Dom Shipperley will make his Wallaby debut against South Africa on Saturday while Kurtley Beale has been recalled at full-back.
Reeling from two defeats in as many weekends to New Zealand, under-fire Australian coach Robbie Deans announced a starting XV on Tuesday that features three changes in personal and one positional switch for a game that will see Stephen Moore become the most capped hooker in Australian Test history.
21-year-old Shipperley boasts exceptional pace and Deans, who is under pressure to turn around their fortunes or face the sack, will hope he can inject some urgency into a team humiliated 22-0 by the All Blacks at Eden Park.
With the versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper reverting to centre for the 30th time in his now 69-Test career, Beale is back in the starting XV after being benched for the last match.
The mercurial Quade Cooper has also been included in the side, with the flyhalf recovering from a small leg-bone fracture.
As expected, winger Drew Mitchell has been ruled out with a ruptured ankle tendon. Among others missing injured are David Pocock, James Horwill, James O'Connor, Sekope Kepu, Wycliff Palu, Pat McCabe and Ben McCalman.
Elsewhere, number eight Radike Samo returns to the Test starting pack for the first time this year, with Scott Higginbotham relocating to the bench.
Moore is set to become the most capped hooker in Australian Test history when he takes the field in Perth, moving past Jeremy Paul's tally of 72 appearances.
The 29-year-old made his debut against Samoa at Sydney in 2005.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Dominic Shipperley, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Radike Samo, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Scott Higginbotham, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Nick Phipps, 21 Mike Harris, 22 Anthony Fainga'a.
Date: Saturday, September 8
Venue: Patersons Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18.35 (10.35 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Comments
three6three6 says...
The real truth about N Sharpe is that he did have some form coming into the test matches.... and he was invited by R. Deans to prolong his international career in order that he could bring his experience into the forward pack. He clearly would not have been first choice had J. Horwill been available...... It is pretty obvious that the Wallabies failed to dominate in the collision areas against the All Blacks.... and that is the reason for the scoreline in the two recent matche. To blame N. Sharpe solely for the poor performances is myopic in extreme.
Whilst the trading of tit for tat personal insults might be humourous to some people reading these pages, it neither promotes nor contributes to producing informed debate! What has always been glorious about rugby union is its ability to contribute to informed debate!
Posted 03:51 07th September 2012
amaboko says...
Aussies should win, they have home advantage and the teams form the republic travel poorly. And Heyneke told them they are underdogs, so no problem if they get 30+ from the opposition. It`s unimaginable how the italians of the south (argies i mean) could be so close to winning against what should be - if they find the coaches and select the right players - the best team in the world.
Posted 12:15 06th September 2012
Ramage says...
@pinky isnt it interesting that you know so much about me that you can make those comments. Oh well if you believe that fair enough as there is nothing I can do to make you accept that my rugby cv as outlined in a former post is a correct one. It doesnt make me any better than anyone else on here but I think it does mean I do know something about the game.You dont have to agree with me but you miss my point. All I am saying is that Sharpe is not the b all as to why the OZ team has been beaten by the All Blacks and the incessant repetitious nonsense by georgesmith ad nauseum is over the top.There are many in that team who are not performing but all it does is show the fact that once past a small group of players the OZ cupboard is quite bare of International level players at this moment of time.
Posted 10:13 06th September 2012
UBA05 says...
@Ramage (1st post) and @TheTruthHurts regarding fakegeorgesmith. The only way I could agree with you guys more is if we were shacked up in some house raising kids. No homo.
To all who care. Nathan Sharpe was one of the better forwards (i know aussie forward standards arent that high) in the 1st test against Nz. Let me remind you that that was just a game away. 'makemehappy says "For me both second rows aren't up to it and need replacing..." gosh did you see Timani in the 2nd test, especially in the 1st half. Surely his performance was too exqusite for that comment. I await your reply.
Finally, fakegeorgesmith is a 10yr old that lives off your attention and is hell-bent on turning this to a youtube comments section. DO NOT FEED THE TROLL!!!!!
I know this is the last time I am.
Posted 17:55 05th September 2012
pinky says...
@ramage.........next your going to tell us all you're an All Black trialist like the other 3 and a half million Kiwis. Your CV is impressive, although reading between the lines I would say that you havent held the pill much or made many tackels......and dedicated most of your time to shuffling paper from one place to another and blowing a whistle at the under 10s......
I agree that Sharpe has been a great player and that he should be given due respect....but that does not take away from the fact that his is too old now and not dynamic enough with other options available!!!!
Posted 17:31 05th September 2012
Ramage says...
Trinats lol No I don't think anybody in their right mind would buy my hooker talents but after a former post of your about me I wonder whether you are interested? The cash is always handy and will help the mortgage on the farm in the Northern Rivers..
@georgesmith oh dear once again you are wrong. Sorry no relation to Hansen but your comment makes no sense. However Im used to that from your posts.
Posted 14:28 05th September 2012
Houston_11 says...
@kiwieire02
Bang on about Dennis/Higginbotham switch. I really don't understand the obsession with Dennis from Robbie Deans - he is such a poor player at this level - the invisible man could not be a better phrase.
Although I think Sharpe is past his best, it's a bit of a gamble having no back-up second row. This is a must win game for Australia and I don't know if he has the engine to last the 80 minutes, especially the way SA are quite a forward-orientated team.
Glad to see Shipperley in the team - we should be in for a decent game.
Posted 13:03 05th September 2012
georgesmith says...
