Cooper, Genia get Wallabies starts

Veteran halves Quade Cooper and Will Genia will make their long-awaited Wallabies returns together as the Michael Cheika era begins against the Barbarians.

Quade Cooper and Will Genia.

Quade Cooper (l) and Will Genia will make long-awaited Wallabies returns in an experimental side. (AAP)

Quade Cooper and Will Genia will make long-awaited Wallabies returns in an experimental side named by new coach Michael Cheika to face the Barbarians.

Cheika opted for a mix of recent first-team regulars and fringe players for Saturday's spring tour-opening match at Twickenham, his first official assignment since being hastily ushered in as coach after Ewen McKenzie resigned.

Fijian-born winger Henry Speight and young Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon are set for Wallabies debuts while Western Force back-rower Matt Hodgson will captain Australia in place of rested skipper Michael Hooper.

Vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper, Nick Phipps and lineout general Rob Simmons are also regular starters sitting out the warm-up to Test clashes with Wales, France, Ireland and England.

The selections offer limited insight into Cheika's intentions for upcoming Test matches, with the new coach clearly keen to give a wide range of players a chance to impress.

But beating a New Zealand-heavy Barbarians outfit remains a priority, though, as does putting into practice a week of intense work in training since assembling in London.

"We've worked really hard this week on ensuring our team has a clear understanding of how we want to play. Next is to transfer this into the game on Saturday," Cheika said.

"You sense they're all looking forward to the opportunity against the Barbarians, and so far I've been impressed with the level of consistency they've brought to their work.

"This team contains a mix of players from our last game and also experienced players eager to push their way into the Test team."

Both five-eighth Cooper (shoulder and hip) and halfback Genia (ankle) have been on the comeback trail from operations and neither has taken the field for Australia this season.

The Queensland stars will reunite in the halves for the first time in the green and gold for 11 months with a clear opportunity to apply pressure on the likes of Phipps, Nic White and Bernard Foley.

White and Foley will start from the bench with Kurtley Beale's absence from the tour following the text message scandal opening the door further for Cooper to shine.

Rampaging Brumbies winger Speight is set to finally fulfil his Wallabies dream following a four-year eligibility battle while 20-year-old McMahon could make his debut off the bench following an impressive debut Super Rugby season.

Hard-nosed flanker Hodgson, 33, earns the captaincy despite recently breaking back into the Wallabies after a three-year absence.

"Matt has demonstrated exceptional leadership attributes at the Western Force for a long time now, and he deserves this opportunity being given to him," Cheika said.

Cheika, to juggle coaching duties with Australia and NSW next year, named just three Waratahs in his starting 15 - Israel Folau, Rob Horne and Benn Robinson.

Wallabies: Israel Folau, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson (capt), Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill, Sam Carter, Ben Alexander, Saia Fainga'a, Benn Robinson. Res: James Hanson, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Will Skelton, Sean McMahon, Nic White, Bernard Foley, Christian Leali'ifano, Joe Tomane (one to be omitted).


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