Rugby World Cup 2011
Genia to lead Wallabies
ESPNscrum Staff
September 21, 2011
Australian scrum-half Will Genia runs the ball during a training session at Rugby League Park, Wellington, September 21, 2011
Will Genia has been handed the captain's armband for the game against the USA on Friday © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Will Genia | David Pocock
Teams: Australia

Will Genia will lead Australia in the World Cup clash with the USA in Wellington on Friday.

The scrum-half replaces lock James Horwill, after there were concerns the Reds lock would be unfit after taking a knock to the shoulder during the loss to Ireland. Horwill was passed fit but he is still rested for an encounter the Wallabies are expected to win convincingly.

Coach Robbie Deans has opted to make a number of changes to his line-up with Robert Horne and the newly-recovered Drew Mitchell named in the back division.

Nathan Sharpe comes into the second row for Horwill, with Wycliff Palu, Scott Higginbotham and Rob Simmons also starting in the pack.

Injured flanker David Pocock is not risked as he continues to recover from the back injury that ruled him out of the Ireland defeat, so Ben McCalman continues to fill in on the openside.

Stephen Moore, though, returns on the bench after the hooker was forced to pull out of the 15-6 upset in Auckland at the last minute.

Moore is joined among the replacements by Berrick Barnes, with the utility back making his first appearance of the tournament.

Australia: Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley Cooper, Anthony Faingaa, Robert Horne, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (captain), James Slipper, Tatafu Polota Nau, Ben Alexander, Rob Simmons, Nathan Sharpe, Scott Higginbotham, Ben McCalman,Wycliff Palu

Replacements: Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Dan Vickerman, Radike Samo, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Pat McCabe

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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