Wallabies coach Michael Cheika makes changes for Italy Test
Kurtley Beale has been benched while Jordan Petaia and Jake Gordon will make their Wallabies debuts against Italy this weekend.
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Kurtley Beale has been benched while Jordan Petaia and Jake Gordon will make their Wallabies debuts against Italy this weekend.
Coach Michael Cheika has made a raft of changes to the side that lost to Wales, with 18-year-old Petaia to become the third youngest Wallaby in history.
Having not played a Test since the 2016 Bledisloe Cup series, winger Adam Ashley-Cooper returns to the starting side for his 117th cap. The 34-year-old will overtake Nathan Sharpe as the third most capped Wallaby of all time.
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, winger Petaia will follow Brian Ford (18 years and 90 days) and James O’Connor (18 years and 126 days) as the youngest to wear the gold jersey, having finished high school last year.
Cheika has revamped his halves, with Matt Toomua starting at five-eighth alongside NSW halfback Gordon, and Bernard Foley shifting to inside centre.
Beale will act as midfield cover off the bench.
Hooker Tolu Latu, prop Allan Alaalatoa, winger Sefanaia Naivalu, halfback Nick Phipps, lock Rob Simmons and backrower Ned Hanigan, who were all in the squad against Wales, have been left out of the 23 entirely.
Folau Fainga’a, who started against the All Blacks three weeks ago but did not make the 23 for Cardiff, has been reinstated as starting hooker, with Tatafu Polota-Nau on the bench.
Will Genia has moved to the bench to accommodate Gordon’s debut.
Taniela Tupou has replaced Alaalatoa as starting tighthead, with loosehead Jermaine Ainsley coming off the bench for only his second Test.
Israel Folau has moved back to fullback with Dane Haylett-Petty on the bench.
After the 9-6 defeat to Wales, Cheika said he would make some selection calls based on performance, while allowing others the chance to rectify their form.
Italy, ranked 14th in the world, have never beaten Australia in 17 attempts.
Genia’s demotion is a sign that Cheika has not selected his best possible team for this clash, although he has stuck with the locks and backrow despite the big workloads of Michael Hooper and David Pocock in particular.
Latu was impressive against Wales and his absence makes it difficult to figure out how Cheika sees the pecking order for hookers.
With England to come at Twickenham next week, having Genia, Beale and Haylett-Petty on the bench could be a ploy to freshen their legs.
Gordon was picked for the tour after an impressive season for the Waratahs and stellar performances in the NRC.
His fast running game will give the Wallabies a different threat at the base of the ruck, while Toomua will wear the Australian No.10 jersey for the first time in five years.
Ashley-Cooper left Australia to play in France and then Japan, but never officially retired from Test rugby.
After discussions with Cheika earlier this year, he decided to attempt to make a fourth World Cup.
He qualifies for the Wallabies under the 60-cap Giteau Law, but it’s expected he’ll sign for the Waratahs in 2019.
WALLABIES: 15. Israel Folau 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper 13. Samu Kerevi 12. Bernard Foley 11. Jordan Petaia 10. Matt Toomua 9. Jake Gordon 8. David Pocock 7. Michael Hooper (captain) 6. Jack Dempsey 5. Adam Coleman 4. Izack Rodda 3. Taniela Tupou 2. Folau Fainga’a 1. Scott Sio.
Reserves: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau 17. Jermaine Ainsley 18. Sekope Kepu 19. Rory Arnold 20. Pete Samu 21. Will Genia 22. Kurtley Beale 23. Dane Haylett-Petty.
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Originally published as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika makes changes for Italy Test
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