Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup team named

By: Elliott Smith | Rugby News | Tuesday August 14 2012 12:26

Quade Cooper's name is missing from the Wallabies 22 to meet the All Blacks in their opening Bledisloe Cup encounter in Sydney on Saturday.

Last year's starting first five for Australia will sit out the match, with Berrick Barnes starting at first five.

In other changes from the team's last outing against Wales, Dave Dennis starts on the blindside flank with Scott Higginbotham coming off the back of the scrum.

Anthony Fainga'a is handed the number 12 jersey in the absence of the injured Pat McCabe.

There's just two backline reserves on the bench, with halfback Nick Phipps and utility Drew Mitchell sitting next to a stacked forward mix.

Halfback Will Genia says whoever is in the side is more than ready to face the All Blacks.

"I think it's been probably one of the toughest few weeks in terms of camps that I've ever been involved with since joining the Wallabies side so it's been good so I think coming into this Bledisloe match we're really well prepared and really looking forward to it."

Full team: Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Anthony Fainga'a, Digby Ioane, Berrick Barnes, Will Genia , Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson .

Reserves: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Radike Samo, Michael Hooper, Nick Phipps, Drew Mitchell.

Photo: Photosport

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