Coach Dave Rennie is expecting the transition from Samu Kerevi to Hunter Paisami to be seamless as the Wallabies prepare for a fast and furious Test against Japan on Saturday.
Kerevi failed to overcome an ankle injury to face the Brave Blossoms in Oita, with Paisami to play his first Test since August as he returns at inside centre.
Paisami is one of four changes to the starting XV with lock Matt Philip returning, his Rebels teammate Rob Leota recalled at blindside flanker and Tom Wright named on the wing in place of Marika Koroibete, who opted not to tour.
Brumbies hooker Connal McInerney is in line for a potential Test debut after being a surprise inclusion on the bench with Rennie admitting the rake role is wide open.
The blockbusting Kerevi was Australia’s best player during the Rugby Championship and was key to their run of four wins over world champions South Africa and Argentina.
He is expected to be available for their next Test against Scotland on November 8, with England and Wales Tests to follow.
But Rennie backed 23-year-old Reds centre Paisami to perform well.
“He will play his own game,” Rennie said.
“What we know with Hunter, he’s explosive and powerful, he’s got a really good skill set so not a lot changes really.
“He’s slotted in really nicely and he’s had a full training week over here so we think it will be seamless.”
While Petaia started the last Test on the wing, Rennie felt he wasn’t up to 80 minutes in the warm conditions under the roof in Oita, which was the scene of their World Cup quarter-final elimination by England in 2019.
“He does give us a fair bit of versatility but we’re not convinced that he’d go 80 if he started,” Rennie said.
“Japan have picked six loosies (loose forwards) in their pack so we imagine it’s going to be a reasonably quick game from their mindset and so we’ve taken all that into account.”
Nic White will again partner Quade Cooper in the halves, while the front row of James Slipper, Taniela Tupou and hooker Folau Fainga’a will line up for their fourth consecutive match.
Slipper is set to surpass former teammates Will Genia and Sekope Kepu and join George Smith on 111 Tests for Australia when he runs on.
Rennie said they still hadn’t worked out if Cooper and fellow Japan-based Sean McMahon will be available for the UK leg of the tour due to club commitments despite the game falling within the international window.
“Our intention is to take them to Europe,” Rennie said.
“We’re trying to come to a resolution that suits everyone,.”
Wallabies: Reece Hodge, Tom Wright, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Andrew Kellaway, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (c), Rob Leota, Matt Philip, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper. Res: Connal McInerney, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Darcy Swain, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Jordan Petaia.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
“He will play his own game,” Rennie said.. Markus this comment concerns me from DR about paisami
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
For some reason..I am not looking forward to the relationship between the J League clubs and wallabies..clubs do not have to like releasing their marquee players but the fact that you have to negotiate while the law stipulates what's need to happen just doesn't sit right..
Markus
Roar Rookie
McMahon was never a 7 anyway, he has always been a mobile 6/8 hybrid, same with Pete Samu. For the first time in years we finally have solid depth at 6 and 8 with big bodies who can truck it in tight (especially Valetini) as well as provide strong lineout options (especially Swinton, but Leota looking solid too). The backrow balance looks good.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Team looks good. Will be interesting to see where Japan is at.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah well … sometimes the best thing for both parties is to break up and move on. For good or bad I think Brad operates better with junior rather than senior players.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Zulu. I doubt that will be the case.
Matt
Guest
Thorn has also done a real disservice to his forwards, that`s why DR does not rate any of them apart from Thor. I hope really do hope Brad Thorn has learned from his errors strives to make his forward pack harder tougher fitter smarter and more skilled. The sort of forwards Rennie wants.
Zulu
Guest
" Philip Swain and Skelton vying for bench lock position, " I know who i wouldn`t be taking as my third lock, it would be that dinosaur Skelton. Phillip and Swain will be fighting for the third lock spot.
Paddy
Guest
6 has been a crapshoot ever since Hooper was given the 7 jersey in 2014.
JP
Guest
Slips is a great Queensland Red , unlike Thorn who booted him for no reason.
Matt
Guest
Forget Sean McMahon, he will never get a game whilst the superior Hooper is 7. With Hoopers durability he will be around for another 5 years at least. Sean should just go play in Japan and enjoy his retirement.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Fair to say Cooper has underlined that JOC is a 12/10 who happened to be our best available 10 (absent Quade) But also to be fair, JOC was coming back from a longish layoff.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yes and coming from deep with ball in hand he’s hard to mark up.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Safe enough, but not heavily tested.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Agree Jock is a good counter attacker, and was probably best on form. Physically I’m not sure how well he translates to test level. Kellaway, Wright and Petaia are all useful with ball in hand so the question is what’s Jock’s point of significant difference?
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
It sounded to me like Rennie was keen for Petaia to play there, presumably because he seems him as having the highest threshold. I honestly see why as he’s the biggest and can dominate contact in the air unlike 6’1” Kellaway or Banks. He’s also got by far the best offload and proved before his injuries when in form that he can dominate contact unlike any of our other backs (Kerevi excepted).
Markus
Roar Rookie
Yeah I can't quite recall either, I don't remember the Reds being put under real pressure during the year with aggressive high balls to have a clear picture.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
What was Jock like under high balls. I don't remember.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Any of the options need time in the position. I do wonder who out of Hodge and Kellaway will get the chance there at the Rebels next season. I would like to see Jock Campbell kept in the discussions too. He was arguably the most threatening counter-attacking runner of the Aus fullbacks, and was done a real disservice by Thorn in being dropped or shifted to the wing to make space for Bryce Hegarty, who like Ben Lucas previously was a serviceable flyhalf who coaches tried to shoehorn into a starting backline.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Paisami also barely played at 12 in Super Rugby, with Stewart and then Henry preferred with Paisami at 13. Different position different expectations. I'm also interested to see more of O'Connor at flyhalf for the Wallabies, as he has only had one start at flyhalf since the 2013 Lions Tour, during the painful 16-16 draw with Argentina last year. People were adamant that he was the solution for the Wallabies flyhalf woes but his stints off the bench have not been convincing at all, especially after the timely reminder of how good Quade really is.