Wycliffe Palu makes his return to the national team, whilst Reds scrumhalf, Will Genia, is in line to make his test debut as the Wallabies take on the All Blacks this Saturday at Eden Park (5.35pm Australian Eastern Standard Time).
Coach Robbie Deans has named his strongest test team of the season, despite not being able to call on the injured Rocky Elsom. Palu, starting at Number 8, is the only change to the starting team that defeated France 22-6 last month. Palu’s return sees Force backrower, Richard Brown, switched to blindside flanker with Dean Mumm dropping to the bench.
Joining Mumm in the reserves will be boom utility back, James O’Connor, who will return to his childhood stomping ground of Auckland.
Genia, if he gets on the field, will make his return to rugby in the toughest of environments having not played since injuring his finger in a two-try performance against the Brumbies in Super 14 rugby in May.
The match will also be flanker George Smith’s 100th test thus becoming just the fourth Wallaby to reach a century of caps. David Campese, George Gregan and Steve Larkham are the only other Australian players to have achieved the milestone.
15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
14 Lachlan Turner
13 Stirling Mortlock [c]
12 Berrick Barnes
11 Drew Mitchell
10 Matt Giteau
9 Luke Burgess
8 Wycliffe Palu
7 George Smith
6 Richard Brown
5 James Horwill
4 Nathan Sharpe
3 Al Baxter
2 Stephen Moore
1 Benn Robinson
16 Tatafu Polata-Nau
17 Ben Alexander
18 Dean Mumm
19 Phil Waugh
20 David Pocock
21 Will Genia
22 James O’Connor
