Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes will combine in the Australian backline for the first time this year after being named alongside of each other today in the Wallabies side that will confront the All Blacks in Melbourne.
Giteau moves in one backline position to flyhalf, after starting from inside centre in his previous four Tests this year, while Barnes gains his second start of the season after appearing at inside centre during the 27-17 win over England in Perth last month.
The pair first operated together in this formation for the Wallabies in Robbie Deans’ first Test as Australian coach against Ireland at Melbourne in 2008. They have been re-united for this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup opener after suspension sidelined flyhalf Quade Cooper.
Only Stephen Larkham (87) and Michael Lynagh (64) have appeared mores times as a flyhalf for Australia than has Giteau, who has played 39 of his 82 Tests in the position.
Barnes has played 17 of his previous 23 Tests as an inside centre, replacing Giteau in that position for the final eight minutes of last Saturday’s Bundaberg Red Tri Nations opener in Brisbane.
As a pairing, with Giteau operating from flyhalf and Barnes inside centre; the combination has been aligned in the starting XV for 15 of Australia’s last 33 Tests dating back to the start of the 2008 season.
Saturday night will be the first time that they have been combined since the final game of last year’s Bundaberg Red Tri Nations Series against the All Blacks in Wellington.
The inclusion of Barnes is one of two alterations to the run on XV from that which started in the 30-13 against South Africa in Brisbane last Saturday night.
The other sees the experienced Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore take over from Saia Faingaa up front.
Moore made his return from a broken jaw via the bench last weekend in Brisbane, getting through 25 minutes of play as he racked up his 47th Test appearance.
It is not all bad news for the Faingaa family on the selection front, with Saia included among the run on reserves as is his twin brother Anthony, who has been named in a Wallabies match night squad for the first time.
Anthony earlier appeared for the Australian Barbarians in both of their Tour matches against England.
Should the Faingaa’s take the field, they will become the 40th set of brothers to have appeared for Australia in Test matches.
An additional change to the bench from last weekend’s 30-13 win over South Africa allows loose forward Matt Hodgson to return, after he was a late withdrawal from the Brisbane Test due to a groin strain.
Hodgson has been included in the place of the man who replaced him at Suncorp Stadium, Ben McCalman.
The night will be a special one for lock Nathan Sharpe as he ties the Australian record held by former skipper John Eales for the most caps earned by a Wallabies second rower.
Sharpe, who made his debut against France in Melbourne eight years ago, will be lining up in his 84th Test.
Wallabies team
15. Adam Ashley Cooper , 14. James O’Connor , 13. Rob Horne , 12. Berrick Barnes , 11. Drew Mitchell , 10. Matt Giteau , 9. Will Genia , 8. Richard Brown , 7. David Pocock , 6. Rocky Elsom (captain) 5. Nathan Sharpe , 4. Dean Mumm , 3. Salesi Ma’afu , 2. Stephen Moore , 1. Benn Robinson ,
Run on reserves: 16. Saia Faingaa , 17. James Slipper , 18. Rob Simmons , 19. Matt Hodgson , 20. Luke Burgess , 21. Anthony Faingaa , 22. Kurtley Beale
