Wallabies playmaker Berrick Barnes will play his first Test at fullback on Saturday night against Argentina as Kurtley Beale has been dropped from Australia’s starting team for the second time in the Rugby Championship.
With Pat McCabe being rushed straight back from injury to start at inside centre, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has shifted Barnes to fullback at the expense of the out-of-form Beale for the clash at Gold Coast’s Skilled Park.
Beale will now sit on the bench for the second time in three Tests after being dumped following his shocker in the opening game of the tournament against New Zealand in Sydney.
Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe will captain Australia in his 109th Test, taking the reins from halfback Will Genia who is out for six months after injuring his knee in the weekend’s 26-19 win over South Africa.
Sharpe, 34, becomes the Wallabies’ fifth captain in 13 months following Rocky Elsom, James Horwill (hamstring), David Pocock (knee) and Genia.
Australia have made three changes to their starting team with Nick Phipps replacing Genia, McCabe returning and Waratahs lock Kane Douglas to make his Test debut in place of injured second-rower Sitaleki Timani.
Douglas was picked ahead of the out-of-favour Rob Simmons to partner Western Force veteran Sharpe, who is the only member of the Australian team to have played the Pumas before, way back at the 2003 World Cup.
There are also changes on the bench with another Force stalwart, Brett Sheehan, picked for his first Test in four years as the reserve halfback and hooker Stephen Moore pencilled in to return from a hamstring injury.
Moore has been bracketed with Saia Faingaa on the bench with a decision on his fitness to be made later in the week.
Argentina, looking for their first win in the four-nation competition, will name their side late Tuesday.
Wallabies: Berrick Barnes, Dom Shipperley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Nick Phipps; Radike Samo, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Stephen Moore/Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Anthony Faingaa, Kurtley Beale.
