Eddie Jones has stayed with Waratahs hooker David Porecki as captain for the second straight week, while vice-captain Tate McDermott and fullback Andrew Kellaway return for the Wallabies against Wales in Lyon on Sunday night (local time).
Scrumhalf McDermott will partner Ben Donaldson who will start at flyhalf in the Rugby World Cup Pool C fixture at OL Stadium.
Sitting third in the Pool with one win and one loss to start their World Cup campaign, the Test is seen as a must-win by Eddie Jones’ side.
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones said: “Every team has matches like this during a Rugby World Cup and for this young team it is this week.”
“We’ve prepared well, are focused on what we need to do, and we’ll be ready to fight on Sunday night.”
An unchanged tight five, sees David Porecki combining with 22-year-old Angus Bell and Test centurion James Slipper in the front row, with Nick Frost and Richie Arnold the locks.
In the loose forwards, Rob Leota starts his first Test of the year at blindside flanker, with Tom Hooper shifting to openside and Rob Valetini at number eight.
Samu Kerevi and Jordan Petaia will continue to build on their partnership, selected to start in the midfield for the third straight week by Jones.
Kellaway’s return to the side, in what will be his first appearance in the tournament, is the only change to the back three, with Marika Koroibete named on the left wing and Mark Nawaqanitawase to start on the right edge.
Matt Faessler has been selected as the finishing hooker, while Blake Schoupp and Pone Fa’amausili are the finishing props, the latter playing his first Test of the tournament having fully recovered from a calf injury.
Matt Philip is set for more minutes as the finishing lock, with Fraser McReight swapping roles with Leota for the all important Test.
The experience of Nic White will be called upon in his 66th Test for his country, selected as the finishing scrumhalf with 22-year-old Carter Gordon the finishing flyhalf. Last weekend’s try-scorer Suliasi Vunivalu rounds out the matchday 23.
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- Angus Bell (26 Tests)
- David Porecki (c) (17 Tests)
- James Slipper (132 Tests)
- Nick Frost (13 Tests)
- Richie Arnold (7 Tests)
- Rob Leota (19 Tests)
- Tom Hooper (6 Tests)
- Rob Valetini (37 Tests)
- Tate McDermott (27 Tests)
- Ben Donaldson (5 Tests)
- Marika Koroibete (57 Tests)
- Samu Kerevi (47 Tests)
- Jordan Petaia (30 Tests)
- Mark Nawaqanitawase (8 Tests)
- Andrew Kellaway (24 Tests) Finishers
- Matt Faessler (3 Tests)
- Blake Schoupp (3 Tests)
- Pone Fa’amausili (5 Tests)
- Matt Philip (30 Tests)
- Fraser McReight (15 Tests)
- Nic White (65 Tests)
- Carter Gordon (7 Tests)
- Suliasi Vunivalu (5 Tests)
2023 Fixtures Rugby World Cup Fixtures
Wallabies 35 defeated Georgia 15 on Saturday 9 September at Stade de France, Paris
Wallabies 15 defeated by Fiji 22 on Sunday 17 September at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Wallabies v Wales, 9:00pm CEST/5:00am AEST, Sunday 24 September at OL Stadium, Lyon
Wallabies v Portugal, 5:45pm CEST/1:45am AEST, Sunday 1 October at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
