A James O'Connor hamstring injury has handed Reds flyer Rod Davies his Test debut and a big opportunity to make an impression against Samoa in Sydney on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Davies will become one of three players in the Wallabies' starting line-up making their Test debuts against the Samoans at the Sydney Olympic stadium.

Melbourne Rebels scrumhalf Nick Phipps and the Waratahs lock Sitaleki Timani are also representing their country for the first time, while two more players, Reds pair flank Beau Robinson and hooker James Hanson, may also make their Test debuts off the replacements bench.

The Australian Rugby Union said the full extent of O'Connor's injury is still to be determined, with team medical staff to decide when he will be fit to rejoin the playing roster. In his absence  Brumbies flyhalf Matt Giteau will assume the goal-kicking responsibilities against Samoa.

Davies's Test debut comes a week after he featured in Queensland’s maiden Super Rugby title following their 18-13 win over the Canterbury Crusaders in the final at Brisbane and just two weeks since he became the first player to score four tries in a Super Rugby game for the Reds in their semifinal against the Blues..

Wallabies revised: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Adam Ashley Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson, 8 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Pekahou Cowan, 18 Dan Vickerman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Will Genia, 22 Kurtley Beale.

Date: Sunday, July 17
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 14.00 AEST (04.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

AFP