Winger Marika Koroibete will miss Australia’s Bledisloe Cup rematch against New Zealand on Saturday with a wrist injury, while scrumhalf Nic White has been dropped.
Veteran prop James Slipper was also absent from the matchday 23 named on Thursday after leaving the field for a concussion Test during Australia’s 31-28 defeat to the All Blacks in Sydney.
With fellow winger Max Jorgensen out with illness, Force’s Dylan Pietsch will start for the first time.
White began last week’s match, but failed to make the bench for Saturday’s clash in Wellington with Jake Gordon restored as scrumhalf and Tate McDermott preferred as the replacement.
The team is otherwise unchanged as they look to snap an eight-game losing streak against their rivals.
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“We didn’t help ourselves last weekend falling behind early to a fast-moving, high-tempo All Blacks side,” said coach Joe Schmidt, referring to the Wallabies slumping 21-0 down after just 15 minutes.
“We know we will need to start better than we did last week, with the physical edge and accuracy required.”
In the first Wallabies’ unchanged forward pack since their opening Rugby World Cup match last year, Angus Bell, Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou again make up the front row.
Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams partner in the second row for the third consecutive Test while Fraser McReight is again openside flanker alongside Rob Valetini on the blindside.
Harry Wilson captains his country once more from the back of the scrum.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Chris Putnam/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
