Michael Cheika has selected an experienced Wallabies team to face the All Blacks in the opening Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship match in Sydney on Saturday.Cheika welcomes back 315 Tests of experience, with stars from overseas selected.
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Will Genia and Kane Douglas have returned to the Wallabies fold after sitting out the June series against England.
Ben McCalman joins Michael Hooper and David Pocock in a new-look backrow, while old combinations will be reunited in the backline with Will Genia and Bernard Foley forming the halves alongside Giteau and Tevita Kuridrani in the centres.
Brumbies prop Allan Ala’alatoa is in line to make his debut and become the 896th player to represent the Wallabies, after being named on the bench alongside veterans Tatafu Polota-Nau and James Slipper.
Kickoff on Saturday 20 August at 20:05 local, 07:05 ART, 10:05 GMT, 12:05 SAST, 22:05 NZST
Qantas Wallabies squad to play New Zealand
1. Scott Sio (18 Tests), 2. Stephen Moore – C (105 Tests), 3. Sekope Kepu (66 Tests), 4. Kane Douglas (23 Tests), 5. Rob Simmons (62 Tests), 6. Ben McCalman (48 Tests), 7. Michael Hooper (54 Tests), 8. David Pocock (56 Tests), 9. Will Genia (66 Tests), 10. Bernard Foley (30 Tests), 11. Dane Haylett-Petty (3 Tests) 12. Matt Giteau (102 Tests), 13. Tevita Kuridrani (34 Tests), 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (114 Tests), 15. Israel Folau (41 Tests)
Reserves 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (64 Tests), 17. James Slipper (77 Tests), 18. Allan Ala’alatoa* (0 Tests), 19. Dean Mumm (46 Tests), 20. Scott Fardy (33 Tests), 21. Nick Phipps (42 Tests), 22. Matt Toomua (32 Tests), 23. Rob Horne (32 Tests)
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