Foley and Genia return to Australia line-up for Wales encounter

Australia will have a new halfback combination for the upcoming World Cup encounter against Wales this weekend with Bernard Foley and Will Genia returning to the line-up.

Foley has replaced Christian Leali'ifano at fly-half while Genia has taken the place of Nic White, who now drops to the bench.

Apart from the two, head coach Michael Cheika has also made two other changes with Dane Haylett-Petty slotted at fullback replacing Kurtley Beale while Adam Ashley-Cooper takes the position at right wing in the place of Reece Hodge, who is suspended for three games.

This will also be 50th Test appearance for James O’Connor as he starts at outside centre.

“It’s just a bit of a different picture,” said Cheika.

“We talked about this from the very start. Not as a result of the game at the weekend. We just wanted to produce some different pictures.

“Wales are a very strong team and we have to be on for 80 and we have picked a team that we think will do well.”

Australia currently are in the second position in Pool D after their 39-21 bonus point victory over Fiji in the opening game of the tournament.

Australia starting line-up: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 James O’Connor, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 David Pocock, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Scott Sio

Reserves: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Nic White, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Kurtley Beale