Australia face Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup

“We see it as a great opportunity to come up against a very good and extremely stiff opposition, a team that is immeasurably passionate about playing for their country”.

Mumm honoured his captaincy duties on Saturday, leaving his wife and son to head back to Bath where the Wallabies had their captain’s run.

“It’s important we continue to improve each day as a collective”, added Cheika, who has turned the Wallabies fortunes round since assuming control last October culminating in a terrific win over the All Blacks to win the Rugby Championship in August. He ended that streak against the U.S., and will start at outside centre for the second time on Sunday.

Pocock was driven over twice from the Wallabies’ effective rolling maul for two first-half tries. I would not want to blow the trumpet that we have the greatest depth, but we are fortunate to have players of this talent who enable us to rotate. I do not know the answer to that question now but there has been an opinion about us for a while and it is up to us to change that by growing our performances.

However, the Reds’ star insists he wasn’t upset at Michael Cheika’s team choices.

Cheika is keen for every member of his 31-man squad to get an early taste of the action as the Wallabies, who defeated Fiji 28-13 in their opening game in Cardiff on Wednesday, build up to their crucial Pool A showdowns with England and Wales. Dean Mumm’s whirlwind World Cup took a remarkable twist on Thursday when he rushed to London for the birth of his first child on the eve of his first Test as Australia’s captain. Nick Phipps and Quade Cooper combine in the half-backs, with Matt Toomua linking up with Henry Speight in midfield.

Uruguay coach Pablo Lemoine has freshened up his pack and brought experienced winger Leandro Leivas into the backline to face the Wallabies.

Franco Lamanna comes into the second row for Jorge Zerbino and Juan De Freitas will play at blindside flanker, allowing Juan Manuel Gaminara to move to No 8. Finally loosehead Mateo Sanguinetti and hooker German Kessler also come into the starting lineup.

Prediction: Even with 14 changes, this should be a walk in the park for Australia.

Mumm could miss the Wallabies’ last training session for their World Cup game and it is likely he will go straight to Birmingham to meet up with the team before playing Uruguay. Australia by 50!

Uruguay – G Mieres; L Leivas, J Prada, A Vilaseca, R Silva; F Berchesi, A Ormaechea; M Sanguinetti, G Kessler, M Sagario; S Vilaseca (capt), F Lamanna; J De Freitas, M Beer, J-M Gaminara.

Replacements: 16 Nicolas Klappenbach, 17 Oscar Duran, 18 Carlos Arboleya, 19 Alejandro Nieto, 20 Diego Magno, 21 Fernando Bascou, 22 Alejo Duran, 23 Alberto Roman.