Wallabies pair up flankers Hooper and Pocock for title decider against All Blacks

Back-row forwards Michael Hooper and David Pocock have both been named in Australia’s starting line-up for the Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.

It will be the first time the pair will have started a test together with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika assembling a mobile pack, indicating an intention to play a high-paced game in what is also the first of the two Bledisloe Cup matches.

Hooper has won the right to the number seven jersey with Pocock in at number eight.

“Australian rugby is very fortunate to have some quality flankers competing for the number seven jumper,” Cheika said when announcing the line-up on Thursday.

“Both players have been in outstanding form for club and country this season and have shown their class in sharing the spot in the first two matches.

“They now have an opportunity to start a test together which they are very excited about.”

Cheika has shaken up his forward pack for the final-round clash between the only two unbeaten sides in the competition that also includes South Africa and Argentina.

James Horwill, Dean Mumm and Scott Sio have been promoted to the starting 15 with Mumm’s inclusion forcing the relegation of Will Skelton to the bench for the first time this season.