Leicester v Australia, Welford Road, November 9
Barnes to skipper midweek Wallabies
ESPNscrum Staff
November 7, 2010
Australia fly-half Berrick Barnes prepares to pass during training at ME Stadium, Perth, Australia, June 7, 2010
Berrick Barnes will captain Australia against Leicester © Getty Images
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Berrick Barnes will captain Australia when they take on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Tuesday.

He will start at fly-half as the fringe players in the Wallabies squad get their chance to press for a Test spot against England next weekend.

Veteran Queensland Reds lock Van Humphries starts his first game in a gold jumper while Rebels youngster Nick Phipps has been named alongside Matt Giteau on the bench.

"If you look at last year, a number of players emerged out of the midweek fixtures," Wallabies boss Robbie Deans said. "Kurtley Beale played his first game at fullback and Quade Cooper played fly-half and have both since established themselves in the Test side. Salesi Ma'afu had his first outing for the Wallabies and went on to make his Test debut.

"These matches are a critical, to be honest. It provides rugby for the whole group which is invaluable and keeps the entire squad connected. What it offers us is access for everyone. Without it we go from Test to Test which doesn't permit us to provide an opportunity for the next tier of player."

The Wallabies have also bolstered their front-row stocks after a scrum mauling by Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, calling for Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau. Brumbies No.2 Stephen Moore was a late withdrawal at the Millennium Stadium due to injury while his replacement, Saia Faingaa, was forced off midway through the second-half.

Australia: P Hynes (Reds), R Davies (Reds), P McCabe (Brumbies), A Fainga'a (Reds), L Turner (Waratahs), B Barnes (Waratahs, capt), L Burgess (Waratahs), J Slipper (Reds), H Edmonds (Brumbies), S Ma'afu (Brumbies), V Humphries (Reds), R Simmons (Reds), S Higginbotham (Reds), M Hodgson (Western Force), R Brown (Western Force)

Replacements: S Fainga'a (Reds), B Daley (Reds), D Mumm (Waratahs), P McCutcheon (Waratahs), N Phipps (Melbourne Rebels), M Giteau (Brumbies), L Morahan (Reds)

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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