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Hurting Wallabies make 10 changes in team for Ireland
By Ian Cameron
Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie has wrung the changes ahead of their Autumn Nations Series match with Ireland following their shock loss to Italy last weekend.
A total of 10 changes to the starting 15 have been made, with just five players retained from the boilover defeat in Florence.
Andrew Kellaway will start at fullback for the third time this season, with Florence debutant Mark Nawaqanitawase and Tom Wright making up the back three.
James Slipper returns to the captaincy in what will be his 126th Test while ACT Brumbies duo Cadeyrn Neville and Nick Frost will reignite their second-row partnership.
Jed Holloway returns at blindside, while Michael Hooper returns in the number seven jersey, with Rob Valetini at No.8.
Hunter Paisami at inside centre with Len Ikitau outside him make up the midfield, both set for their first Tests in Ireland.
France-based Will Skelton is named on the bench, with Pete Samu set to play against Ireland for the first time since making his Wallabies debut against them in 2018, if he comes on.
"We're still hurting from last weekend but we have to move on and the only way to do that is a response against the Irish," said Rennie. "They're an excellent side. They're very well coached and very well drilled. They've got a lot of experience. A lot of players who are 30 Test caps (or more) and probably played 150-plus club games.
"They're a very good side, but that's exciting. We get to test ourselves against the top-ranked side in the world."
Despite the enormous challenge confronting them, Rennie refuses to believe the Wallabies are big outsiders.
"We won't talk about being underdogs," he said.
"There's no doubt we're playing the top side in the world. We've talked a lot about us and what we need to put on the pack to get a result and we know that's important.
"We let ourselves down last week, we let our country down and we're keen for a response."
Australia (vs Ireland, Saturday)
1. James Slipper (c) (125 Tests)
2. David Porecki (9 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (62 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (7 Tests)
5. Cadeyrn Neville (6 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway (8 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (123 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (29 Tests)
9. Nic White (58 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (75 Tests)
11. Tom Wright (21 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (23 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (24 Tests)
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (1 Test)
15. Andrew Kellaway (20 Tests)
Replacements
16. Folau Fainga’a (36 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (29 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (46 Tests)
19. Will Skelton (23 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (31 Tests)
21. Jake Gordon (18 Tests)
22. Noah Lolesio (16 Tests)
23. Jordan Petaia (23 Tests)
additional reporting AAP
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Latest Comments
not the worst yet. But give them time. By the end of the year they’ll be playing with 12 men on the field and they’ll blame everyone else for that fact.
Go to commentsSquandering a 21 point lead (almost) and the 3 disallowed tries are what you’re talking about? Not being able to keep 15 men in the field seems to be an all black tradition at this point. It’s their fault. But keep giving them excuses and keep giving them free passes. They’re going to need them, they’re on a downward spiral right now.
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