In a season of left field Wallabies selections, featuring returning legends and players who thought they’d never see a second chance, the call up of prop Ollie Hoskins might be the strangest of all.
The 28-year-old London Irish stalwart has Steven Bradburyed his way on the bench to face England with tighthead pair Taniela Tupou and Allan Alaalatoa missing out due to what the Wallabies described as “concussion symptoms” suffered in the loss to Scotland.
Kurtley Beale is another whose experience brings comparisons to the Aussie skater who won Olympic gold when all his rivals fell before him. Beale will start at No.15 in his 94th Test, having seen Tom Banks, Reece Hodge and Jordie Petaia sidelined by injuries.
James O’Connor retains his place at No.10 and will have a mouth watering clash with England’s young gun Marcus Smith, named at flyhalf in England’s team earlier Thursday.
The issue surrounding Tupou and Alaalatoa was exacerbated by a short turnaround between Tests and James Slipper will start at tighthead with Angus Bell on the other side.
“We played Sunday with a six day turned around and they needed to be right Monday and have no symptoms,” said Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
“They woke up fine but as the day progressed … once you get a little bit of a headache or anything along those lines then you’re out.”
“It’s pretty wild – it’s hard to put into words how I feel,” Hoskins told the London Irish website on his call up.
Ollie Hoskins jogs during an Australia Rugby Training Session ahead of their International Match against England. At The Lensbury on November 09, 2021 in Teddington, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
“It’s surreal. It’s something that I thought was off the table for me when I moved over here and set up my life here. They’ve obviously recently changed the [eligibility] laws, so when I got that phone call last night, it was an incredible moment.
“To receive the call-up and be considered is a huge privilege, and confirmation that I’m on the right path and doing the right things.
“I’m just going to lap up the experience and hopefully come back a better man and a better player.”
Slipper, a veteran of 112 Tests, last started in the No.3 jersey for Australia in 2012 but has played on both sides for the Brumbies in Super Rugby.
Bell, the youngest member in the squad, will start for the second time in his career at loosehead prop with Folau Fainga’a earning an eighth consecutive run-on at hooker.
The forward pack remains otherwise unchanged from the one that started against Scotland with Rory Arnold and Izack Rodda in the second row and a back row of Michael Hooper, Rob Leota and Rob Valetini.
France-based Tolu Latu makes his return to the Wallabies squad for the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup as the finishing hooker, with Tom Robertson set for his third Test of the year as the replacement loosehead prop.
With Beale at No.15, Andrew Kellaway reverts to the wing, where he had a sensational impact in the Rugby Championship.
“We expect England to put a lot of ball in the air and both Tom [Wright] and Kels are very strong aerially and so is Kurtley,” said Rennie. “We felt those three in the backfield were perfect for what we expect.”
Scrumhalf Nic White partners O’Connor, who drew criticism for playing too deep against the Scots. Rennie said the veteran had been working on his connection at training this week.
“I think James was probably mixed last week and we’ve all had a discussion around it,” said Rennie.
“It’s more in connection, making sure we’re connected to the forwards up front and the quality of the communiation coming from outside is good. All of our shot callers have sat down, gone right through the game looked at all our options, and so I think we’ll be better for it.”
Noah Lolesio, a late call up after Quade Cooper withdrew from the tour, has come onto the bench and could go up against England’s flyhalf of the future Marcus Smith later in the contest.
Wallabies team to play England at Twickenham, England on Saturday 13 November, 5:30pm GMT/4:30am AEDT (Sunday)
1. Angus Bell (14 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (23 Tests)
3. James Slipper (112 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (27 Tests)
5. Izack Rodda (32 Tests)
6. Rob Leota (4 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (117 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (16 Tests)
9. Nic White (45 Tests)
10. James O’Connor (59 Tests)
11. Tom Wright (8 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (13 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (11 Tests)
14. Andrew Kellaway (11 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (93 Tests)
Replacements
16. Tolu Latu (19 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (26 Tests)
18. Oliver Hoskins*
19. Will Skelton (19 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (17 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (13 Tests)
22. Noah Lolesio (8 Tests)
23. Izaia Perese (1 Test)
*denotes uncapped
England team
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 60 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 49 caps)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 88 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
8. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 34 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 110 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 3 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 67 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 93 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 41 caps)
14. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 3 caps)
Replacements
16. Jamie Blamire
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Will Stuart
19. Charlie Ewels
20. Alex Dombrandt
21. Sam Simmonds
22. Raffi Quirke
23 Max Malins
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
I think the Force would have given him far more attention had he been a league convert. I think more Western Australians have made it to test rugby by going overseas than have with the Force’s “pathway”.
Mo
Guest
Tom scrum s well at loose head. Good test for bell. Ollie is strong and slipper has been smashed at THP and handled it before
Mo
Guest
No one cares about the Force boys SMI. But Ollie set some gym marks and has played a bit of super rugby so he has the background to succeed.
Mo
Guest
Force got booted Max. Don’t blame them for Ollie going north. Unless you think they gave too much time to ainsley
Mo
Guest
You never heard of Ollie coz he’s a western force boy. Set some gym records and he wants this.
Mo
Guest
Or WP nel. Actually I’m just stoked that Ollie s getting a go. He has the size shape and strength. He could step up.
Handles
Roar Guru
Cooper's skill set has always (well, since his knee anyway) revolved around vision and passing. He still has them. Beale's key skill was his running game, which is gone.
Mo
Guest
Ollie Hoskins is Perth WA boy. Played Oz 20s and super rugby for the western force. Big and very strong. He won’t leave anything behind.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
I’m a huge Reds’ fan and I don’t reckon we were all that good this year. Four or five games were won by Tupou destroying opposition scrums, including the SRA final. Coaching didn’t get the Reds home.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
He can play. He’s a big unit and plays like it. There have been a heap of front rowers with a fraction of his potential that have played 20+ tests with the Wallabies.
Lenz
Guest
Kurtley was one of our best 2015 world cup to the point we loss nothing when Israel was injured.
Buck
Roar Rookie
7A’s & Tupou injured for Aus. For Eng, Vunipola dropped, Obano injured, Marler & Genge have Covid. Who would want to be a TH prop at the moment? Should be an “interesting” front row battle!
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
Fin
Roar Rookie
And it would be a step towards the future rather than the past. I think it has a bit more to do with JOC. I think next year we will see Quade starting and Noah as his understudy.
wigeye
Guest
wallaby will be smashed,so weak all ovever the park. Start the stats now on how weak fullback and spare lock that c ant jump
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Whose idea was it to deck these blokes out in brown for every waking moment? It looks drab and you'd reckon it would make the wearer feel drab. No man with any fashion sense around him wears brown - if I was seen in brown my adult daughters would direct me to run away from home!
wigeye
Guest
We trust rennie but not the admin
QED
Roar Rookie
The five biggest challenges in Rugby. Beat the All Blacks in Auckland Win a world cup Win a Bils tour Beat the Boks on the high veldt and Beat England at Twickenham. I am backing our boys for a coming of age victory for this developing Wallaby side.
Rugby Heaven
Roar Rookie
If you hadn't watched any Rugby for a few weeks, you would be forgiven for thinking that its England V Barbarians. Optimistically, I hope we are pleasantly surprised! However, I'm not a gambling man this week as I lost all my reserve booty last week betting on the WBs V Scotland.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Hooter, I had that thought too as I wrote it. (Though I would offer ‘more rounded in a specific jersey’ rather than ‘better’) But still, Dave has put all players through the on boarding. For now I will trust that this is a sound decision by the selectors.