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Australia change three for final Test against England

Australia lock Rob Simmons
Image: Rob Simmons returns to the Australia side in Sydney

Michael Cheika has changed both locks for the final Test against England as Australia aim to avoid a whitewash.

Rob Simmons and Will Skelton return to the pack in two of three changes to the side beaten 23-7 in Melbourne on Saturday.

The other sees Matt Toomua return from a knee injury to replace Samu Kerevi at inside centre.

Sam Carter and Rory Arnold, the starting locks in Melbourne, do not even make the bench for Saturday as uncapped Adam Coleman is named along with winger Taqele Naiyaravoro.

Skelton, meanwhile, is included for the first time since a pectoral injury cut short his World Cup last year.

England are already guaranteed a first series win in Australia having won the opening two Tests, while Cheika has been forced to defend himself against accusations he has allowed himself to be bullied by opposite number Eddie Jones.

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"This Saturday's match against England is a real opportunity for the Wallabies to show the character I know they have on the field, for all our fans to see," Cheika said in a statement accompanying the team release.

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"We will continue to play rugby in our attacking style and we'll be aiming to do it with more consistent quality than we have in the first two matches."

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 1 James Slipper, 2 Stephen Moore, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Will Skelton, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Sean McMahon.     

Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Wycliff Palu, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Christian Lealiifano, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.

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