Matt Toomua returns to Australia line-up for Sydney Test

Australia inside centre Matt Toomua has been drafted into the starting XV for the third and final Test against England in Sydney on Saturday.

Toomua injured his knee during his Super Rugby stint with Brumbies and was sidelined for almost six weeks but is now set to make his first appearance for Australia in this year. He will take the place of Samu Kerevi from the team that played in Melbourne last week.

Australia head coach Michael Cheika has also called-up Will Skelton and Rob Simmons for the Sydney encounter and the pair will replace Rory Arnold and Sam Carter, who are out of the bench as well.

Skelton will make his first appearance for his country after he sustained an injury during the 2015 World Cup while Simmons returns back after he was omitted in the second Test in Melbourne.

Waratahs wing Taqele Naiyaravoro and Western Force lock Adam Coleman have been named on an extended nine-man bench as Australia will be desperate to avoid a series whitewash against England after losing the previous two games.

Cheika said he did not want to rush Toouma and Skelton from their respective injuries and is hopeful of the duo, along with Simmons making an impact in the upcoming game.

"There's a long way to go yet in this season so I didn't want to burn him early. He's an experienced player, he plays in that role as second playmaker for us, so it was a logical choice.

"Even though Skelton's been playing, he's been playing with a shoulder injury. He hasn't been able to show us his best yet this season.

"We've put him through some hard work during two or three weeks we've been together. He's a big guy, if he's not at that level of fitness he can't play international footy.

"Rob was stung by being left out of the team and he fully understood the areas I wanted him to improve on.

"He's bitten back at training and that warrants an opportunity for him, considering his track record and how much he's done in the Australian jersey up until now."

Australia team to play England in third Test: I Folau (Waratahs); D Haylett-Petty (Western Force), T Kuridrani (Brumbies), M Toomua (Brumbies), R Horne (Waratahs); B Foley (Waratahs), N Phipps (Waratahs); J Slipper (Reds) S Moore (Brumbies, capt), S Kepu (Waratahs), W Skelton (Waratahs), R Simmons (Reds), S Fardy (Brumbies), M Hooper (Waratahs), S McMahon (Rebels).

Replacements (one to be omitted): T Polota-Nau (Waratahs), S Sio (Brumbies), G Holmes (Reds), A Coleman (Force), D Mumm (Waratahs), W Palu (Waratahs), N Frisby (Reds), C Leali'ifano (Brumbies), T Naiyaravoro (Waratahs).