Rugby-Hunt named at fullback for Wallabies clash v Barbarians

MELBOURNE, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Australia coach Michael Cheika has named Karmichael Hunt at fullback for Saturday's match against the Barbarians in Sydney, switching Israel Folau to the wing and giving the uncapped Billy Meakes a start at inside centre.

Hunt, who impressed at inside centre during the June internationals, returns to the side after a long lay-off with an ankle injury that saw him miss the Rugby Championship and the final Bledisloe Cup match against the All Blacks.

Hunt's selection shunts regular fullback Folau wide for the match at Sydney Football Stadium, the speedster's final game of the season before he takes a sabbatical to freshen up for 2018.

Scrumhalf Nick Phipps will captain a second-string Wallabies side, with regular skipper Michael Hooper and a raft of other starters rested in the wake of their 23-18 upset victory over the All Blacks in Brisbane last weekend.

Ben McCalman, the all-but forgotten loose forward of Australian rugby, returns to the national fold after a horror run of shoulder injuries and has been named on the bench with former captain and hooker Stephen Moore.

Unbeaten in five tests, the resurgent Wallabies will look to produce a convincing win over the invitational side, being guided by former Australia coach Alan Jones, before they kick off their northern hemisphere tour against Japan in Yokohama on Nov. 4.

Team: 15-Karmichael Hunt, 14-Henry Speight, 13-Samu Kerevi, 12-Billy Meakes, 11-Israel Folau, 10-Duncan Paia'aua, 9-Nick Phipps (capt), 8-Lopeti Timani, 7-Jack Dempsey, 6-Ned Hanigan, 5-Lukhan Tui, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Jordan Uelese, 1-Tom Robertson

Replacements: 16-Stephen Moore, 17-Tetera Faulkner, 18-Jermaine Ainsley, 19-Kane Douglas, 20-Ben McCalman, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Curtis Rona, 23-Izaia Perese

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford)