Rob Valetini, the John Eales Medalist, is set to play for the Wallabies in their upcoming match against England on Sunday. In contrast, the experienced center Samu Kerevi will not be part of the selection for this game. The team has also included another Fijian, Langi Gleeson, in the reserves. Notably, rising star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is poised to make his debut, marking him as the 17th debutant under coach Joe Schmidt. He will occupy the outside center position, with Ikitau shifting to inside center for the first time at this international level.
Maintaining consistency, Schmidt has made only one change to the starting lineup from the previous Bledisloe Cup match, keeping the trusted front-row of Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, and Taniela Tupou intact. Meanwhile, former captain Will Skelton will not be reintroduced just yet; Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams will take their places in the second-row.
Valetini, who is nearing his 50th Test appearance, will have Harry Wilson support him as they co-captain the side alongside fellow player Fraser McReight. The halfback pairing remains the same with Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio, while the back three will consist of Dylan Pietsch, Andrew Kellaway, and Tom Wright.
The bench sees two adjustments, one of which is the return of James Slipper, the record holder for most Test caps for Australia. When he takes the field, he will tie with Irish great Brian O’Driscoll, becoming one of the top five players in Test history with 141 caps. Additionally, Max Jorgensen returns to the squad after recovering from illness, joining Ben Donaldson and Tate McDermott as backs replacements.
Reflecting on the team’s preparations, Schmidt expressed confidence in how they have adapted to the travel and are gearing up for a challenging encounter. He emphasized the excitement of playing in front of enthusiastic home crowds at some of the world’s most famous rugby stadiums, especially for many players experiencing their first Spring Tour.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3:10 am on Sunday at Allianz Stadium in London.
The anticipation surrounding this match is palpable, as the Wallabies look to build on their recent performances and harness their growing talents. Fans can look forward to an exciting clash as the team seeks to prove itself on an international stage.
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