The Wallabies will gamble on the fitness of returning No.8 Wycliff Palu in Saturday night’s Bledisloe Test after naming the enforcer to start against the high-flying All Blacks.
Palu, who hasn’t played for more than three months, is one of four changes to the Australian starting XV which defeated Argentina on October 7 in Rosario.
The bullocking Waratahs forward last played for the Wallabies in the 3-0 whitewash of Wales in June but has been sidelined by a shoulder nerve problem which cut his Super Rugby season short.
Palu replaces Radike Samo at the back of the scrum in a reshuffled back-row with the Queensland Reds veteran rested despite being cleared of a biceps injury.
Scott Higginbotham, who played 71 minutes off the bench in Rosario, will start at blind-side flanker with Sitaleki Timani moving into the second row at the expense of Kane Douglas.
In the other alteration to the pack, prop Benn Robinson starts at loose-head ahead of James Slipper while utility Adam Ashley-Cooper replaces injured winger Digby Ioane in the only change to the backline.
Palu – who will oppose a red-hot All Black back-row of Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Liam Messam – only returned to the Wallabies squad on Sunday but coach Robbie Deans said he was a proven Test performer who was “champing at the bit”.
“Cliffy has spent a long time on the sideline but he was an important part of the group in June,” Deans told AAP on Sunday.
“He’s very fit – he’s used his time well. It’s been frustrating for him waiting with a nerve-based problem and you have to be patient with that.”
Fellow Waratahs star Drew Mitchell is also set to make his return from injury on Saturday night, off the bench, after rookie winger Dom Shipperley became the latest name added to a long injury list due to a wrist problem.
Mitchell last played in the 22-0 second Bledisloe Test loss to New Zealand in Auckland but has made a remarkable recovery after initially being scheduled to undergo ankle surgery.
Ioane’s knee injury means Kiwi-born Mike Harris will stay at fullback and Ben Tapuai at outside centre as Ashley-Cooper, the Wallabies most-experienced back with 72 caps, returns on the wing.
The No.1-ranked All Blacks, involved in a training camp in Christchurch, are aiming to equal their record 17-Test winning streak at Suncorp Stadium.
They are scheduled to name their side on Thursday.
Wallabies: Mike Harris, Nick Cummins, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Scott Higginbotham, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.
