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Curtis Rona to make Wallabies debut as Cheika bloods new midfield

Western Force and former NRL winger Curtis Rona will make his Wallabies debut against the All Blacks in Bledisloe I in Sydney on Saturday night.

The former Bulldogs winger is the only debutant in a new-look Wallabies side that features a midfield pairing of Kurtley Beale and Samu Kerevi.

Rona replaces fellow Force back Dane Haylett-Petty who has succumbed to a biceps injury.

"He's run there pretty much since we got into camp and he's looked comfortable there and he's got excellent chat from the outside in," Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said.

"He's played on the big stage before in rugby league, so I'm sure he'll handle it no problem.

"Curtis has been picked because he's a high quality player. He's really shown a lot of enthusiasm, aggression. He's just been hungry to be involved in everything."

Up front, Sean McMahon will start from No.8 with Ned Hanigan retained at blindside flanker while former captain Stephen Moore starts at hooker ahead of Tatafu Polota-Nau.

Australia: Israel Folau, Henry Speight, Samu Kerevi, Kurtley Beale, Curtis Rona, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper (c), Ned Hanigan, Adam Coleman, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Lopeti Timani, Nick Phipps, Reece Hodge Tevita Kuridrani.

More to follow ...