Matt Toomua will play inside centre and Peter Betham will debut on the wing for the Wallabies in the third Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images.
Matt Toomua will play inside centre and Peter Betham will debut on the wing for the Wallabies in the third Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images.
Matt Toomua will play inside centre and Peter Betham will debut on the wing for the Wallabies in the third Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie named his team for the Dunedin clash on Thursday, promoting Toomua from the bench to fill the roleleft vacant by injury to his Brumbies teammate Christian Lealiifano.
Toomua started at five eighth in the first two Bledisloe Test defeats at the start of the Rugby Championship but will line up outside Quade Cooper, who has reclaimed that role since.
NSW Waratahs flyer Betham, who was struggling just to earn a Super Rugby contract 12 months ago, will play his first Test following the unavailability of eight other specialist wingers.
NSW skipper Dave Dennis pipped fellow loose forward Liam Gill for the final forwards spot on the bench, while utility back and kicking ace Mike Harris has earned a recall to the bench.
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Peter Betham, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, James Horwill(capt), Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Saia Fainga'a, Benn Robinson, Sepoke Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley.
