Four New Names in Wallaby Side

Sitaleki Timani

Four players are poised to make their debuts in Australia's one-off Test against Samoa in Sydney on Sunday.

Scrum-half Nick Phipps and lock Sitaleki Timani have both been named in the starting XV, while hooker James Hanson and flanker Beau Robinson are on the bench.

There will also be a first starts for inside centre Pat McCabe and openside flanker Matt Hodgson.

Digby Ioane is the only member of newly-crowned Super 15 champions the Reds to feature in the starting line-up, with a further four Reds players included on the bench.

"We assessed all of the Queensland guys when they joined us on Monday night and decided this was the best course for us," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.

"They've had a big workload already this year. Given that our schedule is so congested, with five Test matches in seven weeks, we felt that now was realistically the only opportunity we had to give them a break."

Excited

Deans said the decision was in no way disrespectful to Samoa.

"Given the high most of those blokes had last weekend, it's my experience that it does take a little while to come down from that," he said.

"They've refocused quickly on the task at hand representing their country, which is why we've included a good group of those players in the matchday 22.

"They'll get their opportunity. They're excited, and I know they will all contribute when we call on them.

"For two of them (Beau Robinson and James Hanson), it will be their first experience representing Australia and that is a special moment no matter what the circumstance. You only play your first Test once."

Deans has just one spot to fill in his side after prop Benn Robinson tweaked his knee at training on Tuesday.

Pek Cowan and Al Baxter are in contention to replace Robinson.

Australia: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.

Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 TBC, 18 Dan Vickerman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Will Genia, 22 Kurtley Beale.