David Pocock will start for the Wallabies in their World Cup opener against Fiji in Sapporo on Saturday.

As expected the team is nearly identical to the one that stunned the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth, with Pocock’s inclusion the only change to that starting lineup.

Pocock has struggled this year with a calf injury, limiting him to three Vodacom Super Rugby games for the Brumbies.

However, the 31-year-old has recovered sufficiently and will start alongside captain Michael Hooper for the first time since the series against Ireland in 2018.

In another boost to the side Rory Arnold starts after overcoming a hand injury that ruled him out of the second Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland.

Meanwhile, Nic White and Christian Lealiifano return in the halves after sitting out the Test against Samoa earlier this month.

Wallabies – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Reece Hodge, 13 James O’Connor, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 David Pocock, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Lukhan Salakia-Loto, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt To’omua, 23 Dane Haylett-Petty.

Photo: David Gray/EPA