AS EXPECTED, MICHAEL Cheika has recalled his big names to the Australia starting XV for Saturday’s November Test match against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium [KO 5.35pm].
After shuffling his pack for the victory over France in Paris last weekend, Cheika has restored Israel Folau, Sekope Kepu and Michael Hooper to his side for what he describes as the ‘biggest game’ of their northern hemisphere tour.
In all, there are seven changes to the team that lined-out at the Stade de France with Tom Robertson, Scott Fardy, Kane Douglas, Kyle Godwin, Luke Morahan, Will Skelton, Taqele Naiyaravoro all making way.
Quade Cooper has shaken off the ankle injury which forced him out of action last weekend and is named on the bench alongside former Leinster second row Douglas.
Stephen Moore, who grew up in Ireland before moving to Australia as a young child, returns at hooker to win his 116th cap and joins Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nathan Sharpe as the equal second most-capped Wallabies players in history.
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Cheika during this morning's training session at the RDS. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Dean Mumm will start at blindside flanker in a reshuffle of the backrow with Lopeti Timani named on an extended bench alongside fellow Melbourne Rebels teammate Sean McMahon.
The Wallabies are chasing their fourth-straight Test victory, in what would be their best winning sequence since notching seven consecutive wins on their run to the 2015 World Cup Final.
A victory in Ireland would set Australia up for a first tilt at a Grand Slam of the Home Nations since 1984, with a tour-ending match against Eddie Jones’ England next weekend.
Australia:
15. Israel Folau
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
13. Tevita Kuridrani
12. Reece Hodge
11. Henry Speight
10. Bernard Foley
9. Will Genia
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore (captain)
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Rory Arnold
5. Rob Simmons
6. Dean Mumm
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
Replacements:
(One player to be omitted)
16. Tolu Latu
17. James Slipper
18. Allan Alaalatoa
19. Kane Douglas
20. Lopeti Timani
21. Sean McMahon
22. Nick Phipps
23. Quade Cooper
24. Sefanaia Naivalu
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Australia coach Cheika brings back his big guns for Aviva showdown with Ireland
AS EXPECTED, MICHAEL Cheika has recalled his big names to the Australia starting XV for Saturday’s November Test match against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium [KO 5.35pm].
After shuffling his pack for the victory over France in Paris last weekend, Cheika has restored Israel Folau, Sekope Kepu and Michael Hooper to his side for what he describes as the ‘biggest game’ of their northern hemisphere tour.
In all, there are seven changes to the team that lined-out at the Stade de France with Tom Robertson, Scott Fardy, Kane Douglas, Kyle Godwin, Luke Morahan, Will Skelton, Taqele Naiyaravoro all making way.
Quade Cooper has shaken off the ankle injury which forced him out of action last weekend and is named on the bench alongside former Leinster second row Douglas.
Stephen Moore, who grew up in Ireland before moving to Australia as a young child, returns at hooker to win his 116th cap and joins Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nathan Sharpe as the equal second most-capped Wallabies players in history.
Dean Mumm will start at blindside flanker in a reshuffle of the backrow with Lopeti Timani named on an extended bench alongside fellow Melbourne Rebels teammate Sean McMahon.
The Wallabies are chasing their fourth-straight Test victory, in what would be their best winning sequence since notching seven consecutive wins on their run to the 2015 World Cup Final.
A victory in Ireland would set Australia up for a first tilt at a Grand Slam of the Home Nations since 1984, with a tour-ending match against Eddie Jones’ England next weekend.
Australia:
15. Israel Folau
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
13. Tevita Kuridrani
12. Reece Hodge
11. Henry Speight
10. Bernard Foley
9. Will Genia
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore (captain)
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Rory Arnold
5. Rob Simmons
6. Dean Mumm
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
Replacements:
(One player to be omitted)
16. Tolu Latu
17. James Slipper
18. Allan Alaalatoa
19. Kane Douglas
20. Lopeti Timani
21. Sean McMahon
22. Nick Phipps
23. Quade Cooper
24. Sefanaia Naivalu
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