Wales v Australia: Teams

Huw Bennett: Ready to fight for his shirt against Australia

Wales hooker Huw Bennett admits he is relishing the battle for the No.2 shirt after getting the nod for Saturday's clash with Australia.

Bennett will take on the Wallabies again in Shane Williams' farewell encounter 43 days after the Rugby World Cup bronze medal loss in Auckland.

However Bennett faces intense competition for the hooker position after former skipper Matthew Rees, who missed the World Cup because of a neck problem, was included on the bench.

Bennett, though, said: "I don't know any player who has been injured who didn't want to fight to get his jersey back.

"There is always good rivalry in the Welsh squad, which makes for a healthy situation.

"I had a week and a half off after last season finished before the Barbarians game in June, then another week off before going to Poland for training, and it has been pretty much straight through from there.

"You need a different mindset from the southern hemisphere boys because the World Cup was the culmination of their season before they had a long rest.

Farewell

"For us, we are straight into the start of things, but then that's the way it is.

"Wales and Australia at the Millennium Stadium is big enough, but there is the fact that it is the first chance for people to welcome us back after the World Cup and it is also [wing Shane Williams'] farewell game."

Sam Warburton returns as captain after being sent off during the World Cup semi-final defeat to France, while centre Scott Williams, half-backs Rhys Priestland and Lloyd Williams, prop Scott Andrews and lock Ian Evans are all handed starts.

Jonathan Davies, Adam Jones, Paul James and Alun Wyn-Jones miss the game through injury, whilst James Hook and Mike Phillips miss out due to their club commitments in France

Australia captain James Horwill reclaims his place as one of three changes from the team that thumped the Barbarians last time out.

Horwill replaces Nathan Sharpe in the second row, with Ben McCalman passed fit to start at No.8 after he pulled out of the Baa-Baas clash.

However, centre Rob Horne is a late withdrawal after failing to come through Friday's training session with a hamstring injury.

His place in the starting line-up will be taken by Queensland Reds centre Anthony Fainga'a, with Melbourne scrum-half Nick Phipps coming in on the bench.

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Lloyd Williams, 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Huw Bennett, 3 Scott Andrews, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Ian Evans, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 8 Toby Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Ryan Jones, 19 Justin Tipuric, 20 Tavis Knoyle, 21 Dan Biggar, 22 Alex Cuthbert

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley Cooper, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 James Horwill, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Ben Tapuai, 22 Nick Phipps