TEDDINGTON: First choice prop Scott Sio returns to the Australia side for the World Cup final against New Zealand on Saturday in the only change announced by coach Michael Cheika.
Sio has recovered from an elbow injury so James Slipper, who played in the semi-final win over Argentina, returns to the bench.
Cheika, masterminding Australia's campaign to win the World Cup for a third time, welcomed the return of Brumbies prop Sio.
"Scott Sio has played really well. I'm not taking a risk you can't hide where he plays," he said of the 24-year-old Sio and his demanding position.
Australia, who have had a tough route to Twickenham -- having to play England, Wales, Scotland and Argentina, will be in a record breaking fourth World Cup final. But it will be the first between the Wallabies and the All Blacks.
Star fullback Israel Folau, who has had an ankle injury, only lasted 60 minutes of the 29-15 win over Argentina. But Cheika has kept faith with the potential match-winner.
Matt Giteau, who left the semi-final with a groin injury but has been cleared for Saturday, is the only player who took part in their last final, when they lost to England in Sydney in 2003.
"This week we've had a strong focus on improving certain areas in our game where we feel we haven't been at our best in the previous matches," Cheika said.
"We still have lots of scope to improve and we'll work on that before this next match against New Zealand."
Cheika, who is the only coach to have guided clubs to the Northern and Southern Hemisphere continental titles in Leinster and NSW Waratahs respectively, dismissed former coach Bob Dwyer's remarks the Wallabies possessed the best defence.
"I know Bob's done it all (he coached the 1991 World Cup winning side) and he's very well-respected in Australia and he's a friend of ours as well but I'm not in for the big sweeping statements," said 48-year-old Cheika.
"I'm a big believer that your next game is the one that proves who you are. The minute you start relying on cliches or tags or titles, you'll get pinched."
Cheika said the Wallabies were trying to stick to their daily routine.
"If I start thinking this is a massive game then I'm letting down my side by getting distracted."
Cheika, who has guided the team to a rare win over the All Blacks this year and taken the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship title, said that just being content with making the final was not sufficient.
"We want to be proud of what we do on Saturday and make Australians even more proud of us, by giving everything we've got on Saturday," he said.
"We want to make sure we play in a way that they wake up in the middle of the night or if they're over here, they can nod their head and say 'I'm proud to be a part of that team'."
Australia have launched into the mind-games between the two teams by refusing to use the All Blacks name at press conferences.
Their opponents are always New Zealand, although France coach Philippe Saint-Andre deployed the same tactic ahead of the quarter-final and his side were humiliated 62-13.
"I am old fashioned," said Cheika. "I believe France is France, Australia is Australia and New Zealaand are New Zealand.
"And it's a battle between nations on that stage. So there's no secret squirrel."
Team (15-1)
Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale
Coach: Michael Cheika (AUS)
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