Rookie Australia flyhalf Carter Gordon has been replaced by Ben Donaldson in the starting XV for a must-win World Cup clash against Wales on Sunday.
Also, scrumhalf Tate McDermott returns from concussion to partner Donaldson at halfback. Gordon, who had a horror show in the 22-15 defeat to Fiji last week, has been named on the bench.
Rob Leota comes into the back row in place of Fraser McReight while Andrew Kellaway lines up at fullback as head coach Eddie Jones tweaked the lineup that lost to Fiji.
Hooker David Porecki continues to captain the Wallabies in the absence of injured lock Will Skelton.
Hooker Matt Faessler replaces Jordan Uelese among the substitutes while tighthead prop Pone Fa’amausili gets the nod over Zane Nonggorr.
It was the major decision facing Jones, whether to stick with 22-year-old Gordon, who was bullied by Fiji and before that struggled with both his place kicking and kicking from hand in his previous two games.
Australia cannot afford to lose on Sunday in Lyon against a Wales team that has won its opening two Pool C matches.
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Jones said Donaldson, who had switched to flyhalf midway through the second half against Fiji after Jones hauled off Gordon, would bring “a freshness to the position”.
“He attacks the line well, Ben,” Jones added. “Against Wales, if we’re up against some quick ruck ball with [referee] Wayne Barnes, who generally referees a game of quick ruck ball, we need a 10 who attacks the line.”
Donaldson, 24, was the star of Australia’s opening 35-15 win over Georgia, scoring two tries in a personal haul of 25 points.
Jones insisted it was the right time to take Gordon out of the firing line.
“I just felt we needed to probably freshen the team up. Carter’s had an opportunity, he struggled a bit against Fiji and we thought he’s best to finish the game for us,” said Jones.
“With young players you’ve got to have a feel of where they are, and sometimes you need to back them and sometimes you need to pull them away a little bit, and just at the moment we feel like it’s best to pull him away a little bit.
“Obviously [he’s] disappointed, every player’s disappointed, they all want to start but he knows he’s got an important role in the team.”
Australia – 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Tom Hooper, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Will Richie Arnold, 4 Nick Frost, 3 James Slipper, 2 David Porecki (c), 1 Angus Bell.
Subs: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Nic White, 22 Carter Gordon, 23 Suli Vunivalu.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: William West/AFP