The Wallabies will deploy Michael Hooper and David Pocock against the All Blacks on Saturday, with both named in a shake up to the starting side that also includes Matt Giteau returning at inside centre.
Coach Michael Cheika has found room for both of his star flankers, with Pocock to play at number eight and Hooper at openside in a scrum that also features new starters James Horwill, Dean Mumm and Scott Sio.
Will Skelton and Greg Holmes, who both ran out against the Pumas, shift back to the bench with Sekope Kepu returning to the front row.
It’s a highly mobile pack that suggests Cheika wants to run the All Blacks around at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night and ensure a high-tempo contest in the Bledisloe Cup opener.
“Australian rugby is very fortunate to have some quality flankers competing for the number seven jumper,” Cheika said.
“Both players have been in outstanding form for club and country this season and have shown their class in sharing the spot in the first two matches.
“They now have an opportunity to start a Test together which they are very excited about.”
Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley retain their spot in the halves but Giteau, who missed the Argentine tour through injury, has leap-frogged Matt Toomua to start at inside centre, where he faces off against the imposing Sonny Bill Williams.
Toomua took a heavy knock that ended his night early in the match against Argentina but many regarded him as the logical 12 against the All Blacks. But Cheika puts a high value on Giteau’s playmaking and experience and has had little hesitation to return him to the starting side.
His French rugby cohort Drew Mitchell also earns a start on the wing, while Kurtley Beale, Toomua and Nic White make up the backline reserve on the bench with Quade Cooper missing out on the 23.
Wallabies Scott Sio, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Dean Mumm, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, David Pocock, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Tevita Kuridrani, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Israel Folau. Reserves Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Will Skelton, Ben McCalman, Nic White, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
