Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Auckland.
Brumbies duo Folau Faingaa and Tom Banks are in line to make their Wallabies debuts in a team featuring an overhauled front-row – with Scott Sio returning from injury and Allan Alalaatoa also promoted to the starting front row – and Jack Maddocks’ elevation to the starting team.
Sio and Alalaatoa have replaced Tom Robertson and Sekope Kepu, who drop back to the bench after starting in the first Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney.
Rising Reds prop Taniela Tupou was not included on the bench after failing to overcome a hamstring injury picked up in the lead-up to the first Test.
In the backs, an ankle injury to full-back Israel Folau has also forced a re-shuffle, with Dane Haylett-Petty moved to the number 15 jersey and Maddocks given the job of starting wing.
Cheika has also given Faingaa and Banks the chance to make their debuts at Eden Park by naming the pair on the reserves bench.
Banks has been an excitement machine at full-back for the Brumbies this season and was the star performer in the Wallabies’ trial match against the Super Rugby selection at Leichhardt Oval.
The likely debut of Faingaa caps a remarkable year for the 23-year-old, after only making his debut for the Brumbies this season. He was signed by the Canberra-based outfit on a one-year EPS deal but now finds himself on the verge of playing against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Faingaa comes into the side at the expense of Tolu Latu, whose poor throwing contributed to the Wallabies’ lineout losing eight on their throw last weekend.
Australia: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Folau Faingaa, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Tom Banks
Date: Saturday, August 25
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 local (08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)