@ lyndonmac... R. Simmons if he was there, could have also scored that try and so would have any other player in that position. But important things is during defence, R. Simmons would have proved much more reliable because he is young, dynamic and agile unlike N. Sharppe, who is one-dimensional, easily misses tackles and is brittle-like.
@ Ramage... great post man. I think you're S. Hansen's cousin.
@ cuw3100... you're right. N.Sharpe should have retired rather than trying to cash-in on cheap fame at the expense of young players like R. Simmons. Club rugby for D. Dennis.
I think R. Deans has gone crazy to continue using these two in the starting line-up.
Posted 12:31 05th September 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
@georgesmith, you are nothing but a psychotic troll out to rub mud all over a great servant to the Australian team. Your comments are totally unfounded and bear no technical evidence or reason why Nathan Sharpe has been the sole cause for the Wallabies losing so far this year?
Please take your subjective rants and attacks on he and also our fellow posters on this site, and place them elsewhere, namely in your arsehole!
Posted 11:33 05th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
Ramage:
Your quals you listed, are they not just NZ's primary school requirements !!!
Have you ever been paid for being a hooker ???
Posted 10:55 05th September 2012
bloemboy says...
Only Digby Ioane and Will Genia really presenting a threat. AAC, Thorne, Moore and Samo not too bad either. Yup, possibly worth getting out of bed to watch the Wobblies try to mount some sort of defence against complete destruction.
Boks by 25 if they give Goosen more than 25 minutes
Posted 10:18 05th September 2012
lyndonmac says...
Good on Ramage and Latehit for sticking up for Sharpie, a legend still in good form. Despite wanting to retire after the Super15 season,he's showing loyalty to coach and country by having another dip. Oz's talent pool is very shallow and Horwill, Pocock et al are huge losses. Sharpe's try in Sydney a ripper too --- short-term memory-loss, George?
I'm predicting a squeaky Oz win or a draw in Perth on Saturday but don't expect much of a game. Could name about 5 Boks not up to it, but maybe not their fault --- coach either has no strategy or only a tired old strategy. A brilliant individual might win it for either team --- Habana would be my favourite, closely followed by Beale if he manages to get the ball. One shocker coming back from injury shouldn't condemn KB. I sure missed Bismark's composure and rugby smarts last week --- haven't seen the Bokke look so clueless in quite a while. Nearly all these guys have been playing too much rugby, and boy didn't it show in Mendoza.
Posted 10:14 05th September 2012
Ramage says...
@georgesmith just be careful about making assumptions just because we disagree I think that I would be prepared to put my record of knowledge and involvement about the game up against your own any day. Having been involved over many years in all aspects of the game from player to coach, including attendances at NZ National Coaching sessions, to referee to administrator at two NZ Rugby Unions to team manager liaison officer and now interested spectator. So before you cast another of your infamous insults at someone lets hear your own involvement in the game. My argument is about your continual attacks against Nathan Sharpe who has had both good and bad games this year but to continually say he is responsible for the Wallabies losing tells me it is you who know little about the game. It gives no credit to the other team, the All Blacks who proved to be better than the Wallabies and does not recognise that there are some vital players missing from the Wallaby team. Your argument is weak and the incessant attacks on Nathan Sharpe, in my mind, is over the top and tediously repetitive.
@ Ulrich and Olpete I quite agree with your comments.
Posted 09:14 05th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
@ georgesmith :
tnkx but i am still trying to learn the mechanisms of RU. cricket is my game , which i know inside out having passed umpiring exam :)
for the record am not from any of the 4 nations, i just luv to see a fast paced RU match between the top nations.
feel bad for both NS and DD. one shud have retired with his glorious past in tact. the other shud get back to club rugby and improve, coz he has time on his side.
even beale would be under scrutiny, after the howler against NZ. more important than the fans and viewers, the SA team know he is under pressure to perform, coz they would have watched that match.
IMHO this is poor player management; if he has another bad one what happens ??
Posted 08:30 05th September 2012
jonesy2 says...
georgesmith - you are a revolting individual. possibly the most insane thats been on this forum and that is saying something
Posted 06:05 05th September 2012
jonesy2 says...
not their best team but still easily good enough to put a hurt on the boks. goodluck to shipperley im predicting a try on debut. 20 point deficit against NZ should mean a 20 point advantage against the boks
Posted 06:02 05th September 2012
georgesmith says...
@ cuw3100... u know rugby unlike Rammage guy who i think is still learning about the game.
Posted 03:04 05th September 2012
kingfrege says...
Agree with some of the previous posts -- Dennis should be dropped and Higginbotham moved to 6. Quade Cooper is a mercurial player but only plays well when given the reins, which he won't have so long as Barnes is on his shoulder. So I'd swap Barnes with Faingaa.
Posted 01:33 05th September 2012
ben7 says...
If Meyer picks potgeiter, morne steyn, jdv and kirchner then SA will get smashed. Put Louw, Goosen, Juan de jongh and lambie in their places and SA have a chance. Thats an awesome aussie backline by the way. Dont know why they didnt pick that backline against NZ.
Posted 01:29 05th September 2012
JayStarr says...
@georgesmith says the Springboks will thrash the Wallabies and @ArmchairGeneral says the Wallabies will thrash the Springboks... Let's see who's talking out of their @*$e.
Personally I think anyone trying to make a prediction on this one is brave. They are both so all over the place that nobody can know what's going to happen next...
All that I'm willing to predict is that we'll have two very desperate teams facing each other. That alone is bound to cause fireworks...
Besides, now that Province (Stormers) are throwing the ball around again, I don't really care what Ricardo Loubser, Zane Kirchner, Morné Steyn & Co. are doing...
Posted 00:07 05th September 2012