Sheehan set for first start

Brett Sheehan is set to make his starting debut for the Wallabies against Italy in Florence on Saturday.

The 33-year-old veteran, who made the first of his six Test appearances against the Springboks in 2006, received a surprise recall to the Wallaby squad for the year-end tour to Europe following injuries to Will Genia and Nic White.

Sheehan has mentored incumbent Wallaby No.9 Nick Phipps on tour but looks set to make his elusive run-on Test debut this weekend having trained at starting scrumhalf this week.

Coach Robbie Deans is expected to make a number of changes, with Scott Higginbotham – called up in place of the of the suspended Rob Simmons – and Liam Gill likely to be named as starting flanks in place of Dave Dennis and Michael Hooper.

Stephen Moore and Drew Mitchell are also expected to retain to the starting line-up.

Simmons on Wednesday lodged a formal appeal against his eight-week ban for a dangerous tip tackle on France flank Yannick Nyanga.