Wallabies v Barbarians: Quade Cooper, Will Genia start and Matt Hodgson named captain

QUADE Cooper and Will Genia will make long-awaited Wallabies returns in an experimental side named by Michael Cheika to face the Barbarians.

Australia Captain's Run

QUADE Cooper and Will Genia will make long-awaited Wallabies returns in an experimental side named by new coach Michael Cheika to face the Barbarians.

Cheika opted for a mix of recent first-team regulars and fringe players for Saturday’s spring tour-opening match at Twickenham, his first official assignment since being hastily ushered in as coach after Ewen McKenzie resigned.

Fijian-born winger Henry Speight and young Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon are set for Wallabies debuts while Western Force back-rower Matt Hodgson will captain Australia in place of rested skipper Michael Hooper.

Vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper, Nick Phipps and lineout general Rob Simmons are also regular starters sitting out the warm-up to Test clashes with Wales, France, Ireland and England.

Quade Cooper will start at flyhalf for the Wallabies.

The selections offer limited insight into Cheika’s intentions for upcoming Test matches, with the new coach clearly keen to give a wide range of players a chance to impress.

Beating a New Zealand-heavy Barbarians outfit remains a priority, though, as does putting into practice a week of intense work in training since assembling in London.

“We’ve worked really hard this week on ensuring our team has a clear understanding of how we want to play. Next is to transfer this into the game on Saturday,” Cheika said.

Will Genia joins Quade Cooper in the Wallabies halves.

“You sense they’re all looking forward to the opportunity against the Barbarians, and so far I’ve been impressed with the level of consistency they’ve brought to their work.

“This team contains a mix of players from our last game and also experienced players eager to push their way into the Test team.”

Both five-eighth Cooper (shoulder and hip) and halfback Genia (ankle) have been on the comeback trail from operations and neither has taken the field for Australia this season.

The Queensland stars will reunite in the halves for the first time in the green and gold for 11 months with a clear opportunity to apply pressure on the likes of Phipps, Nic White and Bernard Foley.

White and Foley will start from the bench with Kurtley Beale’s absence from the tour following the text message scandal opening the door further for Cooper to shine.

Rampaging Brumbies winger Speight is set to finally fulfil his Wallabies dream following a four-year eligibility battle while 20-year-old McMahon could make his debut off the bench following an impressive debut Super Rugby season.

Henry Speight will run out for the Wallabies for the first time.

Hard-nosed flanker Hodgson, 33, earns the captaincy after recently breaking back into the Wallabies after a three-year absence.

“Matt has demonstrated exceptional leadership attributes at the Western Force for a long time now, and he deserves this opportunity being given to him,” Cheika said.

Cheika, to juggle coaching duties with Australia and NSW next year, named just three Waratahs in his starting 15 - Israel Folau, Rob Horne and Benn Robinson.

For the Barbarians, ex-Wallaby Nick Cummins has been named on the wing in a New Zealand-heavy Barbarians side coached by All Blacks great John Kirwan.

Nick Cummins has been named on the wing for the Barbarians.

The Barbarians starting XV includes five-eighth Colin Slade, who kicked a matchwinning conversion in New Zealand’s 29-28 win over Australia in Brisbane a fortnight ago, along with fellow unwanted All Blacks Steven Luatua, Dominic Bird and Matt Todd, who all missed selection for their nation’s tour of the US and UK.

Cummins, who has played 15 Tests for the Wallabies, can’t wait for a chance to take on some of his mates in what he predicts will be an intense battle.

“They’re a good bunch of blokes and even though the competition will be fierce, the beer after will be even sweeter,” he said.

WALLABIES V BARBARIANS TEAMS

Wallabies (1-15): Benn Robinson, Saia Fainga’a, Ben Alexander, Sam Carter, James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Rob Horne, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Israel Folau.

Reserves: James Hanson, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Will Skelton, Sean McMahon, Nic White, Bernard Foley, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane.

Barbarians (1-15): Matt Stevens (Sharks/ENG), James Parsons (Blues/NZL), Angus Ta’avao (Blues/NZL), Dominic Bird (Canterbury/NZL), Alastair Kellock (capt; Glasgow/SCO), Adam Thomson (Canon Eagles/NZL), Matt Todd (Crusaders/NZL), Steven Luatua (Blues/NZL), Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano/ARG), Colin Slade (Crusaders/NZL), Nick Cummins (West Red Sparks/AUS), Francis Saili (Blues/NZL), Juan de Jongh (Stormers/RSA), Frank Halai (Blues/NZL), Tim Nanai Williams (Chiefs/NZL).

Reserves: Mahonri Schwalger (Chiefs/SAM), Thomas Du Toit (Sharks/RSA), Lourens Adriaanse (Sharks/RSA), Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs/RSA), Matias Alemanno (La Tablada/ARG), Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs/RSA), Joaquin Tuculet (Grenoble/ARG), Marnitz Boshoff (Lions/RSA).