The Wallabies team to play the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday has been named and is highlighted by Waratahs winger Peter Betham earning his debut start on the wing.
Injuries have depleted the squad with coach Ewen McKenzie having to make changes from the team that beat Argentina in the last round of The Rugby Championship. Betham’s inclusion makes him the 12th player to debut for the Wallabies in 2013.
With an eye on the five match European tour just around the corner, wingers Joe Tomane and Chris Feauai-Sautia have been rested with respective hamstring injuries and they join Christian Leali’ifano (ankle) and Scott Fardy (eye) who will miss the Dunedin clash.
With Fardy out, Ben Mowen switches from the back of the scrum to blindside flanker with Ben McCalman moving from the bench to number 8.
In the backline, Betham starts on the left wing with Matt Toomua starting at inside centre to replace his Brumbies team mate Christian Leali’ifano.
The new faces on the bench include Waratahs forward Dave Dennis and Queensland Reds back Mike Harris.
1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rob Simmons
5. James Horwill (c)
6. Ben Mowen
7. Michael Hooper
8. Ben McCalman
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Peter Betham
12. Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Israel Folau
Replacements
16. Saia Fainga’a
17. Benn Robinson
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Sitaleki Timani
20. Dave Dennis
21. Nic White
22. Mike Harris
23. Bernard Foley
Kick off: 5:35pm (AEDT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (RSA)
AR1: Jaco Peyper (RSA)
AR2: Stuart Berry (RSA)
TMO: Vinny Munro (NZL)
