Jordan Petaia and Rory Arnold out of Italy clash

Jordan Petaia’s hopes of a Wallabies debut this weekend have been dashed, with he and Rory Arnold forced out of the team with injury.

Petaia (hamstring) and Arnold (eye socked) will be replaced by Marika Koroibete and Rob Simmons in the 23 for the game against Italy.

Petaia suffered a slight hamstring twinge in Thursday’s training session in Padova and, while it appears only minor, Wallabies staff opted against running the risk with the teenager.

The 18-year-old has plenty of fans and is expected to be in the Test mix for a long time to come, but his first opportunity will have to wait a little longer.

He is expected to be available for next week’s Test against England at Twickenham but it hadn’t been expected that he would be picked for that Test.

Arnold fractured his eye socket in training, snuffing out his chances of a Wallabies return in Padova, with the wound not healing as quickly as expected.

The pair’s withdrawal is the latest in a string of late injury blows the Wallabies have suffered this year, with Taniela Tupou, David Pocock, Israel Folau, Adam Coleman, Michael Hooper and Tatafu Polota-Nau all forced out of line-ups late in Test weeks this season.

Australia is looking for an 18th win over Italy, a team they have never lost to, this weekend when they play off in Padova.

Australia (revised): 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Bernard Foley, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Jack Dempsey, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Jermaine Ainsley, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Will Genia, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Dane Haylett-Petty

Date: Saturday, November 17
Venue: Stadio Euganeo, Padua
Kick-off: (15:00 local) 14:00 GMT
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Mike Adamson (Scotland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)