Rugby league convert Ryan Cross has been named to make his Wallabies starting debut in Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations Test against the All Blacks at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.
Cross replaces Stirling Mortlock at outside centre after the captain failed to recover sufficiently from a head knock sustained in last Saturday's 16-9 win over South Africa in Perth.
Flanker George Smith takes over the captaincy.
With Cross promoted to start, fellow league convert Timana Tahu has been elevated from Australia's 30-man Tri-Nations squad to the match-day 22 on the bench.
Leading second rower Dan Vickerman also comes onto the bench, replacing Hugh McMeniman, as he continues his comeback from the ankle injury and surgery which kept him out of the first four Tests of the year.
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith (capt), Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Timana Tahu, Drew Mitchell.
AAP
