Same again for Wallabies

Editor

Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has named an unchanged matchday squad to take on Ireland in their second Test in Melbourne on Saturday.

Cheika has opted to stick with the same team that beat Ireland in Brisbane, opting against bringing in Ned Hanigan (knee) or Rory Arnold (suspension).

It is the first time since taking over the Wallabies reins in 2014 that Cheika has kept the same 23 two weeks in a row.

Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa will start for the second successive week, as the forwards look to shore up a somewhat inconsistent lineout when they arrive in Melbourne.

His fellow Brisbane debutant Caleb Timu has held out Pete Samu and Hanigan to keep his spot at number eight, combining with David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the back-row.

With heavy rain expected on Saturday night, Cheika has kept a six-two split on the bench as well, after the forwards stood strong in Brisbane.

They will face a strengthened Ireland outfit in the second Test, with Johnny Sexton set to start, headlining a host of possible changes.

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 David Pocock, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Lukhan Tui, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 Reece Hodge

Date: Saturday, June 16
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 20:00 local (11:00 BST, 10:00 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)