Quade Cooper will return to the Wallabies starting team this week but it is at his natural flyhalf spot not inside centre.
Speculation was rife that Cooper would fill the number 12 jersey after the Wallabies lost all three of Matt Giteau, Matt Toomua and Rob Horne to injury last week.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has opted to put the former Reds flyhalf straight into the main playmaking role.
Cooper will combine with usual Wallabies number 10 Bernard Foley who will start at inside centre for the first time in his Test career.
Rob Simmons has been dropped from the side entirely after New Zealand’s domination of the Australian lineout last week.
Simmons has been replaced by Adam Coleman in the second row.
Blindside flanker Scott Fardy has regained his starting spot, playing alongside Michael Hooper and David Pocock in the Wallabies back row.
Samu Kerevi has also impressed Wallabies coach Michael Cheika enough to start at outside centre for the second match up, a direct swap for Tevita Kuridrani, who has struggled for form in recent Tests.
That decision is a major tick of approval for Kerevi, with Kuridrani one of the mainstays of Cheika’s Wallabies tenure.
Kuridrani has been named on the bench, Reece Hodge and Nick Phipps as backs replacements while Dean Mumm and Will Skelton are the forwards replacements.
The Wallabies meet the All Blacks at 7.35pm Saturday.
Wallabies Team:
1. Scott Sio (19 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (106 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (67 Tests)
4. Kane Douglas (24 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (1 Test)
6. Scott Fardy (34 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (55 Tests)
8. David Pocock (57 Tests)
9. Will Genia (67 Tests)
10. Quade Cooper (58 Tests)
11. Dane Haylett‑Petty (4 Tests)
12. Bernard Foley (31 Tests)
13. Samu Kerevi (2 Tests)
14. Adam Ashley‑Cooper (115 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (42 Tests)
Reserves
16. Tatafu Polota‑Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Allan Ala’alatoa
19. Dean Mumm
20. Will Skelton
21. Tevita Kuridrani
22. Reece Hodge
23. Nick Phipps
