Chris Whittaker will lead Australia for the first time after Wallabies coach Eddie Jones made the expected sweeping changes to his starting line-up for his team’s World Cup pool match against Namibia in Adelaide on Saturday.

Veteran utility back Matt Burke was today included in the Australia squad to play Argentina in Friday’s Rugby World Cup curtain-raiser after Stirling Mortlock was ruled out with gastroenteritis.

Eleven of Australia’s key players will go into the defence of the World Cup without having played a match in eight weeks.

The continuing misfortunes of Andrew Mehrtens and Jonah Lomu continue to dominate the build-up to New Zealand’s Tri-Nations clash with Australia on Saturday.

John Mitchell returned to his strongest possible line-up for New Zealand’s twin assault on the Bledisloe Cup and the world number one ranking this weekend.

Chris Latham’s international season went full circle on Wednesday when he was re-instated to the Australia side for this weekend’s Tri-Nations Test against South Africa.

SUPPORT for banned Irish rugby international Frank Sheahan mounted yesterday when his club called for full clarification on the use of asthma inhalers.

AUSTRALIA coach Eddie Jones has called for Irish referee Dave McHugh to strictly police the breakdown and clamp down on any infringements in order to promote the fast, running rugby style he wants to play against England on Saturday.

Phil Waugh has replaced George Smith as Australia’s openside flanker for Saturday’s international against Wales at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney.

George Gregan today rejoined the Wallabies camp preparing for a Twickenham showdown with England, and said: “I feel pretty good.”

Australia have made six changes to their side from that which beat Argentina 17-6 in Buenos Aires for Saturday's Test match with Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

Teams for Australia versus the Lions, second Test, Colonial Stadium, Melbourne, tomorrow, kick-off 10am (Irish time).

Australia have made three changes for the second Test against the Lions at Melbourne’s Colonial Stadium on Saturday following last weekend’s 29-13 loss in Brisbane.

Coach Rod Macqueen today named uncapped props Nick Stiles and Ben Darwin in a 22-man Wallabies squad for Saturday’s first Test against the Lions.