David Pocock
Michael Hooper
World class loose forwards David Pocock and Michael Hooper have both been named in the Australian Wallabies run-on side to face Fiji in Cardiff on Wednesday.
The star quality of the Wallabies’ openside flankers Hooper and Pocock is undeniable and has forced coach Michael Cheika’s hand in starting them both against Fiji.
Australia will roll out the brilliant backrow, including blindside flank Scott Fardy, with Pocock filling the No 8 jersey.
It is just the 2nd time the pair will have started a match together, following a successful outing in a 27 / 19 win over the All Blacks in Sydney in August, but Cheika admits the combination cannot be held back any longer.
“I just think both of them over the course of the season, and with what they’ve done in Test footy, it’s relatively impossible to leave 1 out,” Cheika said.
The Wallabies head into the match with 7 World Cup debutants in the starting 15 including Scott Sio, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley, Tevita Kuridrani and Israel Folau.
Captain Stephen Moore is set to become the 1st hooker to skipper the Wallabies at a Rugby World Cup in his 97th Test in the gold jersey, leading an experienced starting lineup which boasts a combined 720 Test caps.
In his 1st Rugby World Cup as head coach, Cheika is looking forward to the Wallabies entering the tournament and the challenge that lies ahead.
“We’ve been working hard over the past few months and it’s great be able to finally pick a team and get started.
“We know Fiji are a good quality team and in good form. They’ve showed that recently during the Pacific Cup and their opening match against England at this World Cup.
“The players have an enormous amount of respect for them and the way they’re playing the game, especially the improvements in their set piece.
“Our groundwork is done now and we are eager to get into the battle – a battle we know will be very intense against this Fiji side,” said Cheika.
Scrumhalf Will Genia returns to the run-on side for the 1st time since the Wallabies’ 24 / 20 win over South Africa in the opening match of The Rugby Championship in July.
Cheika is looking at giving all players game time in the opening Rounds of the tournament, with the Wallabies set to play Uruguay on a short 4-day turnaround at Villa Park, Birmingham on Sunday.
“It’s important to give everyone an opportunity early on. We’ve done that throughout our lead up to this tournament and I believe it’s a good way to go.
“Will (Genia) and Nick (Phipps) complement one another. Nick is a very effective player and I think we saw that in the South Africa match when he came off the bench and lit up the game.
“Will has returned from injury in great shape and has been training really well since he came back into the squad.”
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (Captain), 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Dean Mumm, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Date: Wednesday 23 September
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-Off: 17:45 SA Time (16:45 BST, 15:45 GMT, Thursday 01:45 AEST, Thursday 03:45 Fiji Time)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
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