The return from injury of Adam Ashley-Cooper, Wycliff Palu and Drew Mitchell headline the team named by Robbie Deans to take on the All Blacks at Suncorp on Saturday night.
ANOTHER UPDATE: News just in brings word that Team Rehab has claimed another member with prop Ben Alexander ruling himself out with a wrist injury. James Slipper will take over at tighthead prop and Sekope Kepu will be amongst the reserves.
UPDATE: In the latest news, reserve hooker Saia Faingaa has broken his hand at training today and will miss the match with his Reds understudy James Hanson coming into the team on the bench.
The matchday squad has four changes to the one that took on Argentina in their last match. Unfortunately Team Rehab claims another with winger Digby Ioane unable to overcome a knee injury and will miss out, along with Radike Samo who is being ‘rested’.
Ashley-Cooper is the ‘fix it man’ of the Wallabies once again and will take his place on the left wing after overcoming a bout of concussion, whilst Palu has been named to start his first match since July.
The backline sees Nick ‘Badass Honey Badger’ Cummins retain his place on the right wing alongside Ben Tapuai at outside centre with Mike Harris filling the fullback role. His ‘laser like’ accuracy with goal kicking will be an important factor if the Wallabies are to overcome a confident All Blacks side, although their last trip to Suncorp Stadium didn’t finish so well.
In the forwards Nathan Sharpe takes the reigns again at captain in what is the beginning if his second, or is it third, farewell tour and will be joined by Sitaleki Timani in the second row.
Scott Higginbotham starts at blindside flanker after playing the majority of the Argentina game there after Kane Douglas was knocked out early.
The front row sees Ben Alexander at tighthead with Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson packing down beside him.
The bench sees another 5/2 split with Mitchell making his long awaited comeback and is joined by Brett Sheehan as the other back reserve whilst Reds trio of James Hanson, James Slipper and Liam Gill join Kane Douglas and Dave Dennis in the make up of the forwards reserves.
The match kicks off at 8pm Qld time, 9pm AEDT and will be refereed by Craig Joubert.
15. Mike Harris
14. Nick Cummins
13. Ben Tapuai
12. Pat McCabe
11. Adam Ashley-Cooper
10. Kurtley Beale
9. Nick Phipps.
8. Wycliff Palu
7. Michael Hooper
6. Scott Higginbotham
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
4. Sitaleki Timani
3. Ben Alexander James Slipper
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
1. Benn Robinson
Reserves:
16. James Hanson
17. James SlipperSekope Kepu
18. Kane Douglas
19. Dave Dennis
20. Liam Gill
21. Brett Sheehan
22. Drew Mitchell
