No Pocock, Folau for Wallabies

Coach Michael Cheika has been forced to make four changes to Australia's starting XV for their quarter-final against Scotland on Sunday.

Star players David Pocock and Israel Folau have been ruled out with injuries sustained in the Wallabies' nine-point win over Wales last weekend. 

Pocock is replaced by Ben McCalman at No 8, while Kurtley Beale is promoted from the bench to stand in for Folau at fullback. 

Michael Hooper is back from suspension and takes up position at openside flank, with Sean McMahon dropping to the bench. In the only other change to the team that beat Wales, No 5 lock Rob Simmons is back in the run-on XV in place of Dean Mumm, who also shifts to the reserves.

The inclusion of Quade Cooper on the bench is the final change to the match 23. 

Captain Stephen Moore and centre Matt Giteau will become just the second pair in history to earn their 100th Test caps for their country in the same match, after Sergio Parisse and Martin Castrogiovanni of Italy shared that honour against Fiji in 2013.

In another historic moment for Australian rugby, Adam Ashley-Cooper will become the third most-capped Wallaby of all time in his 112th Test, overtaking flanker George Smith.

Wallabies – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Quade Cooper.

Photo: James Marsh/BackpagePix

Post by

stagingsar