Slipper to lead new-look Wallabies

James Slipper will captain the Wallabies in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against the USA in Chicago.

Slipper becomes the 83rd player to captain Australia in the absence of regular skipper Stephen Moore, who has been rested along with Michael Hooper and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

There are a host of changes to the Wallabies side that played in the Bledisloe Cup decider on 15 August, with Ben McCalman coming in on the flank, while Matt Giteau returns at inside centre.

Meanwhile, Joe Tomane, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kurtley Beale, Kane Douglas and Sean McMahon will all start for the Wallabies for the the first time this year.

Saturday’s Test will be the first match between Australia and the USA in almost 40 years.

Wallabies – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Joe Tomane, 13 Henry Speight, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Rob Horne , 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper (c).
Subs: 16 James Hanson, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Toby Smith, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Sam Carter, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 Will Genia, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.

Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

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