Wallabies try to make it two in a row over Italy

Australia and Italy made a total of 18 changes to their lineups for the second rugby test Saturday, but based on form, the result will likely be similar to the first.

Italy coach Nick Mallett made 10 changes to his 15 in a major overhaul of the team that lost 31-8 in the series-opening match last weekend in Canberra.

Australia coach Robbie Deans made eight changes to his starting lineup, including resting skipper Stirling Mortlock and relegating regular playmaker Matt Giteau to the substitute's bench.

Australia has not lost a test against Italy since the teams first met in 1983. Italy has lost nine test matches in a row overall, including all five in this year's Six Nations tournament.

Former Australia rugby league international Craig Gower and fellow Australia-born Luke McLean were retained at flyhalf and fullback respectively for France. Gower, who struggled to get the backline moving forward due to slow distribution from the breakdowns last week in Canberra, will form a new halves pairing with Tito Tebaldi.

Mallett said the overhaul was planned before the two-test Australia series to ensure all members of the touring squad had match time ahead of the test against the All Blacks in Christchurch.

For Australia, centers Ryan Cross and Quade Cooper, winger Peter Hynes, flankers David Pocock and Peter Kimlin and the front row of Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Pek Cowan are the new faces in the starting 15.

James O'Connor, the 18-year-old fullback who scored three tries in his starting debut last week, was retained in a reshuffled backline that includes one positional and three personnel changes. On Friday, team officials said he had overcome stomach cramps to take his place in the lineup.