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Wallabies name new halves combo for blockbuster World Cup clash against Wales
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to his starting side ahead of Australia’s Pool D clash with Wales at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
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Will Genia and Bernard Foley will re-unite in the halves while Dane Haylett-Petty will wear the No. 15 jersey as Kurtley Beale shifts to the bench.
Adam Ashley-Cooper replaces the suspended Reece Hodge on the right wing, in what will be the 35-year old’s 120th Test match and his 18th Rugby World Cup game.
The restoration of Genia and Foley at scrumhalf and flyhalf represents the most significant change in Cheika’s starting XV, with demoted duo Nic White and Christian Lealiifano the preferred options for the majority of the year.
The former Brumbies teammates have started alongside each other in three of Australia’s six tests this year, helping steer their nation to two wins against the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup opener and Fiji in their first World Cup clash.
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By contrast, the vastly experienced Genia and Foley have played just once together in the green and gold jersey in 2019 as the Wallabies secured an unconvincing 34-15 win over Samoa in their final World Cup warm-up match.
Their selections in the Wallabies’ biggest test of the year indicates that Cheika sees their 176 collective test matches worth of experience as a key factor in delivering victory for the world’s sixth-ranked side.
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Such a result would likely see them avoid facing the winners of Pool C, and with most tipping title frontrunners England to top that group, attaining victory in this fixture will be vital.
He may be one of the more controversial referees at this @rugbyworldcup, but could the stubbornness of Romain Poite to make on-field calls as he sees them save @WorldRugby from itself? #RWC2019 https://t.co/BDq5egRS8x
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 27, 2019
The match is also a milestone for centre James O’Connor, who will bring up his 50th Test cap when he runs out against Wales, almost 11 years on from making his international debut against Italy on the 2008 Spring Tour.
Australia last met Wales on the 2018 Spring Tour in Cardiff when the hosts dug deep for a gritty 9-6 win at Millennium Stadium.
The Wallabies and Wales have enjoyed some memorable battles at the Rugby World Cup, having met six times at Rugby’s showpiece (Australia W5, L1).
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The Wallabies will next take on Uruguay in Oita on October 5 before shifting north again to Shizuoka for the final Pool D clash against Georgia the following weekend.
Wallabies team to play Wales at Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo on Sunday 29 September, 4.45pm (local time):
1. Scott Sio (60 Tests)
2. Tolu Latu (16 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (34 Tests)
4. Izack Rodda (22 Tests)
5. Rory Arnold (23 Tests)
6. David Pocock (79 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (96 Tests)
8. Isi Naisarani (5 Tests)
9. Will Genia (106 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (70 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (25 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (vc) (30 Tests)
13. James O’Connor (49 Tests)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (119 Tests)
15. Dane Haylett-Petty (34 Tests)
Reserves
16. Jordan Uelese (5 Tests)
17. James Slipper (92 Tests)
18. Sekope Kepu (107 Tests)
19. Adam Coleman (35 Tests)
20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (17 Tests)
21. Nic White (27 Tests)
22. Matt To’omua (48 Tests)
23. Kurtley Beale (88 Tests)
– With Rugby Australia
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Comments on RugbyPass
Grt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
107 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
107 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
107 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
107 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
107 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
107 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
107 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
107 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
3 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
107 Go to comments