Another Wallaby breaks down
Prop Ben Alexander has become the latest Australian player to be ruled out by injury, when he withdrew from the Wallaby side for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand.
Alexander has been troubled by wrist complaint and will replaced in the starting XV by Queensland Reds prop James Slipper, with the versatile Sekope Kepu coming into the squad on the bench.
Kepu, who is returning from a knee injury, last appeared for the Wallabies during the opening Bledisloe Cup Test of the year in Sydney.
The withdrawal of Alexander is the second change to the original squad announced by the Wallabies after hooker Saia Fainga'a was forced to withdraw following a mishap at training on Tuesday where scans later confirmed a broken bone in his hand.
Fainga'a has been replaced on the bench by his Queensland Reds' teammate James Hanson, who joined the team as a reinforcement during the recent tour of South Africa and Argentina, replacing the injured Stephen Moore.
Should Hanson be required to take the field, he will become the 865th player to appear for the Wallabies in a game given Test status by the Australian Rugby Union.
He would also be the 12th new cap to have featured for the Wallabies in 11 Tests this year.
Australia – revised: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 James Slipper, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Brett Sheehan, 22 Drew Mitchell.
Date: Saturday, October 20
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
