Wallabies: Four changes to XV for France showdown while Will Skelton returns via the bench

Adam Kyriacou
Wallabies lock Will Skelton

Wallabies second-row Will Skelton before a Test.

Australia have made four changes to their XV for their Autumn Nations Series clash with France on Saturday, with Will Skelton named on the bench.

The Wallabies come into the match in Paris on the back of a narrow victory over Scotland last week, but this will no doubt be a tougher test for the team.

Head coach Dave Rennie has freshened his line-up for the challenge ahead, with Jock Campbell, Lalakai Foketi and Nic White coming into the backline.

Four changes to starting XV

That trio replaces Tom Banks, Hunter Paisami and Tate McDermott, with Paisami remaining in the matchday 23 as he features among the replacements.

Taniela Tupou replaces Allan Alaalatoa in the only change to the forward pack, with the latter ruled out after showing concussion symptoms last weekend.

On making consistent changes to his XV, Rennie explained that might not be a trend that continues when the World Cup kicks off in France next year.

“(For) the World Cup we’ll definitely pick and stick next year,” the Wallabies head coach told AAP, with Skelton joined by Tom Robertson, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon and Reece Hodge as new faces riding the pine this week for the clash at the Stade de France.

“What we’ve got to understand is we can put our best side, or try and put our best side out, every week – but that’s a struggle, playing five internationals in a row over here.

“We’ve got a hell of a lot of guys that aren’t here that we think will be part of our World Cup squad and so it is important that we give opportunity for certain guys.

“We look at our three nines; we could play one of them every week but (what) if he gets injured and doesn’t go to the World Cup and we’ve missed an opportunity over here.”

Saturday will be a special occasion for full-back Campbell as he makes his first start for the Wallabies, with Banks suffering with an ankle problem.

Campbell a smart footballer

“We were keen to give Jock a start on this tour,” Rennie explained.

“He’s trained with us for a number of weeks now and he’s really impressed us. He’s a really smart footballer, he’s got good feet and a good skill set.

“He’s not a kid, he’s had to work hard for his opportunity and, at 27, he’s pretty mature, so we reckon he’s ready to go.”

As mentioned, Campbell is joined by Foketi in a tweaked backline and Rennie is looking forward to seeing him on the field against a strong French outfit.

“Lalakai, he’s been excellent this year. He had a massive year for for the Waratahs,” Rennie said.

“He’s a bigger body, he’s got good feet, a very good skill-set and we think that’ll be important this week.”

Australia: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Tom Wright, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (c)
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Hunter Paisami, 23 Reece Hodge

Date: Saturday, November 5
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)

READ MORE: France: Romain Ntamack and Cyril Baille start against Australia despite recent injury troubles