Australia beef up backline as Michael Cheika fumes at Reece Hodge ban

Frustrated: Michael Cheika
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Will Macpherson27 September 2019

Australia have added vast experience to their backline with four changes for Sunday’s vital Pool D clash against Wales in Tokyo but coach Michael Cheika has continued to rant and rave at World Rugby over their disciplinary process.

Wales, meanwhile, are unchanged from the side that had secured a bonus point by half-time against Tonga in Toyota on Monday. Captain Alun Wyn Jones will become the most capped Wales player of all time, with 130.

Adam Ashley-Cooper, 35, will become the second Wallaby to play at four World Cups (following George Gregan), replacing Reece Hodge, who received a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle against Fiji on Saturday.

He is joined by the experienced half-back pairing of Will Genia and Bernard Foley, who come in for Nic White and Christian Leali’ifano. Dane Haylett-Petty replaces Kurtley Beale at full-back. Beale returns to the role of super sub, where he was so effective four years ago.

Hodge issue remains the reason for Cheika’s chagrin. “If there’s one bloke World Rugby’s not listening to it’s me,” he said.

“No-one in the team believes what Reece did met the red card threshold because of the framework. I do not particularly want to talk about this today because there is a part of it which is us versus everyone else.

“We know that and we are not going to let it derail us. We will suck it up and get focused on what is important — the match on Sunday. We are not going to let them get to us. We will concentrate on our footy and do our best for Australia.”

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