Samu drops off Wallabies' bench

Fri, Oct 26, 2018, 3:57 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
All Bledisloe Cup games carry huge significance for both sides but tomorrow's clash in Japan will be extra special for the Wallabies with prop Sekope Kepu due to play his 100th Test.

Pete Samu will not line up against the All Blacks on Saturday.

The soon to be Brumbies flanker is the man coach Michael Cheika has omitted from his 24 man bench to finalise the squad which will face the All Blacks in Yokohama on Saturday.

Samu's omission means Tolu Latu, Sekope Kepu, Taniela Tupou, Rory Arnold, Jack Dempsey, Nick Phipps, Samu Kerevi and Tom Banks will be Cheika's finishers.

Dempsey and Kerevi are both returning from long injury layoffs - Dempsey suffered a serious hamstring injury in last year's non-capped clash with the Barbarians and Kerevi returns after a biceps injury he suffered in June.

Winger Sefa Naivalu's long Test exile was ended on Thursday with his first Test start since last year's June Test against Italy.

The Wallabies take on New Zealand in Yokohama on Saturday October 27, kicking off at 3pm local, 5pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Channel Ten and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.

TEAM

Wallabies team to face the All Blacks

 IN: Sefa Naivalu, Rory Arnold, Jack Dempsey, Samu Kerevi

 OUT: Adam Coleman, Reece Hodge, Caleb Timu, Matt Toomua

1. Scott Sio (51 Tests)

2. Folau Faingaa (5 Tests)

3. Allan Alaalatoa (29 Tests)

4. Izack Rodda (13 Tests)

5. Rob Simmons (90 Tests)

6. Ned Hanigan (17 Tests)

7. Michael Hooper (c) (87 Tests)

8. David Pocock (74 Tests)

9. Will Genia (96 Tests)

10. Bernard Foley (64 Tests)

11. Marika Koroibete (17 Tests)

12. Kurtley Beale (80 Tests)

13. Israel Folau (69 Tests)

14. Sefa Naivalu (7 Tests)

15. Dane Haylett-Petty (27 Tests)

Reserves

16. Tolu Latu (9 Tests)

17. Sekope Kepu (99 Tests)

18. Taniela Tupou (8 Tests)

19. Rory Arnold (18 Tests)

20. Jack Dempsey (6 Tests)

21. Nick Phipps (69 Tests)

22. Samu Kerevi (21 Tests)

23. Tom Banks (3 Tests)

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