Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has named a new captain and seven potential debutants to face Wales in Saturday’s first Test in Sydney.
Backrower Liam Wright will become Australia’s 89th Test rugby captain in his first starting game for the Wallabies and his first Test since 2020.
Tickets to Saturday's Wallaroos-Wallabies double-header in Sydney available here!
It comes after a stellar year with the Queensland Reds, with centre Josh Flook also included in the starting side on his debut.
Wright is joined in the back row by Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini, with Flook’s Reds teammate Hunter Paisami completing an all-Queensland centre pairing.
Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams has also been named to debut in the second-row alongside Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
Salakaia-Loto is amongst a plethora of returning Wallabies that missed the World Cup, including prop Allan Alaalatoa in his first game back in gold since an Achilles injury ended his season.
Alaalatoa will come off the bench, with Schmidt opting for Taniela Tupou in the starting side.
Brumbies teammate Noah Lolesio comes back into the halves alongside Waratah Jake Gordon, with the two slated to be teammates in Toulon before a concussion ended Gordon’s French ‘joker’ deal.
Filipo Daugunu comes back onto the wing, days after re-joining the Reds whilst Tom Wright returns to the fullback position.
It’s an inexperienced bench with Isaac Kailea, Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale, Tom Lynagh and Dylan Pietsch named for their potential maiden caps.
Lynagh follows in the footsteps of legendary father Michael, who guided the Wallabies to the 1991 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Pietsch is set to become the 15th First Nations Wallabies and the latest debutant since Anthony Fainga’a in 2010.
“The squad has worked hard over the last week or so to prepare as best we can for what’s going to be an incredibly tough Test against Wales," Schmidt said in a statement.
The Test match will feature as part of a double header with the Wallaroos-Fijiana clash on Saturday night in Sydney, with all Wallabies games streaming ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD. Wallabies matches will also be shown live on the Nine Network.
1. James Slipper (134 Tests) – Bond Pirates
2. Matt Faessler (5 Tests) – USQ Saints
3. Taniela Tupou (50 Tests) – Brothers Rugby
4. Jeremy Williams* - Wahroonga Tigers
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (30 Tests) – Randwick
6. Liam Wright (c) (5 Tests) – Easts Tigers
7. Fraser McReight (17 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies
8. Rob Valetini (39 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
9. Jake Gordon (20 Tests) – Canterbury Berries
10. Noah Lolesio (17 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
11. Filipo Daugunu (7 Tests) – Wests Bulldogs
12. Hunter Paisami (24 Tests) - Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
13. Josh Flook* - Brothers Rugby
14. Andrew Kellaway (26 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
15. Tom Wright (25 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles
Reserves
16. Billy Pollard (1 Test) – Lindfield Junior Rugby Club
17. Isaac Kailea** - Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
18. Allan Alaalatoa (67 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors
19. Angus Blyth** - Casuarina Beach Rugby Club
20. Charlie Cale** - Beecroft Junior Rugby Club
21. Tate McDermott (28 Tests) – Flinders Rugby
22. Tom Lynagh** - University of Queensland
23. Dylan Pietsch** - Leeton Phantoms
*denotes debut
**denotes potential debut
