Scrum-half Jake Gordon set to make Test debuts for the Wallabies in the clash with Italy in Padua. Jordan Petaia has been ruled out.
 
Winger Jordan Petaia has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Italy in Padua, with hamstring soreness cruelling what would have been a Test debut.
 
The 18-year old was due to become the third-youngest player to ever represent Australia but pulled up sore at training.
 
Australian medical staff have opted not to rush the rehabilitation and the winger is expected to be fit in time for the England clash at Twickenham next week.
 
Petaia will be replaced in the starting side by Marika Koroibete with Michael Cheika preferring not to tinker with the backs on the bench.
 
There has been one forced change to the reserves though with Rory Arnold also succumbing to injury after suffering a fractured eye socket at training on Thursday. Arnold has been replaced in matchday 23 by veteran Rob Simmons.
 
Australia last played Italy in 2017 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with the Wallabies pulling away late to record at 40-27 victory.
 
The Wallabies last played in Padua ten years ago with Sekope Kepu, James O’Connor and Quade Cooper each making their Test debuts in the 30-20 win.

Jake Gordon will become Wallaby 925 in Italy

1. Scott Sio (53 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (6 Tests)
3. Taniela Tupou (10 Tests)
4. Izack Rodda (15 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (29 Tests)
6. Jack Dempsey (8 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (89 Tests)
8. David Pocock (76 Tests)
9. Jake Gordon*
10. Matt To’omua (40 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (18 Tests)
12. Bernard Foley (66 Tests)
13. Samu Kerevi (23 Tests)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (116 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (71 Tests)
 
Reserves
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (87 Tests)
17. Jermaine Ainsley (1 Test)
18. Sekope Kepu (101 Tests)
19. Rob Simmons (92 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (7 Tests)
21. Will Genia (98 Tests)
22. Kurtley Beale (82 Tests)
23. Dane Haylett-Petty (29 Tests)
*denotes uncapped

 

Italy head coach Conor O’Shea has made just one change to his starting line-up that will face Australia at Stadio Euganeo in Padua on Saturday.

The sole alteration in the team sees Jayden Hayward come in for Luca Sperandio full-back as the Azzurri look to build on last week’s win.

Up front it’s as it was against Georgia with Leonardo Ghiraldini leading Italy in a front-row alongside Andrea Lovotti and Simone Ferrari.

I15 Jayden Hayward
14 Tommaso Benvenuti
13 Michele Campagnaro
12 Tommaso Castello
11 Mattia Bellini
10 Tommaso Allan
9 Tito Tebaldi
8 Abraham Jurgens Steyn
7 Jake Polledri
6 Sebastian Negri
5 Dean Budd
4 Alessandro Zanni
3 Simone Ferrari
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c)
1 Andrea Lovotti

16 Luca Bigi
17 Cherif Traore’
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Marco Fuser
20 Johan Meye
21 Guglielmo Palazzani
22 Carlo Canna
23 Luca Morisi