Rugby: Cooper rushed back in but Genia misses out

Quade Cooper of Australia. Photo / Getty Images

Quade Cooper will make his Wallabies return from the bench but his longtime halves partner Will Genia has again been overlooked for Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup test.

Halfback Genia has trained with Australia's squad for the past five weeks but will be a mere spectator for the fourth straight test at Suncorp Stadium against the All Blacks.

In contrast, five-eighths Cooper has been rushed straight back in for his first international this year as the Wallabies have lost playmaking cover with Kurtley Beale suspended indefinitely over his texting scandal.

Also playing his first test minutes for 2014 will be second five-eighths Christian Leali'ifano, who is one of two changes to the starting XV which fell 21-17 to Argentina 10 days ago.

Leali'ifano, who made the No12 jersey his own for the first nine tests of last year, replaces injured Brumbies teammate Matt Toomua (concussion) while lineout general Rob Simmons returns from his own head knock.

Despite their lack of game time since injury-affected Super Rugby campaigns, coach Ewen McKenzie backed Leali'ifano and Cooper (shoulder, hip) to thrive against the world champion All Blacks, who are desperate to atone for their last-start loss to South Africa.

"They're two experienced players who have performed at a high level for Australia before," McKenzie said.

"Quade has had a lot of great memories at Suncorp Stadium, and we'll be looking for him to provide the same impact should he get called on late in the game."

The last time Cooper played NZ in Brisbane he pulled the strings for a Tri-Nations series win in 2011, giving All Black skipper Richie McCaw a stray knee in the process.