Australia v Italy: Teams

Australia will look to take their frustrations out on Italy on Sunday when they finally get their World Cup challenge underway.

The two-time winners head into the clash at North Harbour Stadium on the back of an impressive Tri-Nations, culminating in the 25-20 victory over New Zealand.

And the intensity within the Wallabies squad has even seen punches thrown in training ahead of the meeting with the Azzurri.

Centre Anthony Faingaa revealed: "It's training and there is 30 guys in a team and only 22 guys can put on jumpers, so there is always a few punches and some words at training.

"Having guys chasing right behind you makes you become a better player.

"It also keeps you on your toes the whole time. It creates a healthy culture. We train how we play."

Historic

Coach Robbie Deans has opted to name the same starting XV from the win over the All Blacks, although the precocious James O'Connor makes his return on the bench after serving a one-match ban for breaching team protocols.

Italy have made just two changes for the clash - with Leonardo Ghiraldini and Alessandro Zanni coming into the starting XV.

Nick Mallett's men will go into the encounter with renewed belief, having recorded a historic win over France in the RBS Six Nations.

And will a vastly experienced side, a strong pack and the talisman that is Sergio Parisse they will aim to make life as uncomfortable as possible for the Wallabies.

Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Cornelius Van Zyl, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Edoardo Gori, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Luke McLean.

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 James O'Connor.