Coach Eddie Jones has made widespread changes to the Wallabies backline for the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand, including new halves pairing Carter Gordon and Tate McDermott.
Gordon, 22, will make his starting debut at the MCG on Saturday night as Australia chase their first win of the year after disappointing defeats against Argentina and South Africa.
As well as Gordon and McDermott – who replace veterans Quade Cooper and Nic White – Jones has named Jordan Petaia at outside centre after Len Ikitau’s shoulder injury.
It’s Petaia’s first Test of the year, and Andrew Kellaway will also make his first appearance after being named at fullback following Tom Wright’s axing.
Petaia will link with Samu Kerevi in the midfield – as he did while still a teenager at the 2019 World Cup.
Angus Bell has earned a start in the front row, relegating James Slipper to the bench, with Allan Alaalatoa taking over the captaincy duties after Michael Hooper failed to recover from a calf injury.
With Jones opting for size in his pack, Tom Hooper will start at No.7 while Jed Holloway is blindside flanker and Rob Valetini anchors the scrum.
Nick Frost returns to the starting side to partner Will Skelton in the second row.
Taniela Tupou, who suffered an achilles rupture last November, will make his return to the Test arena as the finishing tighthead prop.
Cooper and White as well as Izaia Perese, in his first Test of the year, are on the bench in a three-five backs-forwards split.
The Wallabies need victory at the MCG and also in Dunedin next month to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
It’s also their third-last Test – and final run-out on home soil – before their World Cup opener in France, against Georgia on September 10.
“We are a team that wants to make Australia proud and Saturday night is a great opportunity to light up the MCG,” Jones said.
“A young starting 15 and vibrant, experienced finishers will give us the 80 minutes we want.”
Wallabies: Angus Bell, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Jed Holloway, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Andrew Kellaway. Res: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Izaia Perese.