Tate McDermott will take the halfback spot and the captaincy when the Junior Wallabies face Japan in their second World Rugby U20s match on Sunday.
McDermott has been named to start at nine ahead of usual Ryan Lonergan, who will be on the pine for the match.
Coach Jason Gilmore has made three other changes to his starting side from the team that lost to Wales, with Michael Wood starting in the second row, replacing Trevor Hosea, while Patrick Tafa will start at no. 8 in front of Josh Kemeny.
Kemeny shifts to the pine, while Hosea has been left out of the 23 altogether.
In the backline, Isiah Latu will start on the wing in front of James Ramm, with Lawson Creighton coming onto the bench.
The Junior Wallabies face a must-win clash against Japan, after losing that opening match against Wales, with only the three pool winners and the top second-placed side qualifying for the semi-finals.
Gilmore said the team was keen to show improvement after their opener.
“We’ve talked about the areas we need to improve on and the team is hungry to put out a better performance in our second match of the World Championship," he said.
“Japan will be a tough opponent and we have seen how when given the opportunity how well they can move the ball.
“The group has responded well at training and we’re looking forward to our next challenge.”
The Junior Wallabies take on Japan on Sunday at 2pm local, 10pm AEST, broadcast at 8am Monday on FOX SPORTS.
TEAM
IN: Lawson Creighton, Rory Suttor
OUT: James Ramm, Trevor Hosea
1. Harry Hoopert
2. Efi Maa’afu
3. Tom Ross
4. Michael Wood
5. Angus Blyth
6. Esei Ha’angana
7. Fraser McReight
8. Patrick Tafa
9. Tate McDermott (c)
10. Bayley Kuenzle
11. Matt McTaggert
12. Isaac Lucas
13. Semisi Tupou
14. Isiah Latu
15. Mack Hansen
Reserves
16. Sama Malolo
17. George Francis
18. Laurence Tominiko
19. Josh Kemeny
20. Rory Suttor
21. Ryan Lonergan (vc)
22. Will Harrison
23. Lawson Creighton
