Australia will face Ireland on Saturday for a one off test looking to bounce back from their defeat to England last weekend.
The Wallabies and their fans were left shaking their heads after being pipped by England 21-20 in Sydney last Saturday just a week after beating the same team comfortably in Perth.
Australia have been maddeningly inconsistent in recent years under coach Robbie Deans, displaying little of the ruthlessness of their great Southern Hemisphere rivals New Zealand and South Africa.
The Wallabies, whose scrum was a disaster against England, must face the Irish again missing their entire first choice front row through injury.
Their problems were compounded on Thursday when veteran lock Nathan Sharpe was a late withdrawal with a back injury he sustained in training.
Despite the loss to England, Deans has made only three injury-enforced changes.
Luke Burgess comes in for Will Genia at scrumhalf, Adam Ashley-Cooper replaces Digby Ioane on the wing and Mark Chisolm takes over from Sharpe.
"A certain amount of change was forced on us with the injuries and then you weigh up all the considerations and you determine your mix," Deans said.
"And I guess in this instance we felt that there was enough change that was forced on us."
Ireland, who have not beaten Australia in Australia since Ollie Campbell inspired them to a two-test series win in 1979, have problems of their own after their 62-28 thrashing by New Zealand two weeks ago.
Irish coach Declan Kidney showed that pragmatism had won out over sentiment when he selected Jonathan Sexton at flyhalf and relegated Ronan O'Gara to the bench for his 100th test for his country.
Sexton, who counts Campbell as a mentor, was impressive when he came off the bench against the All Blacks and starred for Ireland in their 31-28 midweek defeat to the NZ Maori.
Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll said his Leinster teammate Sexton would relish the opportunity to try and attack the Wallabies with his running game.
"He's a big, physical guy and a smart footballer too who likes to take the ball to the line," O'Driscoll said.
"He is a good passer and has the mindset to run the ball where possible." Kidney sprung another surprise when he dropped inside centre Gordon D'Arcy in favour of Paddy Wallace.
While Australia are struggling with injuries, the Irish have even greater problems with 13 of the 36 men they have used in the last year unavailable.
That list includes seven back-rowers, as well as the suspended Jamie Heaslip, which allows number eight Chris Henry to make his test debut.
Australia - James O'Connor, Drew Mitchell, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Quade Cooper, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt), Mark Chisolm, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley
Reserves: Huia Edmonds, James Slipper, Mitchell Chapman, Matt Hodgson, Josh Valentine, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale
Ireland - Robert Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll (capt), Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O’Leary, Chris Henry, Shane Jennings, Niall Ronan, Mick O’Driscoll, Donncha O’Callaghan, Tony Buckley, Sean Cronin, Cian Healy
Reserves: Damien Varley, Tom Court, Dan Tuohy, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Geordan Murphy
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