Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans has made five changes to his starting line up for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash against his native New Zealand.
Drew Mitchell starts on the left wing and Luke Burgess is named at scrum-half, with the remaining three changes coming in the pack where Richard Brown and Dean Mumm join the back row and Mark Chisholm plays at lock.
Australia face the All Blacks in Hong Kong without the injured Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu, Hugh McMeniman and James Horwill and having won one and lost two of their three Tri Nations fixtures against Graham Henry’s men this year.
Their most-recent 28-24 defeat in Brisbane saw their great rivals crowned southern hemisphere champions and Deans has made it clear that the Wallabies are desperate to make amends.
"Saturday is an historic occasion and one that the players are excited about and proud to be a part of,” said Deans, who had been widely expected to replace Henry as All Blacks coach after the 2007 World Cup.
"I said after our last meeting that we’d be happy to play the All Blacks in a car park to have another game with them, and I stand by that.
"Each game offers us the opportunity to test ourselves and raise our standards, providing a great barometer of the progress that we’ve made as a team."
Mils Muliaina has pulled out of the New Zealand side to be with his new-born son. He is replaced in the All Black starting line up by Isaia Toeava, with the uncapped Cory Jane stepping up to the bench.
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Drew Mitchell; Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess; Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson, Mark Chisholm, Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, George Smith, Richard Brown
Replacements: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Sam Cordingley, Berrick Barnes, Lachie Turner
New Zealand: Isaia Toeava, Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Rodney So’oialo
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Ma’a Nonu, Cory Jane
