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Folau moved to wing for Barbarians clash

It will be Folau's final match of the year after he was left out of coach Michael Cheika squad for their upcoming tour of Japan and Britain in a bid keep him fresh for the 2018 season.

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Karmichael Hunt will instead take the fullback role in Sydney on Saturday against a Barbarians side captained by Quade Cooper and mentored by former Wallabies coach Alan Jones.

Test veteran Phipps will skipper Australia in the absence of Michael Hooper, with Allan Alaalatoa and Samu Kerevi his deputies.

All but two of the team that beat New Zealand 23-18 last week have been rested with just Folau and loose forward Jack Dempsey remaining.

Thirteen of Saturday's starting line-up have been capped and while the Barbarians clash isn't Test status, young guns Duncan Paia'aua and Billy Meakes will get their first taste in a Wallaby jersey.

Former skipper Stephen Moore will start on the bench, while Ben McCalman returns to the national fold following a horror run with shoulder injuries.

The Wallabies have only played the Barbarians in Australia once before, in 2009, when they ran out 55-7 winners.

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Australia: 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Israel Folau, 10 Duncan Paia'aua, 9 Nick Phipps (captain), 8 Lopeti Timani, 7 Jack Dempsey, 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Lukhan Tui, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Tom Robertson.

Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Curtis Rona, 23 Izaia Perese.

Date: Saturday, October 28

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Kick-off: 15.00 (04.00 GMT)

Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand), James Leckie (Australia)

TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)

Agence France-Presse

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