Australia kept faith with the side that beat New Zealand last weekend for Saturday’s test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Sport24
It was the first time the Wallabies have been able to duplicate their side in back-to-back tests since their final 2009 Tri-Nations match against the All Blacks.
“Continuity’s good but it’s only good if you make it work,” coach Robbie Deans said in a statement on Thursday.
“By having consistent faces you are able to push on rather than continually revisiting elements that need to be covered because of a lack of history.”
Winger James O’Connor will take over the goalkicking duties after inside centre Matt Giteau decided this week to relinquish them.
It was O’Connor’s last-minute try and conversion that gave Australia their 26-24 win over New Zealand last Saturday, ending a 10-match losing streak against the All Blacks.
Team:
Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (captain), Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson
Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Lachie Turner