O'Connor: Back on the bench

The Wallabies wrapped up the Tri-Nations with a 25-20 victory over the All Blacks - with Deans opting against changing a winning formula.

That means James O'Connor misses out on an immediate return to the starting line-up, having been suspended by the Australian Rugby Union for the win over the All Blacks.

The 21-year-old, who was punished for missing an official team function, is named on the bench, though, for Sunday's clash in North Harbour.

"He (O'Connor) wasn't available to us in the last instance, he is on this occasion and he has been selected on the bench which is one step closer," Deans said. "It's like injuries and a lot of time is spent talking about players who are not available to you but the game is not about that, it's about the people who are available to you and those lucky enough to get the opportunity.

"Most players don't wait for those opportunities when they're presented with them and that's the key to make the most of the time you have got."

O'Connor is one of three changes on the bench, with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and prop James Slipper replacing Saia Fainga'a and Salesi Ma'afu.

And Deans is expecting the battle up front, particularly in the set-piece, to be crucial.

"It's an important outing for us on Sunday, our continuity is good and it will need to be good because Italy will be lying in wait and we know we have to hit the ground running," Deans said.

"The Italians do love to scrummage, we are aware of that and we've had recent experience against them so we know what we are going into and we are looking forward to that."

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (capt), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 James O'Connor.