Wales recall the big guns
Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley has named a strong Welsh side for the clash with Australia as the Six Nations champions look to dominate their rivals.
The team shows four changes from that which sealed a 16-9 victory over France last March to be crowned Champions of Europe.
In the front row Scarlets hooker Ken Owens replaces Matthew Rees and it's all change in the second row with Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris replacing Ian Evans – who joins the tour party immediately after his wedding this weekend – and Alun Wyn Jones, who moves to the bench.
There is one change to the backline which remained together for the duration of the 2012 Six Nations clean sweep, with centre Scott Williams replacing the injured Jamie Roberts (knee).
That means 15 of the players who travelled to Brisbane early last week, and missed Wales' 30-21 victory over the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, have been handed starting positions with the 16th, uncapped Ospreys centre Ashley Beck, providing cover from the bench.
The rest of the replacements bench is made up of starters from the BaaBaas victory, each of whom were involved in the matchday 22 on Grand Slam day.
Veteran hooker Rees joins prop Paul James, lock Jones and back row Ryan Jones to provide cover for the forwards with scrumhalf Lloyd Williams and utility back James Hook complete the line-up.
"We are well prepared and looking forward to the challenge this weekend," said Howley.
"Australia will be disappointed after their defeat to Scotland, but that will make them all the more dangerous for us.
"The Wallabies are still the second highest placed side in the world rankings and we are playing them in their own back yard.
"We all appreciate the enormity of the task ahead of us, the long term stats don't make happy reading for the Welsh against the Wallabies, but as recently as this season we have two losses racked up against Australian opposition and we are determined to stop that trend.
"We have created some winning momentum, we have a recent home win against the Barbarians to take into this game and have built a certain amount of confidence within the squad."
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Paul James, 18 Alun Wyn Jones, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Ashley Beck.
Date: Saturday, June 9
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
