Mal Meninga makes surprising call as he names his Australia squad for last group game clash

Mal Meninga has named his Australia squad for their final group stage game as they look to maintain a 100% record in the group against Italy.

Meninga has made a surprise decision in leaving out Cameron Munster. This is likely to give him a deserved rest ahead of the big games but it means that the two contenders for the halfback spot will likely partner together in the shape of Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans.

This is unconventional for an Australia team with defined roles for six and seven unlike the interchangeable nature of six and seven in England.

Both are hoping to secure that number seven spot alongside Munster moving forward and it’ll be interesting to see how this pans out.

Harry Grant is left out of the squad which will see Ben Hunt start at nine of course wearing the number three shirt due to the strange idea behind the Australia squad numbers which sees Cherry-Evans wear two and Nathan Cleary donning 14 despite all the debate around the number seven shirt which ironically is worn by Munster.

Speaking of Munster, as he’s rested Australia skipper James Tedesco might have been expected to join him but he is named in the squad which means that Latrell Mitchell will remain at centre.

After scoring four last week, Josh Addo-Carr is given a rest however.

12 MATT BURTON
6 REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD
13 PATRICK CARRIGAN
2 DALY CHERRY-EVANS
14 NATHAN CLEARY
15 LINDSAY COLLINS
16 REUBEN COTTER
18 TINO FA’ASUAMALEAUI
19 CAMPBELL GRAHAM
4 VALENTINE HOLMES
3 BEN HUNT
21 LIAM MARTIN
8 LATRELL MITCHELL
11 CAMERON MURRAY (VC)
22 JEREMIAH NANAI
23 MURRAY TAULAGI
1 JAMES TEDESCO (C)
10 JACK WIGHTON
24 ISAAH YEO (VC)