Beale returns as Australia look to bounce back

PERTH, Australia (AFP) –

Kurtley Beale (pictured) has been recalled to the Wallabies starting line-up to face South Africa Saturday, a game that will see Stephen Moore become the most capped hooker in Australian Test history

Kurtley Beale has been recalled to the Wallabies starting line-up to face South Africa Saturday, a game that will see Stephen Moore become the most capped hooker in Australian Test history.

Reeling from two defeats in as many weekends to New Zealand, under-fire Australian coach Robbie Deans also handed attacking talent Dominic Shipperley a debut on the wing.

The 21-year-old boasts exceptional pace and Deans, who is under pressure to turn around the Wallabies’ fortunes or face the sack, will hope he can inject some urgency into a team humiliated 22-0 by the All Blacks at Eden Park.

With the versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper reverting to centre for the 30th time in his now 69-Test career, Beale is back in the starting 15 after being benched for the last match.

Stephen Moore (centre) of Australia takes on New Zealand All Blacks Ma’a Nunu (left) and Israel Dagg during the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland on August 25.

“He’s in a better space. I don’t think you’ll see a performance like that from Kurtley again,” Deans said in reference to Beale’s error-strewn showing in the opening Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand in Sydney.

“He’s too good a player for a repeat of that.”

The mercurial Quade Cooper was also included in the side, with the flyhalf recovering from a small leg-bone fracture.

But, as expected, winger Drew Mitchell was ruled out with a ruptured ankle tendon. Among others missing through injury are David Pocock, James Horwill, James O’Connor, Sekope Kepu, Wycliff Palu, Pat McCabe and Ben McCalman.

Elsewhere, No 8 Radike Samo returns to the Test starting pack for the first time this year, with Scott Higginbotham relocating to the bench.

Moore is set to become the most capped hooker in Australian Test history when he takes the field in Perth, moving past Jeremy Paul’s tally of 72 appearances.

The 29-year-old made his debut against Samoa at Sydney in 2005.

Australia (15-1)

Kurtley Beale, Dominic Shipperley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (capt), Radike Samo, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson

Reserves: Tatafu Polota Nau, James Slipper, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Nick Phipps, Mike Harris, Anthony Fainga’a