James O'Connor was named on the bench for Australia's World Cup opener against Italy on Sunday after coach Robbie Deans stuck with a winning team and opted against recalling the winger following his one-game suspension for indiscipline.



Deans kept the same starting lineup that beat New Zealand to win the Tri-Nations title in Brisbane but made three changes to the replacements with O'Connor, prop James Slipper and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau coming in for Rob Horne, Saia Faingaa and Salesi Ma'afu.



"They did ok and it is an important outing for us on Sunday, their continuity is good and it will need to be good as there is no doubt Italy will be waiting," Deans told a swarm of media at the team's hotel in central Auckland today.



"Their (Italy's) last Six Nations outing was a very good performance, they put the French away. We know we have to hit the ground running and that's what we are hoping to do."



Goalkicker O'Connor was suspended for the Tri Nations decider after he was a no-show for a team photo-shoot and function for the Wallabies World Cup squad announcement following what local media reported as a boozy night out.



"He wasn't available to us in the last instance and he is on this occasion but he has been selected on the bench which is one step closer," Deans said.



The Australian team touched down in Auckland only an hour before their media session, which they hurried through before heading off to training.



Deans seemed slightly bothered when asked several questions about the inclusion of O'Connor as a replacement.



"A lot of time is spent talking about people that aren't available to you," the New Zealander said.



"But the game isn't about that, the game is about who is available to you and those who are lucky enough to get the opportunity, and most players don't waste the opportunities when they are presented to them. That's the key, making the most of the time you get."

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Australian team to play Italy: Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Anthony Faingaa, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Radike Samo, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill (capt), Dan Vickerman, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, James O'Connor.

Reuters