Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has made two alterations to his starting line-up for Saturday’s end-of-year Test with Wales in Cardiff.
Bernard Foley and Will Genia come back into the starting side and will start at fly-half and scrum-half respectively.
Initially it seemed Karmichael Hunt would also come in at full-back, pushing Kurtley Beale into 12.
However, Samu Kerevi’s form against Japan forced Cheika’s hand, keeping him in the starting XV for the 23-year-old’s first game in Europe.
Beale has been named at 15, with Hunt on the bench for his first Test since June.
“I thought he played really well on the weekend, to be honest,” Cheika said of Kerevi.
“They played well together in the combination.
“They’ll have a different five-eighth this week but I thought he did enough to warrant (another start).
“I think he’s a very, very good player Samu, he hasn’t had it all hi way this year, so I’m eager to see him fight back and try and get a spot in the team.”
While Beale will be at full-back again, Cheika said the utility would still be switching into a second playmaking role in attack, regardless of the number on his back.
“I think now we know a bit about what all those guys can do in the different positions,” he said.
“We’ve got good options, that’s one really good thing for us around how we can set up, because Karmichael can set up at fullback, can set up in the centre, Samu can go 12, 13, Hodge can play pretty much anywhere now, Beale’s got 12,15, 10 if we need him.
“We’ve got the ability to move and match. He’ll (Beale) still play in that playmaker’s role predominantly. A whole lot won’t change for him.
“There’ll be some changes around how we set up off set piece but once we get into the attack, he’ll play in the standard playmaking role.”
The return of experienced duo Foley and Genia will be a handy boost for a Wallabies team light on Northern Hemisphere experience.
Foley will take the goal-kicking duties back along with the flyhalf jersey, as Reece Hodge shifts back to the wing, pushing Henry Speight onto the bench.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Marika Koroibete, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Reece Hodge, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Sean McMahon, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Karmichael Hunt, 23 Henry Speight
Date: Saturday, November 11
Venue: Principality Stadium
Kick-Off: 17:15 GMT
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Ian Tempest (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
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