- Title: Australia recall Lealiifano, Petaia set for debut against Uruguay
- Date: 2nd October 2019
- Summary: VARIOUS OF COLEMAN SKIPPING PLAYERS TRAINING FLY HALF BERNARD FOLEY DANCING
- Embargoed: 16th October 2019 07:33
- Keywords: Japan Australia Uruguay rugby union Rugby World Cup Michael Cheika
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA002AZEK1TR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Cristian Lealiifano is back at fly-half and teenager Jordan Petaia will make his Wallabies debut on the wing after coach Michael Cheika overhauled his team for Saturday's Rugby World Cup Pool D match against Uruguay.
The Wallabies will be looking to get back to winning ways against the South Americans in Oita after their agonising 29-25 loss to Wales in Tokyo last weekend.
Cheika used the pool game against Uruguay at the last World Cup as a chance to give his squad players a run out and so the 13 changes were to be expected after he fielded his strongest side against the Welsh.
Lealiifano returns at flyhalf with Nic White at scrumhalf, reuniting the halfback pairing that started Australia's opening match against Fiji, where they came from behind to win.
It means Bernard Foley, who started at 10 against Wales, misses out completely in the 23-man squad.
"Bernard - I think he struggled a little bit on the weekend. No doubt about that," said Cheika.
Teenaged Queensland Reds centre Petaia was a surprise inclusion in the World Cup squad but would have made his test debut last year against Italy had he not suffered an injury in the run-up to the match.
Another hamstring injury in the pre-tournament training camp dashed his hopes of a debut in the warm-up match against Samoa, but he is now set to become Australia's youngest World Cup player and first test player born this century.
Matt To'omua, who came on for Foley at fly-half against Wales and sparked Australia's comeback, will win his 50th cap in the centres alongside Tevita Kuridrani.
Australia will be wearing their indigenous strip for the encounter on Saturday.
This will be the third time they have worn the special jersey and To'omua said the team had been learning about its importance from fullback Beale, the only aboriginal player in the squad.
Indigenous players are heavily represented in rugby league and Australian Rules football but only 14 have played for the Wallabies in the team's 120-year history. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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