There’s no more resting for the Wallabies, as Australia’s regular faces return to the lineup to face Ireland on Saturday night.
Michael Cheika has brought Israel Folau, Sekope Kepu, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge and Rory Arnold back into the lineup, after giving them a lighter week in France, as the Wallabies bid to keep their Grand Slam attempt alive.
Rob Simmons will combine with Arnold in the lineout, continuing his resumption as the Wallabies’ lineout caller, with Adam Coleman injured against Scotland.
Cheika said he felt Simmons was finally beginning to show the aggression he has asked him for, in a year where he has been in and out of the team.
“He's got huge potential. I know he's been around for a while but I think that guy has got so much potential,” he said.
“He's starting to change his mindset towards thinking about playing the game like that. - Michael Cheika
“I was actually quite pleased with Kane Douglas' game the other day - thought it was the best he's played this season and he looks like he's starting to get a bit of his mojo back.
“He's hunting up around there as well. I know we've lost Adam but we've got some good (options).
“And we've got Willy (Skelton) and Sam Carter down in Bordeaux. We've definitely got the numbers there, but I want to build better quality in that [second row] area.”
Lopeti Timani has been a casualty of a greater lineout focus against Ireland, Michael Cheika said, opting to bring Dean Mumm into the blindside flanker role, with Hooper resuming his spot at openside and David Pocock at eight.
Mumm was suspended for Australia’s clash with Wales and came off the bench in the second match against Scotland, with Cheika happy to lean towards Timani’s ball-carrying, but the balance has shifted for Ireland.
“Timani has done absolutely nothing wrong,” he said.
“We want to focus a little bit more on our lineout this week and the threat that Ireland might pose there - they're very good in that area.
“Dean brings a lot of experience and quality in that area. But then we'll probably lose a bit of Lopeti's ball carrying too.
“It's six of one, half a dozen of the other but we decided that was probably an important thing for this game and that's how we'll run.”
Timani has been named on an extended bench, with one player to be omitted ahead of Saturday’s clash, a move that will be dependent on whether the Wallabies want a forward-heavy six-two split or a five-three makeup.
Cheika said he felt the Irish would target their tall timber in the match, though the breakdown is sure to be where most eyes are, given the recent run of form of Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien and the destruction David Pocock inflicted on the French last weekend.
The Wallabies lost to Ireland in their last clash in 2014 at Aviva Stadium, Cheika’s first tour as Wallabies coach and they will be aware of the threat the home side poses, after they ended New Zealand’s record Test-winning streak three weeks ago.
Australia takes on Ireland at Lansdowne Rd on Sunday at 4:30am AEDT, LIVE on SBS and beIn Sports 3 (Foxtel Channel 515), live streamed on Foxtel Go and SBS on Demand.
TEAM
IN: Sekope Kepu, Rory Arnold, Michael Hooper, Reece Hodge, Dane Haylett-Petty, Israel Folau, Lopeti Timani, Quade Cooper
OUT: Tom Robertson, Scott Fardy, Kyle Godwin, Luke Morahan, Will Skelton, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Jono Lance
Wallabies to face Ireland
1. Scott Sio (28 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (115 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (75 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (8 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons (69 Tests)
6. Dean Mumm (55 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (63 Tests)
8. David Pocock (64 Tests)
9. Will Genia (74 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (40 Tests)
11. Henry Speight (9 Tests)
12. Reece Hodge (8 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (43 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (12 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (50 Tests)
Reserves (one to be omitted)
Tolu Latu (2 Tests)
James Slipper (84 Tests)
Allan Alaalatoa (8 Tests)
Kane Douglas (29 Tests)
Lopeti Timani (5 Tests)
Sean McMahon (13 Tests)
Nick Phipps (51 Tests)
Quade Cooper (65 Tests)
Sefanaia Naivalu (4 Tests)
