kuridrani.
Wingers Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper form a potent back three with full-back Israel Folau.
Among the replacements, Kurtley Beale, Toomua and Nic White provide backline cover with Quade Cooper missing out.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau; 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell; 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore (capt), 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Dean Mumm, 5 James Horwill, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 David Pocock
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Nic White, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Watch Australia take on New Zealand in the Rugby Championship live on Sky Sports 3 from 10.30am on Saturday.
