Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has retained the same 22-man squad to the one that defeated New Zealand 26-24 in Hong Kong last weekend. It is the first time since the Wallabies final Tri-Nations fixture in 2009 against the All Blacks in Wellington that the Australians have been able to duplicate their side back to back.
“Continuity’s good but it’s only good if you make it work,” coach Robbie Deans said in a statement on Thursday.
“By having consistent faces you are able to push on rather than continually revisiting elements that need to be covered because of a lack of history.”
Winger James O’Connor will take over the goalkicking duties after inside centre Matt Giteau decided this week to relinquish them.
It was O’Connor’s last-minute try and conversion that gave Australia their 26-24 win over New Zealand last Saturday, ending a 10-match losing streak against the All Blacks.
Australia15-Kurtley Beale, 14-James O’Connor, 13-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12-Matt Giteau, 11-Drew Mitchell, 10-Quade Cooper, 9-Will Genia; 8-Ben McCalman, 7-David Pocock, 6-Rocky Elsom (captain), 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-Mark Chisholm, 3-Ben Alexander, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16-Saia Faingaa, 17-James Slipper, 18-Dean Mumm, 19-Richard Brown, 20-Luke Burgess, 21-Berrick Barnes, 22-Lachie Turner
