Wallabies team v B&I Lions: Joe Schmidt makes mass changes after ‘gut-wrenching’ defeat as retiring veteran and Tupou earn recalls
Wallabies scrum-half Nic White and an inset of head coach Joe Schmidt.
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has made several changes to his matchday 23 for the third and final Test of the British and Irish Lions series at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Veteran scrum-half Nic White will partner Tom Lynagh in the half-backs, with the 35-year-old earning his 73rd and final Wallabies Test cap after announcing his retirement from international rugby.
Schmidt rings the changes
White’s inclusion is one of two changes in the starting backline, with Dylan Pietsch starting on the wing in place of the injured Harry Potter.
The remainder of the Wallabies‘ backline remains unchanged, with Tom Wright at full-back, while Pietsch and Max Jorgensen are the starting wingers.
Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii start in the centres again with Schmidt forced into further changes in the forward pack.
Tighthead prop Taniela Tupou will make his first appearance in a gold jersey this year, replacing the injured Allan Alaalatoa, and will partner with hooker David Porecki and James Slipper, who will play his 147th match for his country.
Nick Frost and Will Skelton are the starting locks again, but there is a further change in the loose forwards as Tom Hooper has come into the starting side at blindside flanker, in place of Rob Valetini, who is being managed.
Hooper will link up with Queensland pair Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson in the loose forward trio, with the latter again captaining the side.
On the bench, Billy Pollard has been named as the replacement hooker and will combine with Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr in the substitute front-row. The remaining forwards in the 5-3 bench split are Jeremy Williams and Langi Gleeson.
Tate McDermott will again bring energy off the bench, along with Ben Donaldson and Andrew Kellaway who round out the matchday 23.
Wallabies coach Schmidt said: “The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week’s Test in Melbourne, but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday.
“The support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend in Accor Stadium, will again help to lift the players in the high-pressure moments that we know are coming.”
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Wallabies team for Test III
Wallabies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Andrew Kellaway
Date: Saturday, August 2
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Kick-Off: 8:00pm AEST, 11:00am BST
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
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