Rob Valetini, the recipient of the John Eales Medal, is set to take the field for the Wallabies against England this Sunday. In a notable change, veteran centre Samu Kerevi will not be part of the selection. Instead, Langi Gleeson, another player from Fiji, has been included in the reserves.
A standout in the league, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will debut for the Wallabies, marking him as the 17th player to make his first appearance under coach Joe Schmidt. To accommodate Suaalii’s placement at outside centre, Ikitau will move to the inside centre position, a position he is taking on for the first time at the international level.
This marks the sole adjustment from the second Bledisloe Cup lineup as Schmidt maintains the team’s established combinations, starting with a front row featuring Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, and Taniela Tupou. Schmidt has opted not to immediately reintegrate former captain Will Skelton, with Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams taking up positions in the second row.
Valetini is on the brink of his 50th Test appearance, participating in his 49th game in Wallaby colors. Harry Wilson retains the captaincy along with Fraser McReight. The halves combination remains unchanged with Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio, and the back three comprises Dylan Pietsch, Andrew Kellaway, and Tom Wright.
Two changes have occurred in the replacement lineup, with James Slipper, the most capped Wallaby player, returning. Upon taking the field, he will equal Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll in the top five for total Test caps at 141. Max Jorgensen joins the 23 after a recovery from illness, serving as a back replacement alongside Ben Donaldson and Tate McDermott.
Schmidt expressed confidence in his team’s preparation, acknowledging their adjustment to travel and the importance of training ahead of what promises to be a challenging match. “Playing in front of vocal home crowds in some of the most renowned Rugby stadiums in the world is an exciting prospect, with many of the players on their first Spring Tour,” Schmidt stated.
The match is set to kick off at 3:10 AM on Sunday at Allianz Stadium in London.
This game is not only a significant opportunity for the Wallabies to showcase emerging talent like Suaalii but also a moment for experienced players like Slipper to further etch their names in rugby history. The encounter against England presents a promising challenge for the team to build on their competitiveness on the world stage.
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