Wallabies

Former Wallabies skipper Horwill hangs up the boots

Horwill started his Super Rugby career with the Queensland Reds, playing 116 matches and captaining the side to the 2011 Super Rugby championship.

The lock, nicknamed Kev, made his Wallabies debut in 2007 and narrowly missed out on that year's World Cup squa.d

His time would come four years, captaining the Wallabies in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, capping off a dream 2011 season.

Horwill was a surprise omission from the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad and the Queensland veteran made the move to English club Harlequins at the end of that season.

Israel Folau's latest anti-gay comments 'unacceptable'

Wallabies international Folau, one of Australia's top players and most marketable athletes, wrote on Instagram that gays would be condemned to "hell" if they failed to "repent".

New South Wales Waratahs player Folau, an evangelical Christian, made similar comments last April.

Surgery to prevent McMahon playing for Sunwolves

RUGBY.com.au revealed last year McMahon had signed a one-year deal with the Sunwolves for 2019, which all-but ruled out the 26-Test backrower playing for the Wallabies at the World Cup.

McMahon later confirmed he'd signed to play for the Sunwolves but the deal was dependent on a medical.

The 24-year-old picked up a lisfranc injury in his foot playing for Suntory in the Top League competition in Japan, and though he returned late in the season and played in a losing Grand Final side, McMahon's injury continued to be an issue.

Rugby Australia calls of chat with Jake White

Rugby Australia said it was approached by White, who led the Springboks to World Cup victory in 2007.

Wallabies boss Michael Cheika's future is in doubt after his side lost nine of 13 Tests this year.

White was due to talk to Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle yesterday.

The governing body confirmed the South African had initiated a "conversation" with Castle, and a phone call between the pair had been arranged.

"The call as reported will not be going ahead," Rugby Australia said.

Petaia and Gordon handed debuts

Petaia, 18, will become the youngest Wallabies debutant since James O'Connor a decade ago when he starts on the left wing.

Scrum-half Gordon also gets his chance in Padova, with Cheika making six changes of personnel following the 9-6 defeat to Wales.

Ashley-Cooper will win his first cap for over two years on the right wing, so Israel Folau reverts to full-back.

Matt Toomua comes into the side at 10 with Bernard Foley moving to the centres alongside Samu Kerevi as Kurtley Beale drops to the bench.

Latu, Dempsey and Kerevi handed Wallabies starts

Latu was sin-binned after coming off the bench in the Wallabies' last two matches against New Zealand and Argentina, but the hooker gets a chance from the off in Cardiff.

Flanker Dempsey and centre Kerevi are promoted by Michael Cheika following their performances as replacements in a 37-20 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks in Yokohama last month.

Israel Folau moves to the wing to accommodate Kerevi, while lock Adam Coleman returns from a groin injury at the Principality Stadium.

Wallabies vs New Zealand, Yokohama

Australia has already lost the series for a 16th-straight year but the Wallabies have a chance to salvage some pride and win back some fans with a good showing in Japan.

Jack Dempsey, Sefa Naivalu and Samu Kerevi will all be returning from long injury layoffs for the clash after Reece Hodge's fractured ankle ruled him out of the tour.

Adam Coleman is a big name missing in the pack after suffering a groin injury this week, replaced by Rob Simmons in the starting lineup.

'I'm sick of losing to the All Blacks' - Will Genia

In 24 trans-Tasman encounters, Genia has only finished a winner three times and the 30-year-old admits he's fed up with losing to the 2011 and 2015 world champions.

In an interview in Tokyo ahead of the Australia and All Blacks clash, Genia laid bare the despair of a decade of Bledisloe Cup beatings as he eyes one last crack at the All Blacks before next year's Rugby World Cup.

"You get sick and tired of losing to them, but you also love playing them," Genia said, insisting the repeated poundings had left no psychological scarring.

Wallabies have got their belief back: Barrett

But Barrett pointed to Australia's stunning recent fightback against Argentina -- when they wiped out a 24-point half-time deficit to win 45-34 -- as evidence the Wallabies have turned the corner after losing six of their eight previous Tests.

"We always get a confident Australia, there's no doubt about that," the two-time world player of the year told reporters.

"They've probably rediscovered that bit of belief that may have been missing. It was a great comeback, we acknowledge that -- be we weren't surprised to see them come back.

Fractured ankle rules Hodge out of Bledisloe, Spring Tour

Hodge fractured his ankle in an innocuous training incident and he will not play against the All Blacks in Japan or fly to Europe for the remainder of the Spring Tour.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika confirmed the centre would not take part in his team's four remaining matches this season on Sunday.

Cheika is left with limited options in trying to replace Hodge.

Samu Kerevi may have to be rushed into a Test rugby return having played his first minutes since the June Tests in the Byron Bay Sevens at the weekend.