High-profile code hopper Suliasi Vunivalu is in line to make his Test debut in the decider against England on Saturday, while Dave Rennie has brought Harry Wilson, Reece Hodge and Tate McDermott back into the fold.
Vunivalu has been named on the bench for the Sydney Cricket Ground match, while Queensland Reds No.8 Wilson will start over Rob Leota at No.6 with the Rebels player relegated to the bench.
Nick Frost has been named for a starting debut at lock alongside Matt Philip after appearing as a replacement in Brisbane. Rennie has made four changes to the starting XV with James Slipper returning to the loosehead prop role and Angus Bell benched.
Len Ikitau has returned after missing out in Brisbane, but Hunter Paisami stays at No.13 while Tate McDermott will back up No.9 Nic White after missing out on the opening two matches to Jake Gordon. There is no room for James O’Connor, who was poor when introduced off the bench in Brisbane, leaving Hodge as the potential back up to Lolesio.
Wallabies team
1. James Slipper (116 Tests)
2. David Porecki (2 Tests)
3. Taniela Tupou (39 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (1 Test)
5. Matt Philip (22 Tests)
6. Harry Wilson (10 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (120 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (20 Tests)
9. Nic White (49 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (11 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (44 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (40 Tests)
13. Hunter Paisami (16 Tests)
14. Tom Wright (11 Tests)
15. Reece Hodge (54 Tests)
Replacements
16. Folau Fainga’a (27 Tests)
17. Angus Bell (18 Tests)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (54 Tests)
19. Rob Leota (8 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (21 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (15 Tests)
22. Len Ikitau (14 Tests)
23. Suliasi Vunivalu*
After a training regimen of Jiu Jitsu and explosive speed work Wilson is back in the Wallabies team for the first time since being left off the Spring Tour by Dave Rennie, as the coach looks to add his punch to the pack.
The 22-year-old had a breakthrough season in 2020 and started 2021 at the back of the Wallabies scrum before drifting out of favour with Rob Valetini preferred. Valetini will stay at No.8 for this game.
Wilson missed the November tour of Europe with Rennie preferring to give him work ons and get in a proper preseason and build his skills. Wilson revealed that included training in the grappling martial art of Jiu Jitsu and developing his footwork and short distance explosiveness.
Wilson had no contact with Rennie between the tour, which many felt he should have been part of, and the first camp of the year in April.
“I had a few good conversations with him there and he reinforced a few areas of my game which includes my ball carry,” Wilson. told The Roar Rugby Podcast.
“He thought he saw some good growth there and talked about he wants me to keep improving it.”
Wilson acknowledged that his “footwork that he wants me to work on is not just an overnight fix. I’ve made improvement, which he’s noted, but he’s also wants to see more growth,” Wilson said last month.
The loss of Taniela Tupou through injury and non-selection of Luhkan Salakaia-Loto at the Reds this season meant more carrying in tight for Wilson, and it’s an area where he excelled.
“You don’t get as much glory but as long as you get enough front foot ball for the other boys to run off, that’s my job and something I enjoy too.”
Part of Rennie’s focus was getting Wilson faster and more explosive.
“I’m used to getting flogged for hours and hours and doing fitness in preseasons but this one as more speed – power based . I felt like I got a lot benefit from. I tried to lose a couple of kgs and it can only help with your agility.
“I think I’ve found my weight now that I can play my best footy at. Hopefully I don’t go back to being a Harry tight pants any time soon.”
Preseason included sessions of jujitsu twice a week which he feels has helped him with his finishing near the try line.
Wilson will come up against England giant Billy Vunipola on Saturday, and has watched plenty of tape on the destructive No.8.
“Loving my rugby I keep up to date with what’s happening over there,’ Wilson said of northern hemisphere rugby.
“At Reds, Jim McKay our attack coach always has little projects for us. One for me was to have a look at how No.8s play in the northern hemisphere.
“I watched a lot of how Alex Dombrandt and Billy Vunipola play. It’s cool, it’s all clipped up at training.”
Stephen Obrien
Guest
Are Australia going to import anymore islanders?
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
old Justin just loves the sound of his own voice and tries to ramp it up and speak like Rampaging Roy Slaven on the grog. Second in line...Morgs...dear oh dear
Big A
Roar Rookie
that's right - Suli has certainly earnt his
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Harder to do than a chip.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Merthens is the business Fred. He crosses the Tasman well without over egging it. Has a good tone for the Aussie listener.
