Wallabies reshuffle backline

Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley will form a new halfback pairing for the Wallabies in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks.

Coach Michael Cheika has made two personnel changes and two positional swaps to his starting lineup from the last Rugby Championship encounter.

With the third Bledisloe Cup game falling outside World Rugby's Test window, scrumhalf Will Genia was unavailable for selection, prompting Cheika to start Phipps at No 9.

Henry Speight comes into the starting lineup ahead of Quade Cooper, with Reece Hodge moving from wing to inside centre, and Foley shifting to flyhalf. 

The pack is unchanged, but star flank David Pocock passed a late fitness test and will make his return from injury via the bench.

Wallabies – 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Lopeti Timani, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Sekope Kepu. 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 James Hanson, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 David Pocock, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Sefa Naivalu.

Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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