Gordon, Petaia to make Wallabies debut against Italy
Jake Gordon and Jordan Petaia will make their Australia debuts against Italy in Padua on Saturday as coach Michael Cheika rang the changes to his starting XV after last weekend's defeat to Wales. Waratahs scrumhalf Gordon and Queensland Reds fullback Petaia start in the second Test after Cheika's side lost 9-6 to Wales in Cardiff last Saturday, the Wallabies tenth defeat from their last 13 games. Gordon, 25, was selected ahead of Will Genia, who drops back to the bench. Petaia, 18, will become the youngest Australian debutant since James O'Connor in 2008 and the third-youngest ever, behind Brian Ford and O'Connor. Petaia will play on the wing, with childhood hero Israel Folau shifting to fullback to accommodate the most-capped player, Adam Ashley-Cooper, who returns for the first time since August 2016. The 34-year-old Ashley-Cooper will run out for his 117th Test in north-eastern Italy and in doing so become the third-most capped Australian of all time ahead of former Wallabies captain Nathan Sharpe. Matt To'omua will wear the Wallabies number 10 shirt for the first time in over five years with Bernard Foley shifting to inside centre and Kurtley Beale on the bench. Australia last played Italy in 2017 in Brisbane, with the Wallabies pulling away late to win 40-27. The Wallabies last played in Padua ten years ago with Sekope Kepu, James O'Connor and Quade Cooper making their Test debuts in the 30-20 win. Italy won their opening November Test, beating Georgia 28-17 in Florence on Saturday. Australia team (15-1) Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Jordan Petaia; Matt To’omua, Jake Gordan; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Jack Dempsey; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Taniela Tupou, Folau Fainga'a, Scott Sio Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jermaine Ainsley, Sekope Kepu, Rory Arnold, Pete Samu, Will Genia, Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty
