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Page last updated at 14:00 GMT, Thursday, 26 November 2009

Australia change three for Wales

Autumn internationals - Wales v Australia
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 28 November Kick-off: 1715 GMT
Coverage: Exclusively live on BBC TWO Wales and online, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online, live text commentary online and score updates on BBC Radio 5 live


George Smith
Flanker Smith started the defeat to Scotland on Saturday

Australia have made three changes for Saturday's final autumn Test series match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff (1715 GMT).

The Wallabies, who lost 9-8 to Scotland on Saturday, have brought in flanker David Pocock in place of George Smith.

Dean Mumm, who captained the team that beat Cardiff Blues on Tuesday, comes in for Mark Chisholm in the second row.

Elsewhere Digby Ioane replaces centre Ryan Cross as the Wallabies look to avenge last season's 21-18 loss.

There are only six survivors in the Australia starting side from the team that lost to Wales last year in Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Peter Hynes, Matt Giteau, Stephen Moore and Benn Robinson. Mitchell (who played full-back) and Ioane (wing) are now in different positions.

Scrum-half Will Genia (knee), number eight Wycliff Palu (neck) and powerful loose-head prop Robinson (shoulder) have been passed fit after coming through Thursday's training session.

606: DEBATE

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Kurtley Beale is on the bench after scoring two tries in Tuesday's 31-3 victory against Cardiff Blues and the utility back could win his first Test cap.

Smith also takes his place on the bench for the game against a Wales side that beat Argentina 33-16 in Cardiff on Saturday.

The Wallabies have won just one Test this autumn, beating England 18-9, drawing with Ireland thanks to a last-minute Brian O'Driscoll try before losing to Scotland after Matt Giteau missed a last-gasp conversion.

But Australia coach Robbie Deans says that his side have put their first defeat to Scotland in 27-years behind them and are fully focused on Saturday's game.

"No-one was more disappointed than us, in terms of the way our most recent Test outing turned out," said Deans.

"We can't alter that outcome now but we're not dwelling on it either. We will learn the lessons from that experience and move on.

"As a group, we are fortunate that we have another opportunity, so that we can attempt to end this tour, and the year, on a more positive note."

Wales, meanwhile, are bidding for their third successive autumn win and first back-to-back victory over the Aussies since the early 1970s.

And having seen his side beaten by Wales last season, Deans is fully aware of the threat that Warren Gatland's side pose.

"This match is a big test of our collective character as a group, there's no doubt about that," said Deans.

As a group, we are fortunate that we have another opportunity, so that we can attempt to end this tour, and the year, on a more positive note

Robbie Deans

"The Welsh are a formidable opponent. They've consistently been one of the best teams in Europe during the last two years, have an experienced playing roster, and had a wide representation on the British and Irish Lions tour (of South Africa) earlier in the year."


Wales team to face Australia on Saturday: James Hook (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny; Jamie Roberts (both Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets); Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Paul James, Alun-Wyn Jones (both Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Andy Powell, Martyn Williams (both Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Jonathan Thomas (all Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Martin Roberts (Scarlets), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom James (Blues).

Australia team: Adam Ashley-Cooper; Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell; Matt Giteau, Will Genia; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Dean Mumm, Rocky Elsom (capt), David Pocock, Wycliff Palu.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Mark Chisholm, George Smith, Luke Burgess, James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale.



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Gatland 'disappointed' with Wales
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Cardiff Blues 3-31 Australia
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Scotland 9-8 Australia
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Wales 33-16 Argentina
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Ireland 20-20 Australia
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Wallaby wonders: Aussie rugby
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Wales v Australia: Full record
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Wales' rugby fixtures
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Wales rugby results archive
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BBC Sport Wales coverage
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