SYDNEY (Reuters) – Wallabies Reece Hodge and Harry Wilson will play their first checks this 12 months and former rugby league standout Suliasi Vunivalu may make his take a look at debut in Saturday’s sequence decider towards England.
Australia coach Dave Rennie made a handful of modifications to the matchday squad from the group that was overwhelmed 25-17 in Brisbane final week, most of them pressured by harm or suspension.
The versatile Hodge, who was disregarded of the preliminary squad for the sequence, was named at fullback for the third take a look at after a trio of different choices have been all dominated out by harm.
Wilson will play at blindside at Sydney Cricket Ground to permit Rob Leota to bolster Rennie’s severely depleted inventory of lock forwards off the bench after beginning within the number-six shirt for the primary two checks.
“Harry and Reece are each tremendous excited to put on the Wallaby gold for the primary time this 12 months and have educated extraordinarily properly,” Rennie mentioned in a information launch.
“We know we’re a a lot better group than how we performed in Brisbane and we have had a superb week of preparation which can permit us to place in a efficiency that makes Australians proud on Saturday night time.”
Nick Frost, who made his debut off the bench final week, will make his first take a look at begin alongside Matt Philip within the second row.
James Slipper will begin at loosehead prop as an alternative of the much less skilled Angus Bell, whereas Allan Alaalatoa is on the bench to cowl tighthead after recovering from a concussion sustained in Australia’s 30-28 opening take a look at victory in Perth.
Winger Vunivalu, a strong and prolific try-scorer within the National Rugby League earlier than switching codes, was named as again three cowl among the many replacements.
Tate McDermott will again up scrumhalf Nic White, displacing Jake Gordon, whereas playmaker James O’Connor is dropped from the matchday 23 after an error-strewn cameo in Brisbane.
Centre Len Ikitau has recovered from a calf harm however was named among the many replacements with Samu Kerevi and Hunter Paisami set to reprise their hard-running midfield mixture.
Australia: 15-Reece Hodge, 14-Tom Wright, 13-Hunter Paisami, 12-Samu Kerevi, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Noah Lolesio, 9-Nic White, 8-Rob Valetini, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Harry Wilson, 5-Matt Philip, 4-Nick Frost, 3-Taniela Tupou, 2-Dave Porecki, 1-James Slipper
Replacements: 16-Folau Fainga’a, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Allan Ala’alatoa, 19-Rob Leota, 20-Pete Samu, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Len Ikitau, 23-Suliasi Vunivalu
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, enhancing by)
