PERTH, Australia (AP) \u2014 Carlo Tizzano will start in his hometown against Italy in place of Fraser McReight on the side of the Australian scrum on Saturday in what will be Joe Schmidt\u2019s last test as head coach of the Wallabies. <\/p>\n
McReight was Australia\u2019s best player last week in the 42-26 loss to Six Nations champion France in Brisbane<\/a>, and his relegation from the starting XV to the bench is likely about player rotation for the third weekend of the Nations Championship.<\/a><\/p>\n The inclusion of Perth-born Tizzano is one of three changes for Australia\u2019s starting lineup. The others are injury enforced, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa elevated to start at hooker and Harry Potter replacing Dylan Pietsch on the wing. <\/p>\n Paenga-Amosa played most of the test against France last week after Josh Nasser sustained a head injury in the opening minutes. Pietsch injured a calf muscle.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve shown some encouraging signs but we need to sustain our accuracy and effort throughout the match,\u201d Schmidt said in a statement Thursday. \u201cThe challenge for us this week is to perform at a consistently high standard against a dangerous Italian side, who were hugely competitive in the Six Nations, beating both Scotland and England as well as running other teams close.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia conceded 30 consecutive points in the second half in the loss to France after leading 21-12 at halftime. Australia also surrendered a 12-point lead against Ireland before losing 33-31 in Sydney in the opening round of the tournament.<\/a><\/p>\n Declan Meredith has been retained as flyhalf after making his international debut against France, and Ben Donaldson was recalled from injury to start on the bench as backline cover at Jock Campbell\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n Schmidt announced last year that he was standing down as Wallabies\u2019 head coach but remained in the role to give his replacement, Les Kiss<\/a>, time to complete his obligations with the Queensland Reds.<\/p>\n Schmidt will want to ensure Australia ends a six-test losing streak before handing over to Kiss, who will take over for tests against Japan next month.<\/p>\n Italy lost 47-17 to New Zealand<\/a> last week and will be without lock Niccolo Cannone due to a four-week suspension<\/a> for the headbutt that led to him being red carded in the second half against the All Blacks.<\/p>\n