Pool B/Australia v Fiji:Wallabies scrumhalf George Gregan will equal Will Carling's international captaincy record after being named as Australia's skipper for Sunday's World Cup Pool B clash with Fiji.
Gregan, who was stripped of the Australia captaincy earlier this year, will lead the team this weekend in the absence of the injured Stirling Mortlock.
It will be the 59th time Gregan has captained Australia, equalling the record set by former England skipper Carling in the 1990s. Gregan plans to retire from international rugby after the World Cup.
"He has a wonderful record in the game and this is another outstanding achievement," Australia's head coach John Connolly said of Gregan. "His experience is invaluable to us and he will be remembered as one of Australia's greatest ever players."
Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will replace Mortlock at outside centre in one of three changes to the starting team that beat Wales 32-20 at Cardiff last weekend to all but guarantee the Australians a place in the quarter-finals.
Phil Waugh comes into the team at openside flanker at the expense of George Smith while Mark Chisholm replaces Nathan Sharpe at lock after Connolly elected to pick a near full-strength side to face the Pacific Islanders.
The Australians have also added three new faces to the reserves bench with tighthead prop Greg Holmes, backrower Hugh McMeniman and scrumhalf Sam Cordingley joining the 22-man squad.
Fiji are level on 10 points with Australia after defeating Japan and Canada but have hinted they will field a weakened team to save their best players for their final pool match against Wales.
Australia are favourites to win on Sunday and against Canada to finish on top of the standings but Connolly said the Wallabies were not taking any chances against the Pacific Islanders. "Fiji have been playing good rugby at this World Cup and have proven if you allow them into the game by making mistakes, they will make you pay."
Georgia captain Ilia Zedginidze has decided to retire. The secondrow suffered a broken kneecapduring his side's 14-10 loss to Ireland last weekend.
AUSTRALIA:C Latham; D Mitchell, A Ashley-Cooper, M Giteau, L Tuqiri; B Barnes, G Gregan (capt); MDunning, S Moore, G Shepherdson; M Chisholm, D Vickerman; R Elsom, P Waugh, W Palu. Replacements: A Freier, G Holmes, H McMeniman, S Hoiles, S Cordingley, S Staniforth, J Huxley.
