[ad_1]
Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio will form a new combination of Wallabies halves for the opening test against France in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Gordon overcame a knee injury to win the battle with Tate McDermott to wear the vacant running back jersey at Suncorp Stadium with regular starter Nic White on the sidelines.
With James O’Connor also injured, young Brumbies pistol Lolesio gets his second start after making his Test debut at five-eighths last year against the All Blacks in an ill-fated outing with the clubbed Wallabies 43-5.
While Queenslander McDermott impressed at home during the AU Super Rugby season, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie opted instead for the mature head of Gordon, who turns 28 the day before the game.
The NSW captain Waratahs injured his knee in the penultimate match of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, putting him in doubt for the Test France three series. But the injury healed in time for him to win his second test start and his sixth overall, having been in the XV to face Italy in Padua on the spring tour of Australia in 2018.
Veteran Matt Toomua will line up alongside Lolesio, 21, after recovering from a neck injury, joining Hunter Paisami in crosses. The front row sees Brumbies teammates James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa as starting props, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa named as the hooker.
Lock Matt Philip returns to the gold jersey after his stint in France and will partner Lukhan Salakaia-Loto while Brumbies murderer Rob Valetini gets his first test start on the blind flank. Skipper Michael Hooper and # 8 Harry Wilson complete the backrow.
Rennie named four potential Wallabies debutants on the bench in three Brumbies – hooker Lachlan Lonergan, lock Darcy Swain and center Len Ikitau – and Rebels utility back Andrew Kellaway. Kellaway, 25, is the biggest surprise after returning to Melbourne from Japan at the start of the trans-Tasman competition.
Rennie said the team have prepared well for the France Series, which will be over in just 11 days with the second test in Melbourne on July 13 before the final test in Brisbane on July 17.
“The whole team have been training really hard over the past three weeks to prepare for what is going to be an exciting and difficult series against the French,” said Rennie. “We have always selected a team based on obtaining the right to wear the shirt and this team is no different.”
Wallabies: Tom Banks, Tom Wright, Hunter Paisami, Matt Toomua, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper (captain), Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper. Res: Lachlan Lonergan, Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Isi Naisarani, Tate McDermott, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway.
Source link
