Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

McKenzie puts Quade on the Wallaby bench

Wallabies mentor Ewen McKenzie has selected Matt Toomua at No.10 instead of Quade Cooper for Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup battle.

New Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has put Quade Cooper on the bench in naming his first Test team to play the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday night.

McKenzie instead selected Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua to make his Test debut at No.10 in the intense Bledisloe Cup battle against the world champions.

Toomua is one of 10 Brumbies in the 23-man Wallabies match squad, including four other debutants in prop Scott Sio, lock Scott Fardy, halfback Nic White and three-quarter Tevita Kuridrani - who are all listed as reserves.

Mercurial Queensland flyhalf Cooper had been widely expected to make his return to international rugby in the Wallabies No.10 jersey after McKenzie, his long-time Reds mentor, replaced previous coach Robbie Deans following the 2-1 Lions series loss.

McKenzie made eight changes to the starting team which lost the third Test agains the British and Irish Lions in July.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Ben Mowen was shifted to No.8 and James O'Connor to the wing, while prop James Slipper, lock Rob Simmons, flankers Hugh McMeniman and Michael Hooper, fullback Jesse Mogg and Toomua were all promoted.

Wallabies: Jesse Mogg, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, James O'Connor, Matt Toomua, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Saia Fainga'a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world