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Adam Ashley-Cooper is preparing to join the one hundred tests club for Australia against the All Blacks. Photo: EPA

Adam Ashley-Cooper set to play his 100th Wallabies test

Quade Cooper returns to the squad as Australia face All Blacks in the final Bledisloe Cup match

AFP

Fly-half Quade Cooper was among the reserves named on Tuesday for the embattled Wallabies clash against the All Blacks in this weekend's Bledisloe Cup, with Adam Ashley-Cooper chosen for his 100th test.

Under-fire coach Ewen McKenzie made two changes to his starting line-up with Christian Leali'ifano at inside centre and Rob Simmons returning at lock for a team who lost 21-17 to Argentina two weeks ago.

Leali'ifano replaces injured Matt Toomua while Simmons displaces James Horwill from the beaten side in Mendoza.

Cooper has not played for Australia this year after suffering a shoulder injury in May, when he lost his place to Bernard Foley.

The Queensland Reds playmaker will make his return via the bench with Foley installed as the first-choice number 10.

Ashley-Cooper will become the sixth player in Australian rugby history to reach the 100-test milestone in Saturday's final Bledisloe Cup showdown in Brisbane against a New Zealand team who have already retained the trophy.

He joins George Gregan (139 caps), Nathan Sharpe (116), George Smith (111), Stephen Larkham (102) and David Campese (101) as Wallaby centurions.

"Adam has had a remarkable career and he deserves the accolades which come with joining an extremely elite group of players to have played 100 games for Australia," McKenzie said.

"It's a massive honour and a true testament of his ability to play at a consistently high level over such a long period of time."

McKenzie also backed Leali'ifano and Cooper to make positive returns.

"It's always hard when you have to watch from the sidelines, so I'm sure they will be determined to make the most of their opportunities," he said.

"They're two experienced players who have performed at a high level for Australia before, and you can't discount the value of experience in these big games.

"Quade has had a lot of great memories at Suncorp Stadium, and we'll be looking for him to provide the same impact should he get called on late in the game."

McKenzie has had a tumultuous week dealing with the fall-out of the Kurtley Beale text scandal that led to the resignation of team business manager Di Patston.

The coach was forced to deny having an affair with Patston and rejected reports of splits within his squad.

Beale faces a tribunal with his future in serious doubt.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Ashley-Cooper set to join Wallaby centurion ranks
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