The Australia coach, Eddie Jones, has named the place-kicking full-back Ben Donaldson in a full-strength side for their World Cup opener against Georgia on Saturday
Coach names same starting pack as faced France in warm-upThe Australia coach, Eddie Jones, has named the place-kicking full-back Ben Donaldson in a full-strength side for their World Cup Pool C opener against Georgia on Saturday.
The versatile Donaldson replaces Andrew Kellaway to make his first Test start in the No 15 shirt after Carter Gordon had an off-day from the tee when Australia went down 41-17 to France in their final warm-up match.Gordon will again lead the backline from fly-half with Samu Kerevi returning at inside-centre after recovering from a hand problem sustained against the All Blacks in early August.
Concerns in the Australian media that Kerevi might not be fully fit could be reflected in the centre Lalakai Foketi’s inclusion as one of three backs on the bench. Marika Koroibete also returns on the left wing after missing the France warm-up, which took Australia’s record to five losses from five Tests this season.
Jones named the same pack as started the France match for the return to Stade de France but the lock Matt Phillip is dropped from the bench to allow space for Foketi. Seventeen of the matchday squad will be playing their first World Cup match on Saturday and the team averages 19 Test caps apiece.
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