Displaying untold faith in Australian rugby's generation next, Robbie Deans will gamble on a greenhorn prop among a bunch of international rookies in Saturday's European tour-opening Test against Italy.

In easily the biggest selection risk of his five-month Wallabies coaching reign, Deans has named unheralded Ben Alexander, a 23-year-old loosehead who has yet to start a Super 14 game, in his run-on side to face the Azzurri at Padova's Stadio Euganeo.

With a host of big guns being rested ahead of Saturday week's Twickenham showdown with England, Alexander's shock inclusion is one of eight personnel changes from the Wallabies starting side that lost 19-14 to the All Blacks last Saturday in Hong Kong.

Wingers Lachie Turner and Digby Ioane and inside centre Timana Tahu - with just five Test caps between them - plus five-eighth Berrick Barnes will feature in a new-look backline, while Alexander, flanker Phil Waugh, lock Hugh McMeniman and tighthead prop Matt Dunning have won places in the pack.

Several other Test novices, including 18-year-old utility back James O'Connor, have been named on the bench, where Matt Giteau will serve as the back-up halfback.

But it is the bold choice of Alexander for what shapes as a testy encounter with the rugged Italians that will capture the attention of most Wallabies fans.

Incredibly, Alexander - who three years ago was told he must give the game away when a broken leg led to a life-threatening blood clot in his lungs - was languishing in Eastwood's second-grade side last season before finding form to gain selection for the Western Sydney Rams in the Australian Rugby Championship.

The former Australian under-21s representative did enough in the ARC to win a Brumbies contract and now - after playing just six Super 14 matches off the bench - Alexander will be thrown into the deep end against Italy.

"I haven't started a professional game yet, let alone a Test match," a stunned Alexander said after learning of his call-up.

"So it's a humungous learning curve for me this weekend."

It will be a lesson on the run for Alexander against an Italian pack rated among the best in world rugby.

Alexander, though, accepts he is facing an almighty challenge and admits the pressure is on the Wallabies pack to deliver.

"They're very old school, who play European style and love to slug it out - scrums, driving mauls," he said.

"So if we're going to win this game, it's going

to start with us forwards manning up and providing a decent platform for the backs."

Not only has Alexander never started a Test or Super 14 game, his last game at any level was a Sydney club fixture for Norths more than three months ago.

"But I'm as fit as I've ever been," he said. "It feels like the start of the season for me. I've got no excuses, no burnout or anything. I feel like I've just done my pre-season."

On paper, Italy - the world's 10th-ranked team - are the weakest of the four sides the Wallabies face in consecutive Tests this month.

But even Turner admits the prospect of being a member of the first Wallabies team to ever lose to the Azzurri is a frightening one.

"The pressure is on now. I was looking at the tape before and they have quite a good side," Turner said.

"So it is nerve-wracking that we are going in with such a young team. To lose to Italy would be embarrassing and would undo a lot of good work that we have done.

"So it is nerve-wracking to go in like that but, at the same time, that's why we'll come up with the goods."

Wallabies: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Digby Ioane, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Timana Tahu, Lachie Turner, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, Phil Waugh, Dean Mumm, Hugh McMeniman, Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau, James O'Connor.

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