Australia v Ireland - Teams

Skipper Stirling Mortlock is looking forward to the start of a new era in Australian rugby when the Wallabies take on Ireland at Melbourne's Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

The game marks the start of New Zealander Robbie Deans' tenure in charge after his appointment as the nation's first foreign rugby coach.

The Australians will be looking for a win as they seek to move on from their shock World Cup quarter-final defeat to England last October.

But Mortlock knows it will be difficult, with a new coach, several new players and only a short lead-in to the match.

He said on Friday: "Yeah it's been a long time coming for a fair amount of the group.

"Obviously having just under a week-and-a-half together, it's a lot to fit in in that period of time but (we're) very, very excited about finally playing Test match footy.

"I think you'd be a little bit silly to think that we're going to go out tomorrow night and play a complete game of football.

Combinations

"We've got a number of guys having their first cap and likewise a lot of new combinations so we go into the game knowing full well that we'll probably be a little bit rusty."

But Mortlock believes the game gives the Wallabies the opportunity to move on from their disappointing World Cup defeat.

The skipper added: "It's our opportunity to put a line in the sand and hopefully from now on improve.

"I've got no doubt that hopefully it is a new era but having had Robbie, the first foreigner coaching the Wallabies, that's a new era and hopefully it's our opportunity to draw a line in the sand and move forward from here onwards."

Ireland, meanwhile, will be looking to put last weekend's 21-11 defeat to the All Blacks in Wellington behind them.

Wallace out

But flanker David Wallace was withdrawn on Friday after his injured calf showed signs of distress during a fitness test.

The number seven jersey has been handed to Shane Jennings in his absence, while Stephen Ferris will now start on the bench.

Regretting the loss of the experience flanker, interim Ireland coach Michael Bradley said: "David has had a very good season with Munster and with Ireland. He played very well last week against the All Blacks so he will be missed.

"But Shane Jennings is a fine player and this creates an opportunity for him."

Australia: 15 C Shepherd, 14 P Hynes, 13 S Mortlock (capt), 12 B Barnes, 11 L Tuqiri, 10 M Giteau, 9 L Burgess; 1 B Robinson, 2 S Moore, 3 M Dunning, 4 J Horwill, 5 N Sharpe, 6 R Elsom, 7 G Smith, 8 W Palu.
Replacements: A Freier, A Baxter, D Mumm, P Waugh, S Cordingley, R Cross, A Ashley-Cooper

Ireland: 15 R Kearney, 14 S Horgan, 13 B O'Driscoll, 12 P Wallace, 11 T Bowe, 10 R O'Gara, 9 P Stringer; 1 M Horan, 2 R Best, 3 J Hayes, 4 D O'Callaghan, 5 P O'Connell, 6 D Leamy, 7 S Jennings , 8 J Heaslip.
Replacements: J Flannery, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, S Ferris, E Reddan, G Murphy, G Dempsey.