Wallabies veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper will make his return to Test rugby in one of six changes to the team to face Italy in Padua on Saturday.
Ashley-Cooper will make his first Test start since 2016, coming in on the wing for Dane Haylett-Petty, with Israel Folau shifting to his regular position at fullback as a result.
There are two debutants in left wing Jordan Petaia and Waratahs scrumhalf Jake Gordon, who will partner Matt Toomua. Bernard Foley will move to inside centre.
Petaia, at 18 years old, will become the youngest Australian debutant since James O’Connor in 2008.
Meanwhile, Taniela Tupou and Folau Fainga’a have earned recalls to the starting XV in place of Allan Alaalatoa and Tolu Latu respectively.
Wallabies – 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Bernard Foley, 11 Jordan Petaia, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Jack Dempsey, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio
Subs: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Jermaine Ainsley, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Will Genia, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Dane Haylett-Petty.
Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
