Scrumhalf Nic White will play in his first Test in almost four years when the Wallabies take on the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Australia coach Michael Cheika has sprung a few selection surprises for their first match of the season, with stalwarts Will Genia and Kurtley Beale named on the bench, while the highly anticipated Test return of James O’Connor was postponed with the utility back left out of the match 23.
White’s inclusion marks his first game for the Wallabies since 2015. He will partner Bernard Foley, who starts at flyhalf.
Meanwhile, Tom Banks cracked the nod at fullback and will form a back three with Dane Haylett-Petty and Reece Hodge. As expected, Tevita Kuridrani and Samu Kerevi will team up in midfield as the centre pairing.
Up front, No 8 Isi Naisarani will make his Test debut after being included in the run-on XV. Michael Hooper and Lukhan Salakai-Loto are the flanks.
Rory Arnold and Izack Rodda form the lock pairing, while Sekope Kepu, Folau Fainga’a and James Slipper will anchor the front row.
Prop Taniela Tupou, who was the victim of a mugging in Johannesburg earlier, has recovered from minor cuts he sustained in the incident and will play off the bench.
Wallabies – 15 Tom Banks, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Reece Hodge, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nic White, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lukhan Salakai-Loto, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Subs: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Photo: Getty Images
