The Wallabies face a deep test as they attempt to secure a draw win over England
The Wallabies find themselves in almost unfamiliar territory, with a chance to secure the newly minted Ella-Mobbs Trophy in the second Test against England in Brisbane this evening.
As far as this mid-year three-Test series goes, only four of them go back to 2014. The 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cup years meant no Tests were played in June in those years. We just went straight from Super Rugby to the shortened Rugby Championship.
And of the four series, only the 2016 series against England where the Wallabies have not won the first Test.
Against France in 2014, the Wallabies won in Brisbane and finished the draw in Melbourne, before completing a clean sweep of the draw in Sydney.
And against France again last year, the Wallabies won again in Brisbane but dropped a second Test in Melbourne. A Noah Lolesio penalty scored the tie again in Brisbane.
Fourth draw against Ireland in 2018, where again the Wallabies won the first Test in Brisbane, but then lost the draw following defeats in Melbourne and Sydney.
So the Wallabies are back to leading the series 1-0 going into the second Test, but this group playing will not have the experience of dealing with pressure successfully.
Following his side’s devastating injury and undisciplined win in Perth last weekend, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie was forced to make a team change for Brisbane.
With Quade Cooper’s half-time late strike just minutes before kick-off in Perth, the Wallabies lost defender Tom Banks to an arm injury and propped up Allan Ala’alatoa for a concussion, while Darcy Swain’s locks were sent off on a red card and are now serving a two-week suspension. .
But in naming his team on Thursday, Rennie was forced to make more changes than just the changes seen from the first Test of the year.
Andrew Kellaway was ready to fill a fullback role after impressing there last week in place of the injured Banks, but has since suffered a hamstring injury and will miss Brisbane.
His absence gave Jordan Petaia a chance with the number 15 Wallabies jersey that Rennie has long been interested in, although his credentials as a keeper are still a work in progress.
Center Len Ikitau had limited opportunities in Perth, but naming a team without him, Rennie acknowledged that Ikitau suffered from calf pain in the series opener.
“He didn’t come right,” Rennie said Thursday.
“He tried to run this morning. He is very close but we don’t want to take any risks and are sure he will be fine for next week.”
The fundamental question here also revolves around the nature of Wallabi’s injury. Kellaway’s hamstring was not taken seriously, nor was Ikitau’s calf. But Ikitau is now the fifth calf injury in the squad.
Wallabies look to wider squad
Taniela Tupou will return this week from a long-term calf injury, Pone Fa’amausili remains sidelined, Jed Holloway missed a certain Test debut last week, and Cooper’s late injury on Saturday is also a calf.
Asked if there was a growing trend, Rennie instead turned it around to the opportunities created and the additional squad strength he was building.
“I wouldn’t say it’s very disturbing,” Rennie said.
“I’ve been talking about the fact that we have a lot more depth than what we had a few years ago and this is an opportunity to highlight that.”
Tupou returned for Ala’alatoa in the front row. A lot of key thinking Matt Philip should have started last week and he came straight for Swain was suspended.
With Ikitau out, Queensland midfielder Hunter Paisami came in, while Brumbies’ Tom Wright came into Kellaway’s wing.
On the bench, the highly respected young Brumbies key, Nick Frost, is poised for his Test debut, while Waratah defender Izaia Perese gets his first chance of the year as well.
Worried by his side’s poor form in Perth – and having come off the open side of Tom Curry, who has returned home to manage his concussion recovery – England coach Eddie Jones has opted for an extra backrower in a 6-2 forward-back split on the remaining bench. . No need to guess his team’s game plan.
Bath flanker Sam Underhill went straight into Curry’s number seven jersey and Wasps backrower Jack Willis was an extra striker on the bench.
Jones has rocked the back line, promoting former England Under-20 scrum half Jack van Poortvliet, who scored on his debut last weekend. Leicester team-mate and former University of Sydney captain Guy Porter was also selected after not being used in the first Test.
Porter was in the Brumbies squad before returning to his home country in mid-2020. He enjoyed Shute Shield Premiership success with Sydney University before joining the Brumbies.
Northampton defender Tommy Freeman’s absence was something of a surprise inclusion on the left wing in place of Joe Cokanasiga, with many thinking teenage sensation Harry Arundell might be promoted after scoring with his first touch last week.
The Wallabies have won their last 10 Test matches played in Brisbane, with their most recent loss at Lang Park in a series loss to England in 2016. Both teams will be hoping the recent history of the venue is in their favor.
Wallabies: Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright, Hunter Paisami, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Nic White; Angus Bell, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou, Matt Philip, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Leota, Michael Hooper (c), Rob Valetini.
Subs: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Nick Frost, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, James O’Connor, Izaia Perese
English: Freddie Steward, Jack Nowell, Guy Porter, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman*, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Courtney Lawes (c), Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola
Subs: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Danny Care, Henry Arundell
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