Stirling Mortlock has been passed fit to captain a full-strength Australia side in their opening World Cup clash with Japan on Saturday.

WITH the preliminaries against Wales and Fiji out of the way, Australia’s World Cup preparations begin in earnest with next Saturday’s Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Cape Town.

Australia coach John Connolly is boosted by the return of fly-half Stephen Larkham for Saturday’s Test against Wales in Brisbane, while Western Force winger Digby Ioane will win his first Wallabies cap.

PROP Matt Dunning might be the only change to the Australia side for the clash against Wales at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow - but it is a significant one.

FIVE newcomers are included in the 31-man Australian squad for next month’s four-nation European tour, during which the Wallabies will face Ireland.

IF Munster’s pre-season form is anything to go by, then the team will improve on last year, according to centre Rob Henderson.

Elton Flatley, who so nearly dashed England’s dreams in the World Cup final a year ago, has returned to the Australia side for their defence of the Cook Cup at Twickenham on Saturday.

AUSTRALIA coach Eddie Jones has named an unchanged side for Saturday’s Test against France at the Stade de France in Paris.

Hooker Brendan Cannon will return from suspension to be the only change in personnel for Australia’s assignment at home to New Zealand on Saturday.

Australia were today forced to reshuffle their replacements for Saturday’s World Cup final rematch against England after winger Mark Gerrard and hooker Jeremy Paul sustained injuries in training.

Inside centre Matt Giteau returns to the Australia team to play England in Saturday’s World Cup final rematch after shaking off the flu that kept him out of last weekend’s victory over Scotland.

Scotland will have to brace themselves for the return of Stirling Mortlock and Phil Waugh to the Australia side after Eddie Jones today named his starting line-up for Saturday’s second Test in Sydney.

Scotland will face a new-look Australia side in Sunday’s first Test after Wallabies coach Eddie Jones awarded Clyde Rathbone and Radike Samo their international debuts.

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.

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