White starts for Wallabies in RWC opener

By Mark Stevens
19/9/19

Exeter Chiefs star Nic White will make his Rugby World Cup bow on Saturday after he was today named in Australia's starting line-up for their clash with Fiji in Sapporo.

The 29-year-old scrum-half only returned to the international fray earlier this summer after a four-year absence, but he has impressed head coach Michael Cheika during clashes in the Championship and World Cup warm-up fixtures.

The Wallabies side is almost a replica of the one that ran out in Perth in the record defeat of New Zealand last month, with David Pocock’s inclusion at flanker the only change to the team that took the field for the opening Bledisloe Cup Test.

Rory Arnold has overcome a hand injury that ruled him out of the second Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland, while White - who is set to win his 27th Test cap - and Christian Lealiifano return at half-backs after sitting out the Test against Samoa earlier this month.

The starting side boasts 600 caps of Test experience between them with a further 436 caps amongst the reserves.

Cheika said: “Our goal is to win. I’m sure every team comes to every World Cup believing they can win, and that’s what makes it such a great tournament.

“We want to do two things; to do our best to win the tournament but also to show young people in Australia who are watching, how beautiful the game of rugby can be and inspire them to play rugby back home in the future,” Cheika said.

Australia met Fiji in the opening clash of the 2015 Rugby World Cup when the Wallabies prevailed 28-13 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The Wallabies will take on Wales at Tokyo Stadium in their second Pool D clash before games against Uruguay and Georgia in Oita and Shizuoka on October 5 and October 11, respectively. The two highest-ranked teams at the end of the pool stage will advance to the Quarter Finals.

Wallabies team to play Fiji at Sapporo Dome, Sapporo on Saturday 21 September, 1.45pm JST

1. Scott Sio (59 Tests)
2. Tolu Latu (15 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (33 Tests)
4. Izack Rodda (21 Tests)
5. Rory Arnold (22 Tests)
6. David Pocock (78 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (capt, 95 Tests)
8. Isi Naisarani (4 Tests)
9. Nic White (26 Tests)
10. Christian Lealiifano (22 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (24 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (29 Tests)
13. James O’Connor (48 Tests)
14. Reece Hodge (37 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (87 Tests)

16. Jordan Uelese (4 Tests)
17. James Slipper (91 Tests)
18. Sekope Kepu (106 Tests)
19. Adam Coleman (34 Tests)
20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (16 Tests)
21. Will Genia (105 Tests)
22. Matt To’omua (47 Tests)
23. Dane Haylett-Petty (33 Tests)