And Matt Toomua will retain the No.12 jersey ahead of Christian Lealiifano, while Nick Cummins will return to the wing alongside Adam Ashley-Cooper, with Tevita Kuridrani staying at No.13. Under pressure to perform: James Horwill. Credit:Brendan Esposito Scott Fardy also returns to the starting line-up at blindside breakaway, while Kane Douglas comes on to the bench as second-row cover and Ben McCalman moves back to the bench. Horwill has been the first-choice Wallabies captain since taking over from Rocky Elsom for the final Test before the 2011 World Cup. Injury kept him out of the Test team last year but he assumed the captaincy again under former coach Robbie Deans for the British and Irish Lions series and retained the honour when McKenzie took over before the Rugby Championship.

McKenzie said the decision was not permanent but he did not say when or if Horwill would resume the role. Wake-up call: Ewen McKenzie wants James Horwill to focus on returning to top form. Credit:Getty Images The Wallabies coach said the move was designed to get Horwill back to his playing best and had nothing to do with the quality of his leadership. "I don't think that's an issue, primarily you pick a team you're picking on performance, you need them to deliver," McKenzie said. Hold the phone: Quade Cooper has been named vice-captain. Credit:Getty Images

"I know what he's capable of and I think he's been a little bit off the pace of what he's capable of delivering, so I want him to focus on that. "It's going to be a tough game up front and he's one of our most abrasive players, so I want him to play to his full potential." It is almost certain that Horwill would have been on the bench on Saturday had Simmons not re-strained the medial ligament in his left knee at training earlier this week. Medical staff ruled him out on Wednesday. McKenzie would not be drawn on the question but has traditionally thought of Horwill and Timani as interchangeable at No.5 but not, ideally, starting second-row partners. The captaincy decision is a stunning one but McKenzie has already shown he is not afraid to make changes. He shocked the rugby community when he did not pick Cooper at five-eighth in the first two Tests under his leadership, then did it again when he benched Genia in favour of Brumbies No.9 Nic White.

McKenzie said stripping Genia of the vice-captaincy was also about wanting more from his halfback's game. McKenzie said he wanted more from the group and was prepared to make big changes and big selection calls to find that. "You get one chance at these things, and you're given what you've got, and I've been asked to make it better," he said. "My career in rugby has been about fixing things, people might not agree about how you get there but I worked out in my very first year of head coaching that if you don't make hard decisions you won't get very far, and certainly nothing will change. "So if I want players to make hard decisions and play tough, I've got to do the best I can in that same space."