Halfback Tate McDermott will captain the Wallabies for the first time on Saturday, as coach Eddie Jones doubles down on the youthful team that lost 38-7 to the All Blacks at Melbourne last week.
McDermott will resume his partnership with three-cap first-five Carter Gordon at Forsyth Barr Stadium, as Australia look for their first win of the year.
In a forced change in the front row, Pone Fa'amausili gets his first start at tighthead prop in place of Allan Alaalatoa, who ruptured his Achilles tendon while captaining the side last week and will miss the World Cup.
Zane Nonggorr, who has played one test, will back up Fa'amausili from the bench, where lock Will Skelton will also start the game to allow Richie Arnold a run-on role in the second row.
Jones has also taken a gamble in his back row, with Fraser McReight returning at openside flanker and young gun Tom Hooper moving across to start on the blindside in place of Jed Holloway, who is dropped.
"We started a regeneration as a team last week, and now it's about building on that with a new captain and a new era in Australian Rugby," said Jones.
"Tate's got all the attributes to be a great captain of his country, and there's no doubt it will be a proud moment for him and his family when he leads the team on Saturday night."
Australia: 1-Angus Bell, 2-David Porecki, 3-Pone Fa'amausili, 4-Nick Frost, 5-Richie Arnold, 6-Tom Hooper, 7-Fraser McReight, 8-Rob Valetini, 9-Tate McDermott (c), 10-Carter Gordon, 11-Marika Koroibete, 12-Samu Kerevi, 13-Jordan Petaia, 14-Mark Nawaqanitawase, 15-Andrew Kellaway
Reserves: 16-Jordan Uelese, 17-James Slipper, 18-Zane Nonggorr, 19-Will Skelton, 20-Rob Leota, 21-Nic White, 22-Quade Cooper, 23-Izaia Perese.
Reuters
Join Newshub at 2:30pm Saturday for live updates of the All Blacks v Australia Bledisloe Cup clash
