Folau won't face Boks as ankle injury persists

Brisbane - Australia's star fullback, Israel Folau, was pulled from the lineup for Saturday's Test against South Africa due to a nagging ankle injury, the Wallabies announced.

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Folau injured his ankle in the opening Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand on August 18 and had only returned to training this past week.

He had been included in the starting side announced earlier in the week, but the Wallabies announced Saturday morning that he had been ruled out of the Test against the Springboks "after failing to overcome an ankle injury".

"Dane Haylett-Petty will slot in at fullback with Jack Maddocks promoted to the right wing and Tom Banks earning his start off the bench," the team said in a statement.

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Coach Michael Cheika had already shaken up the lineup for this weekend's Test after the Wallabies lost six of their past seven games, including ceding the Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand for the 16th consecutive year following a 40-12 hammering in Auckland and a 38-13 thrashing in Sydney.

Cheika notably pulled Bernard Foley, a 60-Test veteran, from the starting 15, moving Kurtley Beale to the number 10 spot in his place. 

Just before kick-off, lock Adam Coleman was also withdrawn - due to family reasons. Izack Rodda will start in his place and Rob Simmons will come in on the bench.

Teams:

Australia

15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Izack Rodda , 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio

Substitutes: 16 Folau Faingaa, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Bernard Foley, 23 Tom Banks

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Cheslin Kolbe