Larkham lift for Wallabies

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.

Larkham returns after recovering from a minor hamstring injury that forced his late withdrawal from last week’s 29-23 win over Wales in Sydney, while Sam Norton-Knight, who filled in at number 10, drops out of the 22-man squad.

Lock Dan Vickerman will make his first appearance since November after recovering from a shoulder injury and replaces Mark Chisholm, who will start from the bench.

Benn Robinson starts at tighthead prop in front of Waratahs team-mate Matt Dunning, George Smith takes over from Phil Waugh at openside flanker, while 21-year-old Ioane will partner Drew Mitchell on the wing.

Julian Huxley retains his place at full-back, while Brumbies utility back Mark Gerrard returns to the bench, with Scott Staniforth dropping out of the squad.

Stirling Mortlock has been named as captain in Waugh’s absence and will again partner Adam Ashley-Cooper in the centres, while Matt Giteau retains the scrum-half starting role ahead of veteran George Gregan.

“There’s no doubt we have to improve on last week’s performance and we want to move on from that and produce a much more disciplined performance this Saturday,” said Connolly.

“We’ve made a couple of changes in the forwards and backs which we need to do to look at improving our depth and assessing different players prior to the World Cup, but we’re also hoping to build on some of the combinations we used in the first Test.”

The winner of Saturday’s Test will be awarded the James Bevan Trophy, while the Wallabies will look to extend their record at Suncorp Stadium, having lost just one match at the venue since its redevelopment in 2001.

Australia squad to face Wales on June 2: J Huxley; D Ioane, S Mortlock, A Ashley-Cooper, D Mitchell; S Larkham, M Giteau; B Robinson, S Moore, G Shepherdson, N Sharpe, D Vickerman, G Smith, W Palu, R Elsom. Replacements: A Freier, M Dunning, M Chisholm, S Hoiles, P Waugh, G Gregan, M Gerrard.