Australia v Wales: Teams
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made nine changes to the side that lost 9-6 to Scotland on Monday for the first Test against Wales.
Last Updated: 08/06/12 1:35pm
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made nine changes to the side that lost 9-6 to Scotland on Monday.
With two Tests in a week Deans was always going to make changes and there are five newcomers in the pack, including an all-new Waratahs front row, and three more behind the scrum.
The versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper returns to the starting side at full-back while Melbourne Rebels winger Cooper Vuna makes his debut, replacing Joe Tomane on the wing after the Brumbies player hurt his left ankle in training.
Pat McCabe also steps up from the bench to replace Mike Harris at inside centre in a midfield partnership with Rob Horne with hard-tackling Anthony Fainga'a relegated to the replacements.
Rob Simmons replaces the injured Sitaleki Timani in the second row, while Scott Higginbotham moves to the troublesome blindside flanker position to make way for Wycliff Palu to come in at number eight.
Loosehead prop Benn Robinson makes a welcome return to the Test arena after an 18-month absence.
Acclimatised
Wales head into the first of their three Tests against Australia in Brisbane with 11 of the team that clinched Grand Slam glory.
Despite seeing a fringe side beat the Barbarians 30-21 last week, caretaker coach Rob Howley has picked a completely different team to that which played at the Millennium Stadium.
A total of 16 players were sent Down Under early for acclimatisation purposes, with all but Ashley Beck named to start the series opener.
Fit again Sam Warburton will return to lead the side after an 11-week break since leaving the field at half-time in the 16-9 win over France.
Only six of the players who figured in the Baa-Baas win are asked to act as replacements, with Matthew Rees, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams and James Hook all joining Beck on the bench.
The only other changes from the Grand Slam winning team see Scarlets centre Scott Williams take over from the injured Jamie Roberts at centre, hooker Ken Owens replace his Scarlets team-mate Matthew Rees and Blues lock Bradley Davies pack down with ex-Dragons skipper Luke Charteris in the second row.
Kicking coach Neil Jenkins believes Wales have their best chance to end a hoodoo that has seen them go 25 years without a win against a Tri Nations team in the southern hemisphere.
"The players have had a good week to prepare and we are in pretty good shape. There are no excuses for Saturday night," said Jenkins.
"The feeling I get in the camp is that everyone is looking forward to it. We did pretty well at the World Cup, and very well in winning the Grand Slam, but this is the next step for any side, winning in the southern hemisphere.
"It is an opportunity for us, but it isn't won on paper. We have to take our chances and limit theirs."
Belief
Wales will fancy their chances after Scotland beat the Wallabies earlier in the week but Jenkins is taking nothing for granted.
"We know what Saturday holds for us - we are under no illusions as to what is coming. But we have got to back ourselves because we believe we have a pretty good side," he added.
"We are expecting Australia to come out all guns firing, especially after their very disappointing result against Scotland on Tuesday. I'm just hoping we can match them in that way.
"We managed to win the Grand Slam, but now we want that southern hemisphere scalp to take this squad to the next level. It is a huge challenge.
"We believe we are a very fit side and the longer we stay in the game, the better chance we will have of winning it. We just can't afford to let them get off to a good start."
Australia: 15-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14-Joe Tomane, 13-Rob Horne, 12-Pat McCabe, 11-Digby Ioane, 10-Berrick Barnes, 9-Will Genia; 8-Wycliff Palu, 7-David Pocock (captain), 6-Scott Higginbotham, 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-Rob Simmons, 3-Sekope Kepu, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16-Stephen Moore, 17-Ben Alexander, 18-Dave Dennis, 19-Michael Hooper, 20-Nic White, 21-Anthony Fainga'a
Wales: 15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Scott Williams, 11-George North, 10-Rhys Priestland, 9-Mike Phillips; 8-Toby Faletau, 7-Sam Warburton (captain), 6-Dan Lydiate, 5-Luke Charteris, 4-Bradley Davies, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Ken Owens, 1-Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16-Matthew Rees, 17-Paul James, 18-Alun Wyn Jones, 19-Ryan Jones, 20-Lloyd Williams, 21-James Hook, 22-Ashley Beck.