Phil
Roar Rookie
With Kerevi and Paisami in the centres I fear the outside backs won’t get much ball. Koroibete’s not got much ball so far. I don’t love the Suli selection, but I guess we need to find out how he performs at this level. If he gets some ball. Massively missing Ikitau and Kellaway.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
JOC is terrible. Multiple big errors ! He'll be lucky to get to RWC. I doubt also Noah will be a great Test 10. Ok but never great.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Yes, they had better results then DR and yet still had the blow torch applied to them. Don’t get me wrong, I like DR but he needs to start winning as something is not working.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Mate, I think both Dingo and Cheika both had 5 years ??? Links was cut short by himself. I don't profess to know the "how"
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Coz he quite often cheats
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Why?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Even without Itoje England will maul from lineouts, win ground, suck in players and win penalties or Farrel will kick long into space. . WBs must be better, England just have to cut and paste.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Ediied needs few tricks. Just a plan to negate Wilson's carrying. . NB outlined England's backrow superiority (applying stats from the 3 number 7's used so far). Lawes is outstanding and Rennie's done little to halt his superiority. . Underhill is no big loss as Ludlum is no mug/rookie. Cowan dickie is a strong sub. Itoje is a miss but not at a match losing level. . Farrel and Smith's kick accuracy from hand is improving. . England forwards will do what they do and so will Farrel. Accurate lineout throwing will see more rolling mauls, penalties and YCs. And Farrel will keep score board ticking. . WBs must have a plan for kick returns then that can turn game in their favour.
The Strategist
Roar Rookie
Notice how know one is talking about how great Kerevi and the rest of the backline is? This is because Lolesio is not a test quality 10. He has no idea how to organise and turn on a backline or deliver that bullet or deft pass to a centre running into a gap. Hence the reason we are not talking about the backs unlike last test season when we had the genuine 10, Cooper playing. I make that point because for the life of me I can't understand why even start Lolesio let alone don't have a back up on the bench. Lolesio hasn't yet played well this test season however in 20min JOC is determined to be not worth of even a bench seat. He may have made a few gaffs but whilst he was on so were the backline. I was at the game and there was a notable difference in the body language of the backs. This smacks of only picking your players by McKeller which is exactly what we went through during the Cheika era. Brumbies rugby will never win us test matches. It is the opposite of test match rugby. My biggest fear is we are so heavily investing in the wrong guy that we will have to persist with him for years as we did with Foley and still do with Hooper. Mark my words, Lolesio will NEVER be a great test 10. Whilst we continue to play him Australia will never be a great test match nation.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Review the coaching team and commence performance management of them. Review potential replacements available for each coaching role in the event objectives are not achieved. "What should DR do "start winning. The how is his job to work out as you would expect from any senior appointment. DR could blow England of the park and dominate the RC, but he has had one hell of a honeymoon period. Our past coaches would have been torched by now with his results.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
No it’s not just the 8 mans job, true. I want all the forwards to be consistently good cleaners. My issue was in the French series last year that Wilson seemed slightly disjointed in his support of the carriers. Working on his footwork and agility will certainly help his support play, and he had a good season at the Reds. I just really want him to carry it into the test arena. Hooper I’d also prefer to play a bit tighter, but on defence mainly, to really contest and jackal. He needs a huge game as he played poor last week, can’t afford him to go missing again, or to make poor decisions when taking penalty goals.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Yeah there’s potential there but at test level a big boot like the one Nawa has, plus his aerial ability and improving defensive work is preferable. And he can run and offload well. He’s just an example but comparable skill set. I’d not play any yet, too raw. Suli also doesn’t know how to defend in alignment with the rest of the side.
John R
Roar Guru
He did Shano - good call. That cutout pass he threw for Pete Samu's try was a peach in the first test.
Frankly
Guest
When is Hooper going to start shifting bodies?It's not just Rob and Harry's job. It's a 6 7 and 8's job to do it. Former legends and world class sevens Smith McCaw and Poey used to crunch and shift bodies at breakdowns at will and with aplomb. I know Hooper is nowhere near their legendary status, but it's time for him to finally have a go show some mongrel get angry and forget about taking a hit up in the centres and get really down and dirty in at the Breakdown.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
You've got to love a queens landers fairy tale don't you? And they all live happily ever after with their banjos and sisters