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AustraliaGeorgiaDavid Pocock

Wallabies welcome 10 new faces into side for first-ever clash against Georgia

Nic White (left), Scott Sio (middle) and David Pocock have all been named to start against Georgia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has made 10 personnel changes to his starting 15 ahead of Friday’s final Rugby World Cup Pool Stage clash with Georgia in Shizuoka.

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There are five faces that remain from the 45-10 defeat of Uruguay, with Jack Dempsey, Nic White, Matt To’omua, Kurtley Beale all retained, while exciting rookie Jordan Petaia swaps to the right wing.

David Pocock will captain the new-look side in Michael Hooper’s absence as his workload is eased ahead of a probable World Cup quarter-final in Oita next weekend.

Continue reading below…

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Remarkably, it’s just the seventh time Hooper will start off the bench in what’s set to be his 99th test appearance, and only the second time he’s done so with Michael Cheika as coach.

To’omua will wear the No. 10 jersey for the first time this year, having finished last season at flyhalf for the Wallabies end-of-year clashes against Italy and England.

Friday’s clash will be the first meeting in test history between Australia and Georgia, with the world’s 11th-ranked side competing primarily in the Rugby Europe Championship.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3VXrddgT7B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The two highest-ranked teams in Pool D will advance to the quarter-finals, with Wales still having two games left to play before the final eight teams are confirmed.

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If Australia finish first or second in Pool D, their quarter-final will be in Oita next weekend (October 19/20) against either France or England from Pool C.

Kick-off on Friday is scheduled for 7:15pm local time.

Wallabies team to play Georgia:

1. Scott Sio (61 Tests)

2. Tolu Latu (17 Tests)

3. Sekope Kepu (109 Tests)

4. Izack Rodda (23 Tests)

5. Rory Arnold (24 Tests)

6. Jack Dempsey (13 Tests)

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7. David Pocock (c) (81 Tests)

8. Isi Naisarani (6 Tests)

9. Nic White (29 Tests)

10. Matt To’omua (50 Tests)

11. Marika Koroibete (26 Tests)

12. Samu Kerevi (vc) (31 Tests)

13. James O’Connor (50 Tests)

14. Jordan Petaia (1 Test)

15. Kurtley Beale (90 Tests)

Reserves

16. Jordan Uelese (7 Tests)

17. James Slipper (94 Tests)

18. Taniela Tupou (17 Tests)

19. Adam Coleman (37 Tests)

20. Michael Hooper (98 Tests)

21. Will Genia (108 Tests)

22. Christian Lealiifano (24 Tests)

23. Dane Haylett-Petty (36 Tests)

– With Rugby Australia

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Comments on RugbyPass

A
AF 12 minutes ago
Felix Jones' England situation has taken another awkward twist

It doesn't really reflect well on Jones either. Really weird situation...

3 Go to comments
A
AF 13 minutes ago
Felix Jones' England situation has taken another awkward twist

Bit crap if he isn't fulfilling his contractual agreement. Technically he could get in trouble for that couldn't he? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not sure I can believe this article

3 Go to comments
B
BH 14 minutes ago
Felix Jones' England situation has taken another awkward twist

So Felix is allegedly working behind the scenes to provide defensive coaching analysis and so far no one on the coaching team have heard anything from him regarding the game on Saturday?


That just about sums this coaching team up - sh!tshow

3 Go to comments
M
MakeOllieMathisAnAB 26 minutes ago
All Blacks assistant coach hints Lakai will play ahead of Dupont challenge

6) Samipeni

7) Lakai

8) Wallace

20) Ardie


Bring the experience and leg drive on for the last 20-30 minutes.

We have got to start trusting these young fullas.

2 Go to comments
O
Otagoman II 31 minutes ago
Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

Coombes impressed as part of the 2022 squad to NZ. Is he good in the lineout and would Doris shift to 6?

177 Go to comments
L
LW 43 minutes ago
Why a win over Ireland may have just changed everything for this All Blacks team

Decent step it was but they are not favorites to beat France in France

5 Go to comments
M
MakeOllieMathisAnAB 54 minutes ago
All Black Rieko Ioane stirs Irish pot again with post-win jibe

Hence the ‘not weak in a physical sense’ bit.

44 Go to comments
S
SteveD 1 hour ago
Gregor Townsend's upbeat take on Scotland's 4 try to zero loss to Boks

One interesting thing which always worries me with running flyhalves kicking for poles is that very point, they're running (and tackling) means that if they get knocks whether tackling or being tackled must affect their place kicking, and why they maybe shouldn't do that kicking. Which is possibly why he's OK in training but not during matches. Maybe Rassie should get him knocked about a bit then so he can practice in that condition, or just practice kicking on one leg.


