Samo set for Australia wing duty

Australia have named number eight Radike Samo on the wing for Saturday’s World Cup clash with Russia in Nelson.

Samo ended the 67-5 victory over the United States in the same position due to the number of injuries sustained by the Wallaby backline.

Only Quade Cooper and Drew Mitchell remain from the threequarter line selected against the Eagles, with Berrick Barnes starting at inside centre with Adam Ashley-Cooper named at 13.

Scrum-half Will Genia is included on the bench so Luke Burgess starts.

Skipper James Horwill and flanker Scott Higginbotham return, while openside David Pocock makes his first appearance since Australia’s opening game of the tournament against Italy.

Team: J O’Connor (Western Force), R Samo (Queensland Reds), S Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), B Barnes (NSW Waratahs), D Mitchell (NSW Waratahs), Q Cooper (Queensland Reds), L Burgess (NSW Waratahs), J Slipper (Queensland Reds), S Moore (Brumbies), S Kepu (NSW Waratahs), J Horwill (Queensland Reds, capt), N Sharpe (Western Force), S Higginbotham, (Queensland Reds), D Pocock (Western Force), B McCalman (Western Force).

Replacements: T Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs), S Fainga’a (Queensland Reds), S Ma’afu (Brumbies), R Simmons (Queensland Reds), R Elsom (Brumbies), W Genia (Queensland Reds), N Phipps (Melbourne Rebels).