The Wallabies have named an unchanged line-up to contest Saturday’s James Bevan Trophy Test against Wales in Cardiff.
Head Coach Robbie Deans has retained the same 22-man squad to the one that defeated New Zealand, 26-24, in Hong Kong last weekend.
It is the first time since the Wallabies’ final Bundaberg Red Tri-Nations fixture in 2009 against New Zealand in Wellington that the Australians have been able to duplicate their side in back-to-back Tests.
Deans says “it’s fantastic” to be able to roll out the identical line-up in consecutive Tests for just the second time since taking charge of the Wallabies at the beginning of the 2008 Test season.
“I don’t know the numbers and frequency in being able to [name an identical line-up], but I know it’s not very high,” he said.
“Continuity’s good but it’s only good if you make it work. What it does do is assist the consistency of performance but that’s only off the back of consistency of preparation.”
Qantas Wallabies v Wales
15. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
12. Matt Giteau (Brumbies)
11. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (c) (Brumbies)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Mark Chisholm (Brumbies)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Reserves:
16. Saia Faingaa (Queensland Reds)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)
19. Richard Brown (Western Force)
20. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
21. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
22. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)
