Kurtley Beale given second chance on bench

Kurtley Beale has been given a chance to redeem himself against the All Blacks via the bench with the struggling back named as one of the Wallabies' seven reserves for the Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland tomorrow.

Australian coach Robbie Deans had delayed naming his bench after releasing his starting XV yesterday.

Beale was axed from the starting side after his sloppy display at fullback in last week's cup opener in Sydney, won 27-19 by the All Blacks.

But he is one of three backs on the bench today, including midfield back Anthony Fainga'a who has also been dropped.

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has been ruled out and will be replaced on the reserves bench by Saia Faingaa.

Polota-Nau had already pulled out of the starting side on Thursday after suffering from a corked buttock sustained at an earlier training session.

The decision was made to omit the NSW hooker after Friday's captain's run at Eden Park.

Stephen Moore will start in the No 2 jersey against the All Blacks in a game where he will equal Jeremy Paul's record for most Test caps by a Wallaby hooker.

Coach Robbie Deans finalised his reserves bench following Friday's light work-out and has elected to go with a 4-3 split.

WALLABIES: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (capt), Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper, Dave Dennis, Nathan Sharpe, Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Saia Faingaa, Anthony Faingaa, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, James Slipper, Radike Samo, Liam Gill.

- Stuff, AAP