No room for Cooper in Wallabies squad

Quade Cooper has been omitted from Australia’s 22-man squad for Saturday night’s opening Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand at ANZ Stadium.

Berrick Barnes has retained his position as the Wallabies’ starting five-eighth, with Cooper also overlooked for a bench spot.

A second Test starting role for Dave Dennis, a move from the side to the back of the scrum for Scott Higginbotham and a return to the midfield for Anthony Faingaa, are the only changes to the Wallabies run-on side.

Higginbotham, who started at blindside flanker in Australia’s most recent outing, when they shaded Wales 20-19 in the third and final Test in June, takes over from the injured Wycliff Palu at No.8.

The Wallabies last won a Bledisloe Cup series outright in 2001 and this year is the first three-match series for the trophy since 1998, having been played over two or four matches in recent years.

Wallabies: Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Anthony Faingaa, Digby Ioane, Berrick Barnes, Will Genia, Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock (capt), Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Radike Samo, Michael Hooper, Nick Phipps, Drew Mitchell.

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