The Wallabies have been forced into a major shake-up of their team for Bledisloe 3, with James O’Connor ruled out with a knee injury.
Noah Lolesio will start at flyhalf in O’Connor’s place, and Irae Simone will take the no.12 jersey made vacant by Matt To’omua’s injury. Neither of them have ever played in a Test match, but were the first choice 10-12 pairing at the Brumbies this year.
There are two further debutants on the bench, with openside flanker Fraser McReight replacing his Reds captain Liam Wright, and fellow Queenslander Tate McDermott coming in for Jake Gordon as backup scrumhalf.
Another Red, Jordan Petaia, has been moved back into the starting side after a strong showing off the bench at Eden Park, coming into outside centre for Hunter Paisami, who has been shifted to the bench in the number 23 jersey.
Reece Hodge remains the utility back, and coach Dave Rennie confirmed he will cover flyhalf should Lolesio not be able to finish the match, having trained at no.10 over the past week.
At fullback, Rennie has decided to bring in Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty for Tom Banks, who has been solid under the high ball without offering much in attack in the two games of the series so far.
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While the backline has seen a major overhaul, the forwards have remained fairly steady. Ned Hanigan retains his place at blindside flanker in an unchanged back row, while the lock pairing of Matt Philip and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has also been preserved.
The only change to the starting pack comes in the front row, where Allan Alaalatoa has taken Taniela Tupou’s place in the run-on side. The Brumbies captain starts alongside James Slipper and Brandon Paenga-Amosa, while Tupou will come off the bench along with Scott Sio, Jordan Uelese, Rob Simmons and Wright.
“It’s really exciting to be able to name four more debutants in the squad this week,” coach Dave Rennie said.
“Noah and Irae have played a lot of footy together and we have no doubt they’re ready to take the step up to Test rugby. Tate and Fraser have had big Super Rugby seasons and have impressed in training over the past month.
“It’s an especially significant night for us with the chance to represent and celebrate our First Nations people by wearing the Indigenous jersey on home soil in front of our Wallabies family.”
Wallabies team for Bledisloe 3
1. James Slipper
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5. Matt Philip
6. Ned Hanigan
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Harry Wilson
9. Nic White
10. Noah Lolesio
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Irae Simone
13. Jordan Petaia
14. Filipo Daugunu
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Bench
16. Jordan Uelese
17. Scott Sio
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Rob Simmons
20. Fraser McReight
21. Tate McDermott
22. Reece Hodge
23. Hunter Paisami
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I am happy to judge him on whether Australian rugby is in a better place when he leaves (if maybe) at the end of four years. Judging solely on results will be an unfair reflection of his legacy given the poor state of our playing stocks and pathways on his appointment and the abysmal shambles of our various administrations.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Mug: I am hopeful that Rennie didn't think he was in for an easy gig. It is not just speed but so many of the basics that are missing and that is going to take some time. You are right he has a tough call along with the other 2 selectors. Not much to lose and little to gain. Too many of them need lifting to match the AB's. On the plus side, not too many of us here expected a rapid turnaround, I will judge him on next season, not this one.
Brian
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Ned should have backed himself, just lack of confidence. Instead he saw Hooper and thought better pass it to my captain who got flattened by three defenders. I know it was recycled and we scored but that's not the point. Hey if the AB no 1 can side step 2 of our blokes and score in game3 then our Ned can learn to sidestep. :happy:
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I think they were selecting for speed in the last 20 minutes. As it happened all too late anyway but it will be interesting to see if Nick B has any comments on the short side try. McReight may not have spent much time on that side of the scrum close to the line. I have some weird New South Welsh fascination with Liam Wright and I would like to have seen him retained. As the game played out he would have been better coming on at 6 I guess. However DR selections were made with a winning strategy in mind so I am not complaining.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I would not be so sure.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Just off to look at the extended squad list for potential back 3 starters. The point was demonstrated again last night. The gulf between the two super rugby competitions is significant. The Brumbies are worthy AU SR champions but that is partly because they are the best run organisation on and off the field. They were consistently the best side in controlling the SR AU games, and it is no surprise that, based on that form, so many Brumbies have played in the three tests so far. It is not winning test rugby. Proponents of continuing as a domestic competition need to start how they are going to lift the speed and intensity to enable players to step up to test level. Not only are we losing badly, with no end in sight, but we are burning players forcing them to step up too far at once. 5+5 just perpetuates the Wallaby status quo and we additionally burn players who cannot step up from club rugby to the intensity of playing Super Rugby against the Kiwis. Big call for Rennie this week. If he persists with the players who were just unable to compete in the slower wet ANZ he is praying they can match the same team next week on a dry track. If they fail again then does he persist with the same guys for the Pumas games which might be a different speed altogether. If they play well, then what does that mean for 2021? Or does he throw the dice on Maddox, Harrison et al? If they fail, same problem. Talking about earning your salary!
Olly
Roar Rookie
And we got dominated at the breakdown in game 2.....
PeterK
Roar Guru
If he was that good then why was he dropped? Obviously DR thought he was the worst of the oz backrowers in game 1 and needed more.
Olly
Roar Rookie
If they are going to continue with this out the back play then they need DHP at 15 to break the first tackle and get over the game line.
Olly
Roar Rookie
He had other other option so the team was picked for him. Samu does everything right but get selected.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Except get 2 turn overs, contain Savea, high amount of tackles, our strongest defensive lineout distrupting the AB lineout number 2 throw all game, slow down the AB ball all game which we clearly missed in that 2nd game as the ball was flying out of the AB breakdown....but he did nothing.
Whatwasthatforsir?
Roar Rookie
He is already!!!
New Deal
Roar Rookie
Looks like it will be wet. Back to game plan Bled 1?
Lara
Guest
Wasn’t Beale Cheika’s choice at IC for more test than I care to remember. He even played FH for Cheika. Toomua was a bench player for Cheika at the best of times. Check out what a club player thought of Toomua, who played FH with him in the UK.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I did indeed mean Toomua
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
Really throwing Lolesio and Simone, not to mention McReight and McDermott into the fire, making their debuts in a Bledisloe Cup against the All Blacks. It is asking a lot of young players but the injuries to To'omua and O'Connor left Rennie with few other options. I join those in wondering about Samu's banishment. Even when not standing out I find he does a lot of little things that help a team win.
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
the way comments are trending by tomorrow banks would be better than beauden barrett..
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
clarke ran over hooper twice at eden park..
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Hooper and McReight are about the same size and many here who criticize Hooper say he gets ragdolled at the breakdown ..... I wonder why they don't say the same of McReight? Either, because they have not seen anything of McReight in Test rugby or because it is simply not true ..... lol, thats my opinion.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Stupid comments re Clark. Just shut up and do your job (in shutting him down).