Rugby World Cup 2015: Australia team to play New Zealand

Michael Cheika has named the Australia team to take on New Zealand in the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, at Twickenham on Saturday.

There is one change from the team that beat Argentina, as Scott Sio reclaims his place on the loosehead of the scrum ahead of James Slipper, who drops to the bench.

Head coach Cheika said: “This week we’ve had a strong focus on improving certain areas in our game where we feel we haven’t been at our best in the previous matches.

“We still have lots of scope to improve and we’ll work on that before this next match against New Zealand. Our lads are learning to cherish each opportunity they have in the gold jersey and this week we have that opportunity again and we’ll be doing our best to make Australia proud of it’s rugby team.”

AUSTRALIA TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND

1. Scott Sio (15 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (101 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (62 Tests)
4. Kane Douglas (23 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons (59 Tests)
6. Scott Fardy (29 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (vc) (50 Tests)
8. David Pocock (54 Tests)
9. Will Genia (65 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (26 Tests)
11. Drew Mitchell (69 Tests)
12. Matt Giteau (101 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (30 Tests)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc) (113 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (37 Tests)

Replacements:

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (60 Tests)
17. James Slipper (73 Tests)
18. Greg Holmes (23 Tests)
19. Dean Mumm (43 Tests)
20. Ben McCalman (46 Tests)
21. Nick Phipps (37 Tests)
22. Matt Toomua (30 Tests)
23. Kurtley Beale (59 Tests)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images