Will Genia will start at scrumhalf, and David Pocock at No 8, for the Wallabies’ World Cup opener against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday.
Genia returns to the starting lineup for the first time since suffering an injury during the Wallabies’ 24-20 win over the Boks in their first Rugby Championship match back in July, while Bernard Foley starts at flyhalf.
In the absence of the injured Wycliff Palu, Pocock will be deployed at eighthman, and will combine in tandem with Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy in the loose trio.
The Wallabies have seven World Cup debutants in their run-on XV: Scott Sio, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley, Tevita Kuridrani and Israel Folau.
‘It's important to give everyone an opportunity early on. We've done that throughout our lead-up to this tournament and I believe it's a good way to go,’ said Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. ‘Will has returned from injury in great shape and has been training really well since he came back into the squad.’
Wallabies – 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Dean Mumm, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