Having watched Naas Botha in his heyday reminds me - even at Newlands against Ndy Dalton's Cavaliers in thick mud - that he never ever got dirt on his shorts because he never ran the ball or - heaven forbid - tackle anyone.


Maybe Rassie should line up Chelsin if Manie has a bad kicking day, but hopefully a good try scoring or creating one.

16 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Former All Black criticises Ireland's 'motivation' after Autumn Nations Series defeat

It was the Irish first game of the Autumn series. The Irish played the 6N and toured SA. Hardly their first game of the season. They weren't rusty. They just didn't pitch up on the day or they were over confident.


Thinking just because they beat NZ in NZ and barely beating SA in the last test of their 2 test series against SA (which they won with a drop goal in the red with 1 point) that playing at home, this would be a walkover.


When the Irish beat the AB's at home last season, the AB's were in a mess. They were much easier to beat. Not so easy to beat them when they are performing well and when they are not in a mess.

16 Go to comments
R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
All Black Rieko Ioane stirs Irish pot again with post-win jibe

Sledging during a match is allowed. Abusing players after a final whistle is just being a fvcking scvmbag, confirmed when you don't apologize and do it again.

Youre arrogant and entitled. Different rules for New Zealand.


This macho hard man attitude of Kiwis is hilarious. I've got all sorts of threats from guys here who I know I would kick up and down the street if I met. Do you all think you are hard men because you have a successful rugby team. Get to fvck!!🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡


You might beat us in a rugby match. You wont beat us in a fight. SA discovered that in Durban after the cheap shot on Casey the week before.

44 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

Don't worry, Tony Brown's job is to move South Africa away from its strengths in the pack and get them to play fast four man lineouts Highlanders style 😂

177 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Gregor Townsend's upbeat take on Scotland's 4 try to zero loss to Boks

I agree. Be happy about what went right during a game, but be brutally honest about the rest. I suspect that he only said that for the public, because I can't see ANYONE being happy about losing. Coaches and players. There is a lot of growth in that team. They are as good as everyone else, except the current top 3.


They need to do their homework. See what it is the top 3 do. How they manage to win, grind or run away. I do have the feeling however that they have reached the ceiling with Gregor Townsend. He took them as far as he could with what he can offer as a coach.


What they need now is a coach who could take them that one step further. Someone like the coach of Glasgow Warriors of Scotland. Franco Smith have a great track record and the players knows him. Most of them play for Glasgow. Beating the Bulls at Loftus in the URC Final is one hell of an achievement.

16 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

I remember when Wenger took over at arsenal he kept their excellent defence intact but revolutionised the attack. Slot has revolutionised Liverpool's defence but they're still great on the counter. I'd expected JN to do the same at Leinster, thought it would be the last piece of the jigsaw.

177 Go to comments
J
Jmann 1 hour ago
All Blacks assistant coach hints Lakai will play ahead of Dupont challenge

If you could only choose one of Carter or Dupont in a team. It would be dan carter 100% of the time.

2 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
'I'm sorry, George Ford’s time is up as an England player'

I dunno, I reckon Smith's performance was the best in Allianz. He single handedly kept England in the game. Some of the Aussies were also excellent and they were the better team but the best individual performance imho was Smith.

10 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

ROG was officially an attack coach in Christchurch! He just revolutionised their defence on the side...

177 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Gregor Townsend's upbeat take on Scotland's 4 try to zero loss to Boks

I know you weren't having a go at me. My response would've been different, that's why I said your opinion is welcome. You can say anything you want. We all have eyes and we can see what players do and how they play. Pollard missed only the first conversion from the touchline. Libbok on the other hand seems to fail under pressure, but only where kicking is involved. His general play is great attacking rugby as usual. No player, no matter how good they are, is perfect. It takes constant work to keep up and constantly working on the things they are not good at. During training Libbok don't miss kicks, but somehow his biggest problem is carrying that over to match day.

16 Go to comments
C
CO 1 hour ago
Moana Pasifika unveil supercharged 2025 squad

What's the commercial turnover for this team as perennial basement dwellers? Fingers crossed super rugby can get the South African teams back to lift the standard.

2 Go to comments
M
MakeOllieMathisAnAB 1 hour ago
All Black Rieko Ioane stirs Irish pot again with post-win jibe

The prevailing sentiment here is that if you’re going to dish it out then you gotta take it, and Rieko did it better than Johnny did.

Anyone moaning about sexton can harden up, wherever they’re from.

44 Go to comments
B
BH 1 hour ago
Ripper of a performance but Wallabies must ensure it’s not another one-off

Angus Bell is one of the best ball-carrying props in the world. He's really exciting to watch. Puts in the hard yards and has a bit of x-factor about him.

8 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster? Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?
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