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Wallabies veteran Moore returns to starting line-up against Italy

Stephen Moore Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

Stephen Moore returns to Australia's starting XV after sitting on the bench for the first two Tests of the year, the national captain recalled as one of six changes to the side to face Italy in Brisbane on Saturday.

Moore will become the 10th-most capped international player when he runs out onto his home ground in Brisbane, surpassing Italian Martin Castrogiovanni and Englishman Jason Leonard as he makes his 120th Test appearance.

He is one of four changes to the starting pack, alongside Scott Sio, Rory Arnold and Lopeti Timani, while Sefa Naivalu and Rob Horne are recalled to the backline.

Backrower Jack Dempsey is set to make his Qantas Wallabies debut, after he was named on the bench. Dempsey, who travelled on the 2016 Spring Tour as a Development Player, is set to become Wallaby 909 and the sixth debutant so far this season.Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has again opted for a five-three split on the bench with Tatafu Polota-Nau, Toby Smith and Sam Carter the other changes to the reserves.

Italy coach Conor O'Shea, meanwhile, has made three changes to the side that was beaten 22-19 by Fiji last Friday. Giovanbattista Venditti, Tito Tebaldi and Dries van Schalkwyk come into the starting line-up.

The Wallabies have played Italy 16 times, for 16 wins, but the teams have not placed each other in Brisbane since 1994, when Australia prevailed 23-20 at Ballymore.

Wallabies: Folau, Haylett-Petty, Horne, Hunt, Naivalu, Foley, Genia, Timani, Hooper, Hanigan, Coleman , Arnold , Alaalatoa, Moore (captain), Sio.

Replacements: Polota-Nau, Smith, Kepu, Carter, Dempsey, Powell, Cooper, Hodge.

Italy: Padovani, Esposito, Campagnaro, Boni, Venditti, Allan, Tebaldi, Van Schalkwyk, Mbanda, Minto (captain), Budd, Fuser, Ferrari, Bigi, Lovotti.

Replacements: Gega, Zani, Ceccarelli, Lazzaroni, Steyn, Gori, Canna, Benvenuti