Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has added some muscle and shuffled his backline for Saturday’s Rugby Championship showdown against the All Blacks in Perth.
Schmidt has made five changes to his run-on side, with Filipo Daugunu and Allan Alaalatoa returning, while Will Skelton and Rob Valetini are also back in the squad.
At flyhalf, Tane Edmed has been given the reins once again, with the Brumbies-bound playmaker set to partner Jake Gordon at halfback. Edmed will earn his second start for Australia after impressing against Argentina earlier in the tournament. James O’ Connor drops to the bench, while Tom Lynagh – who started all three Tests against the British & Irish Lions – has not been included.
Up front, Alaalatoa joins James Slipper and Billy Pollard in a new front row. Slipper will play his 151st and final Test after announcing his retirement earlier this week. Skelton partners Nick Frost in the second row, while Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson form the loose trio.
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Gordon and Edmed steer a backline featuring Len Ikitau and Joseph Suaalii in midfield, with Daugunu, Harry Potter and Max Jorgensen completing the back three.
“The squad has dusted themselves off from the disappointment in Auckland and they’ve worked away this week, in preparation for what’s going to be another torrid Test match against New Zealand on Saturday,” Schmidt said.
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WALLABIES – 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Nick Frost, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper (c).
Bench: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Rob Valetini, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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