Rob Valetini, the John Eales Medal winner, is set to take the field for the Wallabies against England this Sunday, while experienced center Samu Kerevi will not be part of the squad. Langi Gleeson, another promising player from Fiji, has made it to the reserves.
In an exciting development, rising star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is poised to debut as the 17th player to do so under coach Joe Schmidt. Suaalii will fill the outside center role, allowing Ikitau to transition to inside center for the first time at the international level.
This marks the only change to the starting lineup from the previous Bledisloe Cup match, as Schmidt maintains his preferred combinations. The front-row will feature Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, and Taniela Tupou, while Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams will hold the second-row positions, with the decision made to postpone the return of former captain Will Skelton.
Valetini, in what will be his 49th international match, is inching closer to his 50th Test cap. Harry Wilson, alongside Fraser McReight, will continue in the leadership role. Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio will handle the halfback responsibilities, while the back three will consist of Dylan Pietsch, Andrew Kellaway, and Tom Wright.
Two changes have been made to the bench, with record Test cap holder James Slipper rejoining the team. Upon entering the game, Slipper will tie with Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll for fifth place in the all-time Test caps list with 141. Max Jorgensen, who has recently recovered from illness, will also return to the 23-man roster, joining Ben Donaldson and Tate McDermott as back replacements.
Coach Schmidt noted, “The team has adjusted well to travel, with a couple of training sessions to prepare for what promises to be a tough match on Saturday.” He expressed excitement about playing in front of passionate home crowds at some of the world’s most prestigious rugby stadiums, especially for many players on their first Spring Tour.
The highly anticipated match is scheduled to kick off at 3:10 AM on Sunday at London’s Allianz Stadium.
This squad displays an interesting mix of experience and youth, and it will be thrilling to see how the Wallabies perform against a strong English side. With players like Suaalii debuting and veterans like Slipper bringing their wealth of experience, there’s a real sense of possibility for a competitive match that could invigorate Australian rugby.
Leave a comment