They were. But now the likes of Pete Samu, Tom Banks and Noah Lolesio are set to help the Wallabies usher in a new era many hope can be the birth of a golden generation.

Coach Dave Rennie has named four debutants including ACT Brumbies young gun Lolesio to signal a new era for the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup opener in Wellington on Sunday.

Lolesio is one of nine Brumbies in Rennie's 23-man squad for a showdown with the All Blacks - their first of four trans-Tasman clashes in the coming five weeks.

Fellow Super Rugby AU grand final winners James Slipper, Folau Fainga'a, Samu, Nic White, Banks, Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa, and Rob Valetini have been included.

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Queensland Reds trio Harry Wilson [flanker], Hunter Paisami [outside centre] and Filipo Daugunu [wing] will join Lolesio as the Wallabies' debutants.

It is a new start for them as much as it is for Samu, the Brumbies' No. 8 who will end a near two-year Test exile after he was cast aside during Michael Cheika's reign as coach without an explanation.

With no feedback on how he could force his way back into the fold, the 28-year-old simply knuckled down and got back to work in Canberra.

His inclusion at the back of the scrum sees Wilson shift into the No. 6 jersey, with Rennie confident he will handle the change with the duo to provide the Wallabies with two dangerous weapons.

"We've been picking these Test sides every week for the past six months," Rennie said.

"Harry has been a real standout, a big ball carrier, aggressive defensively. We were keen to have him and Pete Samu on the park because they provide a point of difference. They're all there on merit.

"We decided with Pete, his pace gives us a weapon off the back of scrums. There's not a lot of difference between those two spots.

"Harry is the type of guy, at lineout time, if we're attacking and it's not a seven man, we could use him in the backs to carry.

"Pete's the real gazelle around his lineout ability. Not a massive change for either of those guys."

Slipper will start at loosehead prop alongside hooker Fainga'a, with Reds powerhouse Taniela Tupou rounding out the front-row. Brumbies veterans Sio and Alaalatoa will come off the bench alongside Valetini.

Returning scrumhalf White set to pull the strings in attack alongside flyhalf James O'Connor, while Matt To'omua lines up at outside centre as Rennie opts for experience in key positions.

A groin injury to Dane Haylett-Petty, who joins Jordan Petaia on the sideline, has opened the door for Banks to earn his first Wallabies call-up since a World Cup warm-up against Samoa last year.

"Every opportunity to play is big. We're trying to put pressure on all of our squad to train really well, because it's going to help us on the weekend," Rennie said.

"Obviously Dane being unavailable, Tom was the obvious choice. He has trained really well. We're always going to pick on form, as we said, and we're always going to reward performance.

"His job is to make it difficult for us to look at Dane next week if he is available."

The starting side has been aware of their place since last Sunday, before a hit out consisting of four 18-minute quarters which gave Rennie's squad a crucial chance to work on combinations under pressure.

Now comes the first real test, pardon the pun, one which so many hope will give Australian rugby fans hope.

"We know it's not going to be perfect, what we need to see is the attitude, and the work ethic is going to be really important," Rennie said.

"We know it's going to be physical, because the All Blacks are going to have that mindset."

BLEDISLOE CUP

Game one: Sunday October 11 - New Zealand v Australia at Wellington, 2pm AEDT.

Wallabies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Harry Wilson, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Matt To'omua, 13. Hunter Paisami, 14. Filipo Daugunu, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Jordan Uelese, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Allan Alaalatoa, 19. Rob Simmons, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Jake Gordon, 22. Noah Lolesio, 23. Reece Hodge.

All Blacks squad: 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Jordie Barrett, 15. Beauden Barrett. Replacements: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Tupou Vaa'i, 20. Hoskins Sotutu, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Caleb Clarke.