Cheika announces Wallabies squad: drops Timu, tweaks back row ahead of Ireland decider
Michael Cheika has tweaked his back row for Saturday’s decider against Ireland by dropping two-Test Wallaby Caleb Timu, bringing in Lukhan Tui at No.6 and shifting David Pocock to No.8 for a blockbuster fixture in Sydney.
Timu lacked impact on Saturday in Australia’s 26-21 loss to Ireland and has been punted from the match-day 23, having made his Test debut in Brisbane two weeks ago.
Tui’s impressive showing off the bench has earned him a maiden Wallabies start after coming off the pine in his previous six internationals.
Tui will pack down with experienced back-rowers Michael Hooper and Pocock in a change that also gives the Wallabies extra certainty at lineout time.
After playing at blindside breakway for the first two matches of the series, Pocock will return to No.8 – a position he last officially played in against Ireland in Dublin in 2016.
However, Pocock has been packing down in scrums as a No.8 throughout games in Brisbane and Melbourne.
In other selection news, Nick Phipps has been confirmed as Will Genia’s replacement at halfback in what will be his first start on Australian soil for the Wallabies since the third Test against England in 2016.
Reserve halfback Joe Powell has edged out Jake Gordon for a spot on the bench, while back-rower Ned Hanigan has been named on a 6-2 Wallabies bench after overcoming a knee injury.
Hanigan has not played for the Wallabies since the England match on last year’s spring tour and from 12 Tests has only come off the bench on two occasions.
Cheika has stuck solid with the same tight-five for the match at Allianz Stadium, as well as the same back line, except for the injury-related selection of Phipps.
The series is locked at 1-1 and the last time Australia and Ireland played each other in Sydney was in 1994. Australia won the match 32-18 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Ireland will name their team on Thursday afternoon.
Wallabies team to face Ireland in Sydney
1. Scott Sio (45 Tests)
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (2 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (93 Tests)
4. Izack Rodda (6 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (22 Tests)
6. Lukhan Tui (6 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (81 Tests)
8. David Pocock (68 Tests)
9. Nick Phipps (63 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (57 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (10 Tests)
12. Kurtley Beale (73 Tests)
13. Samu Kerevi (20 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (20 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (64 Tests)
Reserves
16. Tolu Latu (6 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (20 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (3 Tests)
19. Rob Simmons (84 Tests)
20. Ned Hanigan (12 Tests)
21. Pete Samu (2 Tests)
22. Joe Powell (3 Tests)
23. Reece Hodge (26 Tests)