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Australia have changed more than half their team including their captain for the second Test against Italy in Melbourne on Saturday.

The Wallabies retained just seven of the players who started in last week's 31-8 win in Canberra, opting to save some of their key players for bigger matches ahead while giving a handful of fringe players their chance.

"The changes should not be seen as a slight on the blokes who have missed out after last weekend," Australia coach Robbie Deans said. "It's quite the opposite. We were happy with the way the guys played."

Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock was among the many first-choice players given the weekend off, allowing backrower George Smith to take over as skipper for the third time in his 97th Test appearance.

Goal-kicking fly-half Matt Giteau and wing Drew Mitchell were also rested from a reshuffled backline that saw wing Peter Hynes, outside centre Ryan Cross and inside centre Quade Cooper called up and Berrick Barnes (pictured) moved to fly-half.

The Wallabies have been highly critical in the past of opposing international teams that chose understrength sides but Deans defended the selections.

"Not only would it be unrealistic to focus that entire work load on the same players, a policy like that would also deny us the opportunity to develop others."

Deans also made five changes in the forwards, including the selection of an entirely new front row. Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and prop Ben Alexander were both picked after coming off the bench last week while 23-year-old prop Pek Cowan was picked for his Test debut.

David Pocock and Peter Kimlin were called in as the two flankers, forcing Smith to switch positions to number eight and Dean Mumm to lock.

Deans also made four changes to the reserves bench but said the mass overhaul was not a sign they were underestimating the Italians, who have never beaten the Wallabies in a Test.

"They have shown in their last two Test matches against us that they are not too far off taking out a major nation," Deans said.

Team: 15-James O'Connor, 14-Lachie Turner, 13-Ryan Cross, 12-Quade Cooper, 11-Peter Hynes, 10-Berrick Barnes, 9-Luke Burgess, 8-George Smith (captain), 7-David Pocock, 6-Peter Kimlin, 5-Dean Mumm, 4-James Horwill, 3-Ben Alexander, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Pek Cowan

Replacements: 16-Stephen Moore, 17-Benn Robinson, 18-Nathan Sharpe, 19-Phil Waugh, 20-Josh Valentine, 21-Matt Giteau, 22-Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Reuters