Australia: Michael Cheika pledges selection honesty

The Australia players, meanwhile, are focused only on their opening game against Fiji on Wednesday though the majority of the 31-man squad have rebuffed all questions on playing pool opponents England and Wales, a mantra instilled by Cheika.

Judicial officer Chris Smith reviewed television footage of the incident and deemed it to be “low-end”, also taking into account Waqaniburotu’s admission and remorse before deciding on a one-week ban.

The 29 year old was provisionally named in the team to face Australia on Thursday before being replaced by Peceli Yato.

Indeed, though Cheika didn’t use Volavola, his coaching has directly enhanced the danger posed to by the Fijian team to his Wallabies at Millennium Stadium.

Australia: 1-Scott Sio, 2-Stephen Moore, 3-Sekope Kepu, 4-Kane Douglas, 5-Rob Simmons, 6-Scott Fardy, 7-Michael Hooper, 8-David Pocock, 9-Will Genia, 10-Bernard Foley, 11-Rob Horne, 12-Matt Giteau, 13-Tevita Kuridrani, 14-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 15-Israel Folau.

“You do well in one scrum and you knock off in another and you’ll get turned up; you carry strong once but if you don’t carry strong the next time someone will pick you up and dump you”.

“We have made some changes to our forward pack which were pre-planned, to make sure we get a number of fresh players into the line-up but keeping the continuity with the core of our team”.

“We’re working towards that consistency and whatever we’ve done in the All Blacks games, that’s dead and buried”.

Australia will aim to unleash the likes of fullback Israel Folau, but first they must secure the ball. “They could have given us more which could have really affected the tournament [for us] so Dominiko will be available for us against Wales”.

The cousin of Wallabies outside centre Tevita Kuridrani, and former Wallaby Lote Tuqiri, Nadolo has been making waves in Australian rugby for almost a decade – running riot in Sydney club rugby for Randwick and Manly. Manasa Saulo, 4. Tevita Cavubati, 5. Akapusi Qera (c), 8.

But he settled and had some nice touches later, including a beautifully weighted cross kick that saw Nemani Nadolo score. Gabiriele Lovobalavu, 13. Vereniki Goneva, 14. Stephen Moore (c), 3.

“We’ve had some dark days”, tighthead prop Sekope Kepu admits.

Brains trust: Head coach Michael Cheika, left, with Wallabies forwards scrum coach Mario Ledesma.

That has raised the question of whether Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau can play together in the same team or whether Cheika must make a choice.

Reserves: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17.

Cheika has gone with two locks on the bench in the hulking Will Skelton and Dean Mumm.